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."
Insomniac's Lullaby
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Side by side with the moon
With its desolate eyes
Miles from the sunrise
The darkness inviting a tune
The insomniac's lullaby
A siren is playing its song in the distance
Gradually, angels reveal their existence
And there's nothing and no one to blame
Oh Lord, don't keep me up all night
Side by side with the moon
Alone in the bed
The season ahead
Is winter that lasts until June
The insomniac's lullaby
Sleep
They say all roads lead to a river
Then one day the river comes up to your door
How will the builder of bridges deliver us all
To the faraway shore?
Oh Lord, don't keep me up all night
With questions I can't understand
While I wrestle my fears
The sound in my ears
Is the music that's sweeping the land
The insomniac's lullaby
Sleep
Soft as a rose
The light from the East
As if all is forgiven and wolves become sheep
We are who we are
Or we're not
But at least we'll eventually all fall asleep
Eventually all fall asleep
The lyrics of Paul Simon's "Insomniac's Lullaby" depict a restless night filled with contemplation and longing for sleep. The singer pleads to the Lord not to keep them awake throughout the night, accompanied by the lonely presence of the moon with its desolate eyes. The darkness and silence of the night create an inviting atmosphere for introspection and reflection, with the insomniac seeking solace in a soothing melody.
The presence of a distant siren adds a haunting element to the scene, as it rattles the old window frame and disrupts the tranquility. However, amidst the restlessness, the singer gradually becomes aware of the existence of angels, thereby shifting the focus from the chaos to a higher spiritual realm. In this moment, the singer finds solace and realizes that there is nothing and no one to blame for their insomnia.
The song draws on metaphors to further convey the inner turmoil experienced by the insomniac. The seasons changing from winter to June symbolize the long duration of the singer's sleeplessness, emphasizing their desperate desire for rest. The lyrics also touch upon the uncertainty of life's journey, where all roads lead to a river that eventually comes up to one's own doorstep. The plea is made to the builder of bridges, questioning how they will deliver us to the faraway shore.
Overall, "Insomniac's Lullaby" captures the emotional and mental restlessness experienced during sleepless nights, while also exploring themes of spirituality and the struggle for peace of mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord, don't keep me up all night
I pray to God to spare me from sleepless nights
Side by side with the moon
In the company of the moon's ethereal presence
With its desolate eyes
With the moon looking lonely and distant
Miles from the sunrise
Far away from the hope and warmth of a new day
The darkness inviting a tune
The darkness encourages a song to be sung
The insomniac's lullaby
A song for those plagued by insomnia
A siren is playing its song in the distance
A distant siren is singing its captivating melody
The melody rattles the old window frame
The melody resonates deeply, shaking the aged window
Gradually, angels reveal their existence
Angels slowly make their presence known
And there's nothing and no one to blame
There is no fault or responsibility to assign
Alone in the bed
Lying solitary, untouched on the bed
The season ahead
The impending time that lies ahead
Is winter that lasts until June
An enduring winter that persists well into summer
Sleep
Find rest and slumber
They say all roads lead to a river
It is said that every path ends at a river
Then one day the river comes up to your door
Eventually, the river reaches your doorstep unexpectedly
How will the builder of bridges deliver us all
How can the one who constructs bridges rescue us
To the faraway shore?
To reach the distant land across the water?
With questions I can't understand
With perplexing inquiries that elude my comprehension
While I wrestle my fears
As I struggle with my inner anxieties
The sound in my ears
The music that reverberates within my ears
Is the music that's sweeping the land
It is the captivating music that engulfs the entire country
Soft as a rose
Gentle and delicate like a blooming flower
The light from the East
The illuminating radiance emerging from the East
As if all is forgiven and wolves become sheep
As if all sins are pardoned and even the most dangerous turn harmless
We are who we are
We remain true to our identities
Or we're not
Otherwise, we simply are not
But at least we'll eventually all fall asleep
Regardless, we will ultimately find rest and slumber
Eventually all fall asleep
Eventually, everyone succumbs to slumber
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind