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."
Loneliness
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're gone and I must confess
My nights are spreadin' misery
Call me my sorrow and misery
Mmm, loneliness
Although I'm playing the part
I can't decieve my heart
Altough I laugh it's just a pose
Inside I cry though nobody knows
Mmm, lonelines
There's no one to share my loneliness
Nor to fill this emptiness
I can't forget your memory
At night it haunts my reverie
And now I know one pain is you
Without your love I can't endure
Mmm, loneliness
Mmm
, loneliness is a poignant representation of the pain of separation and loss. The repetitive use of "Mmm, loneliness" suggests that the singer can't quite escape the feelings of loneliness that come with the absence of a loved one. The first verse sets up the tone of the song with the singer acknowledging that the loneliness has taken over his life, and no matter how hard he tries to put on a brave face, he cannot deceive his heart. The second verse sheds light on the dichotomy of the situation as the singer goes through the motions of trying to distract himself from the pain of missing his loved one by posing, but inside he is crying. The third verse goes even deeper, revealing that the root of the pain is the memory of the person he has lost, and the haunting memories that refuse to fade. The last line, "Without your love, I can't endure," is a heart-wrenching admission that the singer is lost without the love that he has lost.
All in all, Loneliness is a powerful song that exposes the realities of separation and how it affects people. The lyrics are vulnerable and emotive, and they connect with listeners on a fundamental level. It's a perfect example of how Paul Simon's music has the power to move people and make them feel seen and heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmm, loneliness
The singer is acknowledging the feeling of loneliness.
You're gone and I must confess
The singer admits that they are confessing because someone they loved is not with them anymore.
My nights are spreadin' misery
The singer's nights are filled with sadness and they are struggling to cope with it.
Call me my sorrow and misery
The artist feels like their sorrow and misery are so strong that they have become a part of their identity.
Although I'm playing the part
The artist is pretending to be okay in front of others.
I can't decieve my heart
The singer knows that they cannot pretend to be happy if they are not feeling it in their heart.
Altough I laugh it's just a pose
The singer may seem happy or laugh, but it's just a way to cover up their true feelings of loneliness and sadness.
Inside I cry though nobody knows
The artist is hiding their pain and crying inside where nobody can see them.
There's no one to share my loneliness
The artist feels like there is no one they can talk to or share their feelings with.
Nor to fill this emptiness
The artist's loneliness has left them feeling empty and they don't know how to fill that void.
I can't forget your memory
The singer is still holding onto memories of someone they loved despite their absence.
At night it haunts my reverie
The thought of the person they miss is often on the artist's mind, especially at night when they are alone.
And now I know one pain is you
The singer knows that this loneliness and sadness they are feeling is a result of the absence of the person they loved.
Without your love I can't endure
The singer has come to the realization that they can't deal with their emotions and pain anymore without the love and support of the person they miss.
Mmm, loneliness
The singer is repeating the acknowledgement of loneliness, emphasizing the depth of their feeling.
Contributed by Ian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.