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 Love You
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't flee when the battle's already won
Don't sit when you ought to take a stand
Don't fold before you've seen a hand
Never fear the things that you love
You are here, you're not giving up
Never falter in your defeat
When you fall, get back on your feet
Don't doubt when the waves begin to break
Don't fear when the sky is getting dark
Don't shrug when you know it in your heart
Never fear the things that you love
You are here, you're not giving up
Never falter in your defeat
When you fall, get back on your feet
The lyrics to Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel's song "You Sexy Thing" convey a message of resilience, courage, and determination. The song encourages the listener to not be passive or complacent in the face of challenges but to instead take action, stand up for what they believe in, and persevere.
The opening lines "Don't walk when you know you ought to run" and "Don't flee when the battle's already won" suggest that sometimes we hold ourselves back even when we are capable of achieving more. It is a call to embrace ambition and seize opportunities rather than settling for mediocrity.
Further, the lyrics advise against giving up too easily. They emphasize the importance of not folding before seeing the full potential of a situation and not allowing defeat to define one's self-confidence. Instead, we should embrace resilience and get back on our feet when we stumble or fall.
The refrain "Never fear the things that you love, you are here, you're not giving up, never falter in your defeat, when you fall, get back on your feet" encapsulates the central message of the song. It serves as a reminder that pursuing what we love, staying steadfast in our beliefs, and pushing through setbacks are crucial for personal growth and success.
Overall, "You Sexy Thing" is an empowering anthem that encourages us to be bold, courageous, and unafraid to face life's challenges head-on. It exemplifies the power of determination and resilience in achieving our goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't walk when you know you ought to run
Don't choose a slower path when you have the ability to go faster
Don't flee when the battle's already won
Don't run away from a situation that has already been resolved in your favor
Don't sit when you ought to take a stand
Don't remain passive when you should voice your opinion or take action
Don't fold before you've seen a hand
Don't give up or surrender before fully understanding or experiencing a situation
Never fear the things that you love
Always have courage and confidence in pursuing your passions and interests
You are here, you're not giving up
You are present in this moment, showing determination and resilience
Never falter in your defeat
Even in times of failure, continue to hold your ground and remain steadfast
When you fall, get back on your feet
After experiencing a setback or failure, gather yourself and strive to move forward
Don't sleep when you know you ought to wake
Don't remain oblivious or inactive when you should be alert and engaged
Don't doubt when the waves begin to break
Don't hesitate or question yourself when challenges or difficulties arise
Don't fear when the sky is getting dark
Don't be afraid when things seem daunting or uncertain
Don't shrug when you know it in your heart
Don't ignore or downplay something that you truly feel or believe
Never fear the things that you love
Always face your passions and desires with bravery and determination
You are here, you're not giving up
You are present and committed, refusing to surrender or quit
Never falter in your defeat
Even in times of loss or failure, remain strong and unwavering
When you fall, get back on your feet
After experiencing a stumble or setback, persevere and rise again
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Simon Arneberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jake Piluso
When I was a little boy
(When I was just a boy)
And the Devil called my name
(When I was just a boy)
I'd say, "Now who do (who)
Who do you think you're fooling?"
(When I was just a boy)
I'm a consecrated boy
(When I was just a boy)
Singer in a Sunday choir
Oh, my mama loves me, she loves me
She get down on her knees and hug me
Oh, she loves me like a rock
She rock me like the rock of ages
And loves me
She love me, love me, love me, love me
When I was grown to be a man
(Grown to be a man)
And the Devil would call my name
(Grown to be a man)
I'd say "now who do (who)
Who do you think you're fooling?"
(Grown to be a man)
I'm a consummated man
(Grown to be a man)
I can snatch a little purity
My mama loves me, she loves me
She get down on her knees and hug me
Oh, she loves me like a rock
She rock me like the rock of ages
And loves me
She love me, love me, love me, love me
And if I was President
(Was the president)
The minute the Congress called my name
(Was the president)
I'd say "now who do (who)
Who do you think you're fooling?"
(Who do you think you're fooling?)
I've got the presidential seal
(Was the president)
I'm up on the presidential podium
My mama loves me, she loves me
She get down on her knees and hug me
Oh, and she loves me like a rock
She rock me like the rock of ages
And love me
She love me, love me, love me, love me
(Loves me like a rock)
She love me, love me, love me, love me
(Loves me like a rock)
She love me, love me, love me, love me
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock)
(Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
Paige Kauffman
My mom recently passed away.. she would always say “I love you like a rock” .. I always knew it was from a song but didn’t know specifics. I just googled & found this today & my heart is full ❤️
Craig Jackson
That is SO BEAUTIFUL 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS YOU JUST MADE MY DAY . GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR DEAR MOM 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Joanie Bentley
This is me and my mom's song. When I was little I asked her why he doesn't say his mom loves him like a cake. Hee hee
Marilee Dent
Beautiful
Mary Powers
whispers, "hear the flutter of Angels dancing!"
Captain Keyboard
I regret your loss and the absence of your Mommy. "Love Me Like a Rock" deserves to played in pleasant occasions. It is my favorite song. I hope and pray that our Sweet and Gracious Great God will take well care of you even more.
lotus1111
This song popped into my head at almost 3 am, so I had to listen...Thank you Paul Simon, forever an amazingly gifted artist!
DrDebD3899
I love it.
Emily Lee
Sabbath maiden fan 😊😊😊😊😊♥️😃🤔😌😆😍🙃😶🙃🙂🙃🙂🙃😶
SciFiGirl007
So funny... last night this song popped in my head as well!