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."
Learn How to Fall
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you learn to fly
And mama, mama it ain't no lie
Before you learn to fly
Learn how to fall
You got to drift in the breeze
Before you set your sails
Before you set your sails
Drift in the breeze
Oh and it's the same old story
Ever since the world began
Everybody got the runs for glory
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan
You got to learn how to fall
Before you learn to fly
The tank towns they tell no lie
Before you learn to fly
Learn how to fall
The lyrics in Paul Simon's song "Learn How to Fall" present an important message about the process of learning and growing. The first verse emphasizes the importance of failure as a necessary step in success. To "learn how to fall" means to experience setbacks and challenges, and to learn from them in order to improve and move forward. The second verse speaks to the importance of preparation and patience. Before setting off on a journey, one must first learn to "drift in the breeze," or take calculated risks and make adjustments along the way.
The chorus repeats the message of the first verse, emphasizing the importance of facing failure and challenges in order to ultimately succeed. The final verse speaks to a common experience of humanity - the desire for success and glory, without taking the time to evaluate and plan accordingly.
Overall, "Learn How to Fall" is a reminder that growth and success are not linear processes. They require patience, perseverance, and the ability to learn from mistakes and failures. By accepting and embracing the inevitability of falling, one can build resilience and ultimately succeed.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to learn how to fall
In order to succeed, you have to learn how to fail first and how to get back up.
Before you learn to fly
You must accept that failure is part of the process of achieving success.
And mama, mama it ain't no lie
The advice is truthful and tried and tested.
Before you learn to fly
It is important to face and overcome failures to reach success.
Learn how to fall
Learning resilience and endurance is key to achieving your dreams.
You got to drift in the breeze
You need to take your time and observe before you act.
Before you set your sails
Don't be too quick to take action, take time to reflect and plan first.
It's an occupation where the wind prevails
Success is not always in your control, sometimes you have to rely on external factors to reach your goals.
Before you set your sails
Taking the time to prepare allows you to be more successful once you take action.
Drift in the breeze
Take the time to reflect and observe the situation before you take action.
Oh and it's the same old story
These principles have always applied to achieving success.
Ever since the world began
Throughout history, people have had to learn these lessons to achieve their goals.
Everybody got the runs for glory
Everyone wants success and recognition.
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan
People often rush into action without properly planning or analyzing their approach to success.
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan
Many people blindly pursue their goals without reflecting on the best approach to achieve them.
You got to learn how to fall
Failing is part of the process of achieving success.
Before you learn to fly
In order to achieve success, you must first learn to deal with and overcome failure.
The tank towns they tell no lie
Experience has shown that success is not always easy or guaranteed, especially in more challenging areas.
Before you learn to fly
Persevering through failure is key to eventually achieving success.
Learn how to fall
Developing resilience and persistence is essential to reach your goals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind