Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, Simon's career has spanned six decades. Born in New Jersey, Simon grew up in the borough of Queens in New York City and developed an interest in rock music in his teens.

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."

Long Long Day
Paul Simon Lyrics

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It's been a long, long day
I got some run-down shoes
Ain't got no place to stay
But any old place will be okay
It's been a long, long day

Good night
Good night

Oh, my love

I've sure been on this road
Done nearly fourteen years
Can't say my name's well known
You don't see my face in Rolling Stone
But I've sure been on this road

Good night
Good night
My love
Slow motion
Half a dollar bill
Jukebox in the corner
Shooting to kill
And it's been a

It's been a long, long day
I sure could use a friend
Don't know what else to say
I hate to abuse an old cliche

But it's been a long, long day
It's been a long, long day

Overall Meaning

In Paul Simon's song, "Long Long Day," the lyrics tell the story of a man who has been on the road for a long time. He's tired and worn out, but he keeps pushing on. He has run-down shoes, and no place to stay, but any old place will do. He's been traveling for almost fourteen years, and while he's not well known, he's seen a lot of things along the way.

The lyrics capture the loneliness and desperation of a man who is searching for something, but doesn't quite know what it is. He's tired of being alone, and wishes he had a friend to share his journey with. The slow motion and half a dollar bill mentioned in the lyrics add to the atmosphere of the song, painting a picture of a seedy bar or cheap motel where the man has found himself.

The repetition of "good night, my love" throughout the song could be interpreted as the man saying goodbye to the life he once knew, and to the person he once loved. It's a melancholy song that speaks to the complexities of the human experience, and reminds us that even when we're alone, we're not truly alone.

Line by Line Meaning

It's been a long, long day
The day has felt incredibly long and tiring

I got some run-down shoes
My shoes are old and falling apart

Ain't got no place to stay
I currently have no permanent place of residence

But any old place will be okay
I am not picky about where I stay and will settle for any place

Good night
It is time to go to bed or depart from someone

Good night
Repeating the plea for departure or to sleep

Oh, my love
An expression of affection or endearment towards someone

I've sure been on this road
I have been traveling for a long time

Done nearly fourteen years
I have been traveling for almost fourteen years

Can't say my name's well known
I am not a famous or popular person

You don't see my face in Rolling Stone
I am not featured in popular magazines like Rolling Stone