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."
I Don't Believe
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lead us past dangers as light melts the darkness
But I don't believe, and I'm not consoled
I lean closer to the fire, but I'm cold
The earth was born in a storm
The waters receded, the mountains were formed
"The universe loves a drama," you know
I got a call from my broker
The broker informed me I'm broke
I was dealing my last hand of poker
My cards were useless as smoke
Oh, guardian angel
Don't taunt me like this, on a clear summer evening as soft as a kiss
My children are laughing, not a whisper of care
My love is brushing her long chestnut hair
I don't believe a heart can be filled to the brim
Then vanish like mist as though life were a whim
Maybe the heart is part of the mist
And that's all that there is or could ever exist
Maybe and maybe and maybe some more
Maybe's the exit that I'm looking for
I got a call from my broker
The broker said he was mistaken
Maybe some virus or brokerage joke
And he hopes that my faith isn't shaken
Acts of kindness
Like rain in a draught
Release the spirit with a whoop and a shout
I don't believe we were born to be sheep in a flock
To pantomime prayers with the hands of a clock
In Paul Simon's song, "I Don't Believe", the singer explores the idea of belief and faith. The opening lines compare acts of kindness to breadcrumbs, leading one through difficulty and darkness. However, the singer confesses that they do not believe in such guides and that they are not comforted by them. Instead, they feel cold despite leaning closer to the metaphorical fire.
The song transitions to a commentary on natural disasters and the origin of the world. The lyrics suggest that the universe loves drama and this drama is reflected in the creation of the earth. The singer then receives a call from their broker telling them they are broke, and they reflect on the randomness of life. However, they also mention the happiness around them, with their children playing and their love brushing her hair.
The chorus is repeated throughout the song, providing a sense of hopelessness but also expressing the idea that maybe there is no answer. The singer cannot believe in something that seems so fleeting and intangible. The song concludes with a statement about the beauty of acts of kindness and a suggestion that maybe humans were not meant to follow the crowd blindly in their beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Acts of kindness, like breadcrumbs in a fairytale forest
Kind deeds are like little markers that guide us through life's obstacles.
Lead us past dangers as light melts the darkness
Acts of kindness help us overcome troubles, like light pushes back against the darkness.
But I don't believe, and I'm not consoled
The singer does not have faith in the power of kindness to fix everything.
I lean closer to the fire, but I'm cold
The artist is longing for warmth, comfort, and meaning despite his lack of faith.
The earth was born in a storm
The world has a dramatic and unpredictable history.
The waters receded, the mountains were formed
The world's landscape took shape over time.
"The universe loves a drama," you know
The world has an inherent sense of theatricality and intrigue.
And ladies and gentlemen this is the show
Life, with all its ups and downs, is the ultimate performance piece.
I got a call from my broker
The artist's financial advisor contacted him.
The broker informed me I'm broke
The artist does not have much money left.
I was dealing my last hand of poker
The singer's financial situation was perilous.
My cards were useless as smoke
The artist's assets were depleted and had no value.
Oh, guardian angel
The singer is addressing a supernatural protector.
Don't taunt me like this, on a clear summer evening as soft as a kiss
The singer is begging for comfort and protection during a peaceful moment.
My children are laughing, not a whisper of care
The singer's loved ones are happy and carefree.
My love is brushing her long chestnut hair
The artist's partner is engaging in a mundane yet intimate activity.
I don't believe a heart can be filled to the brim
The artist is skeptical about the possibility of complete fulfillment.
Then vanish like mist as though life were a whim
A sense of happiness can quickly disappear like fog dissipating in the sun.
Maybe the heart is part of the mist
The singer is contemplating the nature of human emotion.
And that's all that there is or could ever exist
Perhaps human emotion is all there is to the human experience.
Maybe and maybe and maybe some more
The artist is uncertain about the answers to fundamental questions.
Maybe's the exit that I'm looking for
Uncertainty, though unnerving, contains a certain freedom.
The broker said he was mistaken
The financial advisor corrected his previous error.
Maybe some virus or brokerage joke
The broker seeks to explain why he gave incorrect information.
And he hopes that my faith isn't shaken
The broker wishes to preserve the singer's confidence in him.
Acts of kindness
Kind deeds performed by people.
Like rain in a draught
Acts of kindness can bring much-needed relief.
Release the spirit with a whoop and a shout
Good deeds can invigorate people and create a sense of joy.
I don't believe we were born to be sheep in a flock
The artist rejects the idea of conformity and the expectation to follow others blindly.
To pantomime prayers with the hands of a clock
The singer is uninterested in going through the motions of religious worship without truly believing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind