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."
Getting Ready For Christmas Day
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got money matters weighing me down
Oh, the music may be merry, but it's only temporary
I know Santa Claus is comin' to town
In the days I work my day job, in the nights I work my night
But it all comes down to workin' man's pay
Gettin' ready, I'm gettin' ready
Ready for Christmas Day
(Gettin' ready for Christmas Day)
(And let me tell you, namely, the undertaker)
(He's getting ready for your body)
(Not only that, the jailer, he's getting ready for you)
(Christmas Day, hmm?)
(And not only the jailer, but the lawyer, the police force)
(Now getting ready for Christmas Day
(And I want you to bear it in mind)
I got a nephew in Iraq, it's his third time back
But it's endin' up the way it began
With the luck of a beginner, he'll be eatin' turkey dinner
On some mountain top in Pakistan
Gettin' ready
Oh we're gettin' ready
For the power and the glory
And the story of the Christmas Day
(Getting ready, for Christmas)
(Done made it up in your mind that I'm going, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago)
(I'm going, on a trip, getting ready, for Christmas Day)
(But when Christmas come, nobody knows where you'll be)
(You might ask me, I may be layin' in some lonesome grave)
(Getting ready, for Christmas Day)
Getting ready
Oh we're getting ready
For the power and the glory
And the story of the Christmas Day
Yes, we're getting ready
(Getting ready, ready for your prayers)
(I'm going and see my relatives in a distant land)
(Getting ready, getting ready for Christmas Day)
If I could tell my Mom and Dad that the things we never had
Never mattered, we were always okay
Getting ready, oh ready
Ready for Christmas Day
Ready, getting ready
For the power and the glory
And the story of the Christmas Day
The song "Getting Ready For Christmas Day" by Paul Simon is a contemplation of the significance of the holiday season. The lyrics describe the struggles of a working-class man dealing with financial burdens and the stress that can come with the holiday season. The first verse lays out the backdrop of the holiday season, from early November to the end of December, when people are preparing for the celebrations. The singer mentions that while the music may be joyful, it’s only temporary, and the stress of finances is still weighing him down. He does know that Santa Claus is coming, but this only brings a temporary reprieve.
The middle section of the song explicitly speaks about death and incarceration, stating that while we are preparing for the holiday, others are getting ready to die, and the jailer and lawyer are anticipating their next clients. This section adds a somber and poignant tone to the song by reminding the listeners that not everyone is celebrating this holiday season, and for some, it can be a difficult time.
The last verse mentions the singer's nephew in Iraq, and the song takes a reflective tone as he notes the preciousness of this time of year. He wishes he could tell his mom and dad that the things they never had never mattered because they were always okay. It's a sentiment of gratitude and a hope that people can find some peace amid the craziness that can come with the season.
Line by Line Meaning
From early in November to the last week of December
The period of preparing for Christmas starts from November and continues till the end of December.
I got money matters weighing me down
I have many financial issues to handle and it's bothering me.
Oh the music may be merry, but it's only temporary
The joy of Christmas music is short-lived and does not solve the actual troubles.
I know Santa Claus is coming to town
I understand that Christmas is approaching and it brings a message of hope and positivity.
In the days I work my day job, in the nights I work my night
I am working hard to make ends meet and support my family.
But it all comes down to working man's pay
Even with all the hard work, the wages earned are still limited and barely enough.
Getting ready, I'm getting ready, ready for Christmas Day
I am preparing myself for Christmas both mentally and physically.
(Getting ready for Christmas Day
And let me tell you, namely, the undertaker, he's getting ready for your body
Not only that, the jailer he's getting ready for you
Christmas Day. Hmm? And not only the jailer, but the lawyer, the police force
Now getting ready for Christmas Day, and I want you to bear it in mind)
Apart from personal preparation, some people who are associated with death and law enforcement are preparing for Christmas in their own way.
I got a nephew in Iraq it's his third time back
But it's ending up the way it began
With the luck of a beginner he'll be eating turkey dinner
On some mountain top in Pakistan
My nephew is serving in Iraq and even after several visits, the situation remains unchanged. But, he will still be celebrating Christmas with whatever resources he has even in a remote location.
Getting ready, oh we're getting ready
For the power and the glory
And the story of
Christmas Day
We are getting ready for the divine message of Christmas which emphasizes on love, peace and compassion.
(Getting ready, for Christmas Day
Done made it up in your mind that I'm going, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago
I'm going, on a trip, getting ready, for Christmas Day
But when Christmas come, nobody knows where you'll be
You might ask me. I may be layin' in some lonesome grave
Getting ready, for Christmas Day)
Some people might be planning to travel around Christmas but no one knows what fate holds for them. One can end up in a lonesome grave as well, trying to prepare for it in their own way.
Getting ready, oh we're getting ready
For the power and the glory and the story of the
Christmas Day
Yes, we're getting ready
We are all preparing ourselves to embrace the magic of Christmas.
(Getting ready, ready for your prayers,
"I'm going and see my relatives in a distant land"
Getting ready, getting ready for Christmas Day)
We are also getting ready for prayers and to meet our loved ones who live far away.
If I could tell my Mom and Dad that the things we never had
Never mattered we were always okay
Getting ready, oh ready, ready for Christmas Day
Ready, getting ready
For the power and the glory and the story of the
Christmas Day
If I could talk to my parents about the things we lacked, I would tell them that it didn't matter as we were content with what we had. I am getting myself ready for the blissful and meaningful message that Christmas brings with itself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mekon Headed Freak
Best Christmas song no one has heard...
Hankus Dankus
Great song and innovative video. You gotta have a lyrics sheet to understand the reverernd. Read that the inserted message from the reverend is from a 1941 recording of messages. Simon remains a major creative force.
Roger Green
1941 sermon. Simon (and Garfunkel) were born in 1941. Coincidence? I think not.
jjiacobucci
Total agreement
Matt The Mick
It’s good details that makes good stories. That’s a good detail.
Harbringe
Righteous tune
Stephen Long
He kicked it UPPPPPP
Brenda Pugh
Great song. great video
MVerdoux
Thank you for saving this! For some reason it's blocked or gone from Simon's own channel (only the 2nd version is available.)
Stephen DaParma
Getting ready!!!