He began performing with his schoolfriend Art Garfunkel in 1956; together the two came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. The duo's blend of folk and rock music in hits like "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America", and "The Boxer" served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their career together peaked with their last album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), at one point the best-selling album of all time. Throughout his subsequent solo career, Simon has continued to explore an eclectic mixture of genres, including gospel, reggae, soul, and more. His celebrated 1970s output—comprising Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)—kept him in the public spotlight and saw critical and commercial acclaim, spawning the hits "Mother and Child Reunion", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
Across his life, Simon has intermittently reunited with Garfunkel for several tours, including the famed Concert in Central Park. The widely lauded Graceland (1986) became Simon's biggest album of his career, melding his rock sound with worldbeat flavors; its single "You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's top hits. A sequel of sorts, The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), preceded his own successful Concert in the Park, attended by a half-million fans. That decade, Simon focused his energies on a Broadway musical The Capeman (1997), which was poorly received. In the first quarter of the next century, Simon continued to record and tour; his later albums, such as You're the One (2000), So Beautiful or So What (2011), and Stranger to Stranger (2016), have introduced him to new generations. He retired from touring in 2018. His most recent work, Seven Psalms, will see release in May 2023.
Simon is among the most acclaimed musicians and songwriters in popular music, and one of the world's best-selling music artists, both for his solo work and with Garfunkel. He is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been the recipient of sixteen Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence and Graceland, have seen induction into National Recording Registry for their cultural significance, and in 2007, the Library of Congress crowned him the inaugural winner of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He is a co-founder of the Children's Health Fund, a nonprofit that provides medical care to children.
In an in-depth interview reprinted in American Songwriter, Simon discusses the craft of songwriting with music journalist Tom Moon. In the interview, Simon explains the basic themes in his songwriting: love, family and social commentary (as well as the overarching messages of religion, spirituality and God in his lyrics). Simon explains the process of how he goes about writing songs in the interview: "The music always precedes the words. The words often come from the sound of the music and eventually evolve into coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Rhythm plays a crucial part in the lyric-making as well. It's like a puzzle to find the right words to express what the music is saying."
Crazy Love
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sloped into the room
He said I have no opinion about this
And I have no opinion about that
Sad as a lonely little wrinkled balloon
He said well I don't claim to be happy about this, boys
And I don't seem to be happy about that
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
She says she knows about jokes
This time the joke is on me
Well, I have no opinion about that
And I have no opinion about me
Somebody could walk into this room
And say your life is on fire
It's all over the evening news
All about the fire in your life
On the evening news
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
Fat Charlie the Archangel
Files for divorce
He says well this will eat up a year of my life
And then there's all that weight to be lost
She says the joke is on me
I say the joke is on her
I said I have no opinion about that
Well, we'll just have to wait and confer
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of your love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
I don't want no part of this crazy love
The song, Crazy Love Vol II, by Paul Simon, is about a man named Fat Charlie, who has no interest in a tumultuous, unstable relationship that he describes as "crazy love". He enters the room with a sad demeanor, expressing that he has no opinion on the events that are taking place, implying that he is thoroughly disinterested. He sings about how he wants no part in the love that is chaotic and painful, with no happy ending in sight.
The lyrics go on to explain that even though Fat Charlie knows the joke is on him, he is not interested in participating in it. He doesn't want to be part of any situation that produces so much pain, desperation, and anxiety, which suggests that he has been hurt in the past and is not willing to repeat that mistake.
The song portrays a sense of hopelessness and resignation about relationships that do not bring any joy or happiness. The singer wants no part of the crazy love which involves jokes at his expense, public humiliation, and emotional turmoil. Thus, he decides to walk away from such a disastrous relationship at any cost.
Line by Line Meaning
Fat Charlie the Archangel
Introduction of a character known as Fat Charlie the Archangel.
Sloped into the room
Fat Charlie enters the room in a lazy, unenthusiastic manner.
He said I have no opinion about this
Fat Charlie does not feel strongly about the situation at hand.
And I have no opinion about that
Fat Charlie also does not feel strongly about the other situation mentioned.
Sad as a lonely little wrinkled balloon
Fat Charlie feels sad like a deflated and lonely balloon.
He said well I don't claim to be happy about this, boys
Although he does not feel strongly about it, Fat Charlie admits that he is not happy with the situation.
And I don't seem to be happy about that
Fat Charlie is not happy with the other situation either.
I don't want no part of this crazy love
Fat Charlie does not want to be involved with the intense and unpredictable nature of love.
I don't want no part of your love
Fat Charlie specifically does not want to be involved with the love of the person he is speaking to.
She says she knows about jokes
Another person (presumably the one Fat Charlie does not want to be involved with) claims to understand jokes.
This time the joke is on me
This time, the unexpected and unfavorable situation affects the person speaking directly.
Well, I have no opinion about that
Fat Charlie does not have any particular reaction to the situation.
And I have no opinion about me
Fat Charlie also does not feel strongly about himself or his involvement in the situation.
Somebody could walk into this room
Another person could enter the room at any moment.
And say your life is on fire
This hypothetical person could inform the others that their life is in crisis.
It's all over the evening news
This crisis would be big enough to make headlines in the news.
All about the fire in your life
The news would specifically cover the crisis in the life of the people in the room.
On the evening news
The news would air in the evening when most people watch.
Files for divorce
Fat Charlie's spouse initiates legal proceedings to end their marriage.
He says well this will eat up a year of my life
Fat Charlie knows that the divorce will take a long time and negatively impact his life.
And then there's all that weight to be lost
Fat Charlie also acknowledges that he needs to lose weight.
She says the joke is on me
Fat Charlie's spouse seems to be amused or pleased by the situation.
I say the joke is on her
Fat Charlie believes that his spouse will ultimately suffer more than he will in the divorce.
I said I have no opinion about that
Fat Charlie does not feel strongly about his own opinions on the matter.
Well, we'll just have to wait and confer
Fat Charlie and his spouse will need to discuss the situation further and decide what to do.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@calbassas87
I’ve always thought this was the hidden gem of the Graceland album.
@amberhoss1598
I completely agree
@bryanmoore3500
That whole album was gems
@podbaydor
I have no opinion about this, boys
@itumelengsegopolo3173
As simple as it gets. What beats that unadorned melody and stuff that next-door guy's going through?
@ryanjsimpson
best song on album for sure. pure groove
@SkyOfTheUniverse
Instrumental beauty. This is the music that will probably greet us in the next realm
@christopherhusted3761
Not really his.
@gretahendrick2509
Let's all hope!
@podbaydor
I have no opinion