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."
Darling Lorraine
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't be sure
But the sin of impatience
Said, "She's just what you're looking for"
So I walked right up to her
And with the part of me that talks
I introduced myself as Frank
From New York, New York
She's so cool
I'm not
I'm just a fool in love
With darling Lorraine
All my life, I've been a wanderer
Not really, I mostly lived near my parents' home
Anyway, Lorraine and I got married
And the usual marriage stuff
Then one day she says to me
From out of the blue
She says, "Frank, I've had enough
Romance is a heart breaker
I'm not meant to be a homemaker
And I'm tired of being darling Lorraine"
What, you don't love me anymore?
What, you're walking out the door?
What, you don't like the way I chew?
Hey, let me tell you
You're not the woman that I wed
You say you're depressed, but you're not
You just like to stay in bed
I don't need you, darling Lorraine
Darling Lorraine
Lorraine
I long for your love
Financially speaking
I guess I'm a washout
Everybody's buy and sell, and sell and buy
And that's what the whole thing's all about
If it had not been for Lorraine
I'd have left here long ago
I should have been a musician
I love the piano
She's so light
She's so free
I'm tight, well, that's me
But I feel so good
With darling Lorraine
On Christmas morning Frank awakes
To find Lorraine has made a stack of pancakes
They watch the television, husband and wife
All afternoon, "It's A Wonderful Life"
What, you don't love me anymore?
What, you're walking out the door?
What, you don't like the way I chew?
Hey, let me tell you
You're not the woman that I wed
Gimme my robe, I'm going back to bed
I'm sick to death of you, Lorraine
Darling Lorraine
Lorraine
Her hands like wood
The doctor was smiling
But the news wasn't good
Darlin' Lorraine
Please don't leave me yet
I know you're in pain
Pain you can't forget
Your breathing is like an echo of our love
Maybe I'll go down to the corner store
And buy us something sweet
Here's an extra blanket honey
To wrap around your feet
All the trees were washed with April rain
And the moon in the meadow
Took darling Lorraine
The song Darling Lorraine by Paul Simon tells the story of how the singer meets, falls in love with, and eventually loses his wife. The lyrics are divided into three parts - the beginning of their relationship, the middle, and the end. In the first verse, the singer sees Lorraine and decides she’s the one for him, even though they barely know each other. He describes her as “so hot” and “so cool,” while he feels like a “fool in love.” They eventually get married, but by the time the second part of the song comes around, Lorraine is unhappy and wants out of the marriage. The singer is confused and angry, feeling like he’s being blamed for everything that’s gone wrong. He says he doesn’t need Lorraine, but the last verse he is pleading with her to stay because he knows she’s dying. The song ends on a poignant note as he wraps her in a blanket and the moon watches over them.
The lyrics of Darling Lorraine may have been inspired by Paul Simon’s own experience in relationships. He has said that the song is “a composite of people I’ve known or heard about or been with,” and that it’s “about a woman who’s ill and a man who’s just not doing very well in life at all.” The song also has a melancholy feel to it that is characteristic of many of Simon’s other songs.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time I saw her
When I first saw Lorraine, I wasn't sure what to think.
I couldn't be sure
I wasn't sure if I was attracted to her or not.
But the sin of impatience
My impatience made me want to approach her.
Said, "She's just what you're looking for"
My impatience convinced me that Lorraine was the right person for me.
So I walked right up to her
I approached Lorraine without hesitation.
And with the part of me that talks
I used my ability to communicate verbally.
I introduced myself as Frank
I told Lorraine my name was Frank.
From New York, New York
I told Lorraine where I was from.
She's so hot
Lorraine is a very attractive woman.
She's so cool
Lorraine has a great personality.
I'm not
I am not as attractive or cool as Lorraine.
I'm just a fool in love
I am in love with Lorraine and willing to do silly things for her.
With darling Lorraine
Lorraine is the one I love.
All my life, I've been a wanderer
I've spent most of my life moving from place to place.
Not really, I mostly lived near my parents' home
I haven't traveled much despite being a wanderer at heart.
Anyway, Lorraine and I got married
Lorraine and I decided to get married.
And the usual marriage stuff
The ups and downs of any marriage.
Then one day she says to me
Lorraine one day tells me.
From out of the blue
Unexpectedly.
She says, "Frank, I've had enough
Lorraine expresses her dissatisfaction with our marriage.
Romance is a heart breaker
Lorraine believes romance causes pain.
I'm not meant to be a homemaker
Lorraine doesn't think she's well-suited to be a housewife.
And I'm tired of being darling Lorraine"
Lorraine wants to be seen as more than just her husband's wife.
What, you don't love me anymore?
I'm surprised and confused by Lorraine's sudden change of heart.
What, you're walking out the door?
I can't believe Lorraine wants to leave me.
What, you don't like the way I chew?
I'm grasping at straws and can't understand why she would want to leave me.
Hey, let me tell you
I try to defend myself and justify why she should stay with me.
You're not the woman that I wed
I'm frustrated that Lorraine has changed so much since we got married.
You say you're depressed, but you're not
I don't believe that Lorraine is really depressed.
You just like to stay in bed
I think Lorraine is just being lazy.
I don't need you, darling Lorraine
I try to convince myself that I don't need Lorraine in my life.
Darling Lorraine
Despite my protestations, Lorraine is still dear to me.
Lorraine
Her name, which is significant to me.
I long for your love
I still love Lorraine and want to be with her.
Financially speaking
When it comes to money.
I guess I'm a washout
I'm a failure when it comes to making money.
Everybody's buy and sell, and sell and buy
The world revolves around money.
And that's what the whole thing's all about
This is the reason why I feel like a failure.
If it had not been for Lorraine
Without Lorraine in my life.
I'd have left here long ago
I would have left town a long time ago.
I should have been a musician
I wish I had pursued my dream of being a musician.
I love the piano
The piano is an instrument that I have a great appreciation for.
She's so light
Lorraine is a carefree person.
She's so free
Lorraine is someone who is not weighed down by the worries of the world.
I'm tight, well, that's me
I'm not carefree like Lorraine; I'm more uptight.
But I feel so good
Despite our differences, being around Lorraine makes me happy.
On Christmas morning Frank awakes
Frank wakes up on Christmas day.
To find Lorraine has made a stack of pancakes
Lorraine has made pancakes for breakfast.
They watch the television, husband and wife
Frank and Lorraine spend the day lounging around and watching TV.
All afternoon, "It's A Wonderful Life"
They watch the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" together.
Her hands like wood
Lorraine's hands are cold and stiff like wood.
The doctor was smiling
The doctor's demeanor suggested that things were not as bad as they seemed.
But the news wasn't good
Despite the doctor's reassurance, the news was bad.
Please don't leave me yet
Frank doesn't want to lose Lorraine.
I know you're in pain
Frank is sympathetic to Lorraine's pain.
Pain you can't forget
Lorraine's pain is so intense that she can't forget it.
Your breathing is like an echo of our love
Lorraine's breathing is a reminder of the love between her and Frank.
Maybe I'll go down to the corner store
Frank thinks about going out to get something for Lorraine.
And buy us something sweet
Frank thinks about getting something sweet for them to eat.
Here's an extra blanket honey
Frank gives Lorraine an extra blanket to stay warm.
To wrap around your feet
The blanket is specifically for Lorraine's feet, which are cold.
All the trees were washed with April rain
The trees are wet from the rain that fell during April.
And the moon in the meadow
The moon is present in the sky over the meadow.
Took darling Lorraine
Lorraine is taken away by the moon, possibly dying.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind