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."
Killer Wants to Go to College II
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you're trying to protect me
Searching for another truth
With your language and your poetry
From my ignorance and youth
Hey I did not come to argue
My life never made much sense
You're my only defense
I don't understand your writing
I could barely sign my name
All I ever learned was fighting
But I'm not the only one to blame
The streets were dark with danger
I have to stand up for my friends
In a land where I'm a stranger
And the hatred never ends
Inmate
Killer wants to go on t.v.
[interview]
The lyrics of Paul Simon's "Killer Wants To Go To College II" reflect the conversation between two individuals, Sal and an inmate. Sal can be perceived as an intellectual, while the inmate is from the streets and has a criminal history. Sal is trying to convey his message through language and poetry as he wants the inmate to understand his viewpoint. The inmate acknowledges Sal's concern for him and tells him that his life has not been easy, and he had to resort to fighting to survive.
The inmate acknowledges his inability to understand Sal's writing and wishes to hug him, which shows his emotional vulnerability. He, however, takes responsibility for his actions and acknowledges that he is not the only one to blame. He had to protect his friends from the danger lurking in the dark and hated land where he is a stranger. The last lines of the song suggest that the inmate, despite his circumstances, has aspirations to be on TV, which shows the stark contrast between his reality and dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Sal
The singer is addressing someone named Sal, who they believe is attempting to shelter them from the truth with poetic language.
I know you're trying to protect me
The singer understands that Sal is attempting to keep them safe from harm and difficult truths.
Searching for another truth
Sal is on the lookout for an alternative or hidden truth behind the situation.
With your language and your poetry
Sal is using artistic expression to convey their thoughts and insights to the artist.
From my ignorance and youth
The artist feels like their naivete and inexperience is being combated by Sal's guidance.
Hey I did not come to argue
The singer is not interested in conflict and would prefer to avoid it.
My life never made much sense
The singer's life has been complicated and difficult to comprehend.
I just wish that I could hug you
The artist feels grateful towards Sal and wishes to express their appreciation by showing physical affection.
You're my only defense
Sal is the single individual who the artist believes can safeguard them from danger.
I don't understand your writing
The artist is having trouble comprehending Sal's poetic writing style.
I could barely sign my name
The singer did not receive a thorough education and is barely literate.
All I ever learned was fighting
The artist's life experiences have been primarily violent and combative.
But I'm not the only one to blame
The singer feels guilty for their actions, but understands that others have played a role in shaping their behavior.
The streets were dark with danger
The singer's environment is riddled with risk and potential peril.
I have to stand up for my friends
The singer feels a sense of obligation to defend their loved ones from harm.
In a land where I'm a stranger
The artist is unfamiliar with their surroundings and the culture of the region they are in.
And the hatred never ends
The animosity and discrimination they experience seems to be never-ending.
Killer wants to go on t.v.
An inmate, who is referred to as Killer, expresses interest in appearing on television as an assertion of power or notoriety.
[interview]
The song concludes with this signifier indicating a hypothetical interview with Killer to follow.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WALCOTT, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind