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."
El Condor Pasa
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes I would
If I could, I surely would
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.
Yes I would
If I only could, I surely would.
Away, I'd rather sail away
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world
Its saddest sound, its saddest sound
I'd rather be a forest than a street.
Yes I would
If I could, I surely would.
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would
If I only could, I surely would
The lyrics to Paul Simon's "El Condor Pasa" are a reflection on the human desire for freedom and autonomy. The first verse contrasts the natural freedom of a sparrow with the limitations of a snail, suggesting that if given the choice, the singer would choose the bird's ability to soar through the air. Similarly, the second half of the verse compares being a hammer to being a nail. The hammer has the power to shape and create, while the nail is passive and fixed in place. The implication is that the singer would rather have agency and control, even if it means being responsible for the impact they have on the world.
The second verse further drives home the theme of freedom, with the singer expressing a desire to sail away like a swan. Swans are known for their graceful beauty and their ability to move swiftly on water. In contrast, the image of being tied up to the ground evokes a sense of being held back or weighed down. The final line of the verse, "He gives the world its saddest sound," may be interpreted as referring to the mournful cry of a bird whose wings have been clipped or a person who is trapped and unable to live as they desire.
The final verse brings the theme of freedom back to nature, with the singer saying they would prefer to be a forest than a street. This speaks to the idea that nature is untouched by human interference and allows for a sense of natural freedom. The final line, "I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet," reinforces this idea, with the image of feeling connected to the earth representing a sense of grounding and belonging.
Overall, the lyrics of "El Condor Pasa" are a meditation on the human longing for freedom and the beauty of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
I prefer to be a bird that can fly and move freely than a slow-paced and sluggish snail.
Yes I would
I am certain about my preference.
If I could, I surely would
If there was a possibility to transform, I wouldn't hesitate to make the change.
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
I’d rather be the one making an impact or influencing others than being on the receiving end of it.
Away, I'd rather sail away
I wish to escape, to explore the unknown or to find a new start.
Like a swan that's here and gone
I want to have the grace and beauty of a swan, fleeting yet beautiful.
A man gets tied up to the ground
People can sometimes feel stuck in one place or tied down by their obligations, responsibilities or environment.
He gives the world its saddest sound, its saddest sound
They express their longing or disappointment through a mournful, melancholic voice or melody.
I'd rather be a forest than a street
I prefer a peaceful and natural environment where I can live at my own pace, rather than the noisy and crowded city streets.
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
I want to be more grounded, in tune with nature, and have a direct connection with the earth.
If I only could, I surely would
If there was a chance to realize my dream, I'd take it without hesitation.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL SIMON, JORGE MILCHBERG, DANIEL ALOMIA ROBLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind