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."
Let Me Live in Your City
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got the look of love light in your eyes
And I was in crazy motion 'til you called me down
You took a little time but you called me down
Oh, let me live in your city, the river so pretty, the air so fine
Rent me a room where I can lay over
Oh, I'm just a traveler eatin' up traveling time
They got a wall in China, it's a thousand miles long
To keep out the foreigners they built it strong
And I got a wall around me, you can't even see me
It took a little time to get to me
Oh, let me live in your city, the river so pretty, the air so fine
Rent me a room where I can lay over
Oh, I'm just a traveler eatin' up traveling time
I'm just a traveler eatin' up my traveling time
Some people never say the words, 'I love you'
It's not their style to be so bold
Some people never say those words, 'I love you'
But like a child they're longing to be told
Let me live in that city, the river so pretty, the air so fine
Rent me a room where I can lay over
Oh, I'm just a traveler eatin' up traveling time
Oh, I'm just a traveler eatin' up my traveling time
The first stanza of the song depicts the singer, who is in a state of feverish motion, being called down by their lover. The opening phrase, "You got the cool water when the fever runs high," is a metaphor for the way in which the singer's lover is able to put out the fire in their soul and bring them back to reality. The next line, "You got the look of love light in your eyes," suggests that the singer's lover is a source of comfort and security for them.
The second stanza transitions to the singer's desire to live in the city of their lover. They speak of the river being pretty and the air being fine, which could symbolize the freedom and openness that the city offers compared to the closed-off nature of the singer’s life. The line "I'm just a traveler eatin' up traveling time" could also be interpreted as the singer's search for something more meaningful than just moving from one place to another without purpose or direction.
The final stanza is a reflection on the power of love and how it can bring out vulnerability in people who may not traditionally express their feelings. The singer acknowledges that not everyone is open with expressing their love, but that deep down, everyone wants to be told that they are loved.
Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the need for human connection and the desire for a place to call home. The singer is searching for a sense of stability and security that they have never had before, and they believe they might find it in the city of their lover.
Line by Line Meaning
You got the cool water when the fever runs high
You have everything needed to calm me down when I am feeling sick and agitated.
You got the look of love light in your eyes
The love and care you show me shines through your eyes giving me a sense of comfort and happiness.
And I was in crazy motion 'til you called me down
I was lost and restless until you came and grounded me, giving me direction and purpose.
You took a little time but you called me down
It didn't take too long for you to come into my life and ease me out of chaos.
Oh, let me live in your city, the river so pretty, the air so fine
Please allow me to reside in your beautiful city surrounded by lovely waterways and fresh air.
Rent me a room where I can lay over
Give me a space to rest temporarily when I am in the area.
Oh, I'm just a traveler eatin' up traveling time
As an adventurer, I love to explore, so I want to make use of my time to travel to new places.
They got a wall in China, it's a thousand miles long
There is a massive and sturdy wall in China meant to keep foreigners out.
To keep out the foreigners they built it strong
The wall is durable to serve the purpose of keeping unwanted people out of China.
And I got a wall around me, you can't even see me
I have built an emotional barrier around myself which makes it hard for people to connect with me.
It took a little time to get to me
It took some time for you to earn my trust and reach out to me behind my walls.
Some people never say the words, 'I love you'
There are people who find it difficult to express love verbally; they refrain from saying 'I love you.'
It's not their style to be so bold
Being upfront and expressing oneself openly is not characteristic of these people.
But like a child they're longing to be told
Somewhat akin to a child's need to be reassured and comforted, these people crave love and affection.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind