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."
Love Is Eternal Sacred Light
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Free from the shackles of time
Evil is darkness, sight without sight
A demon that feeds on the mind
How'd it all begin? Started with a bang
Couple of light years later, stars and planets sang
Fire warmed the cold, waves of colors flew
Love is eternal sacred light
Free from the shackles of time
Evil is darkness, sight without sight
A demon that feeds on the mind
Earth becomes a farm
Farmer takes a wife
Wife becomes a river and the giver of life
Man becomes machine
Oil runs down his face
Machine becomes a man with a bomb in the marketplace
Bomb in the marketplace, bomb in the marketplace
Love is eternal sacred light
Free from the shackles of time
Evil is darkness, sight without sight
A demon that feeds on the mind
Big Bang
That's a joke that I made up
Once when I had eons to kill
You know, most folks
They don't get when I'm joking
Well, maybe someday they will
Love me
Love me
That's the main request I receive
Well you know I love all my children
And it tears me up when I leave
But sometimes you gotta fly down that highway
Free as a bird, knock on wood, thank the Lord
I am driving along in my automobile
It's a brand new pre-owned '96 Ford
Check out the radio, pop music station
That don't sound like my music to me
Talk show host, what's that boy's name?
Politics is ugly
At the end of the dial there's the gospel show
Maybe now I can exit and rest
There's a blizzard rolling down off the banks of Lake Michigan
Gonna cover the roads of the icy Midwest
Love is eternal sacred light
Free from the shackles of time
Evil is darkness, sight without sight
A demon that feeds all the mind
Love is eternal sacred light
Love is eternal sacred light
Love is eternal sacred light
In this song, Paul Simon reflects on the contrast between good and evil, light and darkness, and the eternity of love. He describes love as a sacred and eternal light that is free from the constraints of time. Simon describes evil as darkness that blinds and devours the mind. He reflects on the origins of the universe and the evolution of life on earth, tracing it back to the Big Bang and the birth of stars and planets. He juxtaposes this cosmic perspective with the mundane realities of life, from farming and marriage to industrialization and war. He acknowledges the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, but also celebrates the power of love to transcend time and space.
One possible interpretation of the song is that Simon is presenting a cosmic and spiritual vision of love as a force that transcends the limitations of the physical world and the human condition. He suggests that love is not just a human emotion, but a universal principle that underlies the universe itself. He contrasts this with the destructive power of evil, which he portrays as a demonic force that feeds on human suffering and ignorance. At the same time, he acknowledges the paradoxes and ironies of life, including the gap between our cosmic aspirations and our mundane realities.
Overall, "Love Is Eternal Sacred Light" is a thought-provoking and poetic meditation on the meaning of love, life, and eternity. It highlights the tension between our cosmic aspirations and our human limitations, and suggests that the best way to confront this tension is through the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is eternal sacred light
Love is a never-ending, everlasting light that is sacred and pure.
Free from the shackles of time
Love exists outside of time and space, it is not limited by any temporal constraints.
Evil is darkness, sight without sight
Evil is represented by darkness because it is a lack of goodness or light, and it blinds us to the truth.
A demon that feeds on the mind
Evil is like a demon that preys on our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, corrupting our mind and devouring our soul.
How'd it all begin? Started with a bang
The universe began with a cosmic explosion known as the Big Bang, which created space, time and all matter in the universe.
Couple of light years later, stars and planets sang
After the Big Bang, stars and planets were formed, and each celestial body radiates its own unique energy and sound.
Fire warmed the cold, waves of colors flew
As the universe expanded, energy was transformed into light and heat, creating vibrant, colorful swirls in space.
Moonlight into gold, earth to green and blue
The moon reflects the sun's light, creating a beautiful golden glow. The Earth is filled with life, which manifests as green and blue colors.
Earth becomes a farm
Humans have transformed the Earth into a vast farm, cultivating crops and extracting resources for their own benefit.
Farmer takes a wife
In traditional societies, a man would marry a woman to help him with his farming duties and to raise children.
Wife becomes a river and the giver of life
Women give birth and nourish their offspring with milk just like a river nourishes the land and creates life.
Man becomes machine
Humans have created machines that perform tasks more efficiently than humans, replacing the need for human labor.
Oil runs down his face
Oil is a valuable resource that humans have exploited to run machines and fuel their economies, but this has resulted in environmental degradation and pollution.
Machine becomes a man with a bomb in the marketplace
Technology has allowed us to make powerful weapons that can cause destruction and devastation, and when those weapons end up in the wrong hands, they can cause chaos and tragedies.
That's a joke that I made up
The idea of the Big Bang being a joke shows that not everyone is able to appreciate or understand important scientific concepts.
Once when I had eons to kill
As a cosmic being, Paul Simon has lived for billions of years and experienced time differently than mortals.
Love me
Paul Simon is asking for love and affection from his fans and followers.
That's the main request I receive
Despite his legendary status, all Paul Simon really wants is love.
Well you know I love all my children
Paul Simon sees his fans as his children, and he loves them all equally.
And it tears me up when I leave
Leaving his fans behind is a painful experience for Paul Simon, as he feels a deep connection with them.
But sometimes you gotta fly down that highway
As a traveler and musician, Paul Simon needs to move on and explore new horizons, even though it's difficult for him to leave his fans behind.
Free as a bird, knock on wood, thank the Lord
Paul Simon feels liberated and grateful for his freedom to travel and perform, and he's hoping that his journey will be a success.
Check out the radio, pop music station
Paul Simon is listening to a pop music station, which is not really his style of music.
That don't sound like my music to me
Although Paul Simon respects other genres of music, he has his own unique style of music that he prefers to listen to and perform.
Talk show host, what's that boy's name?
Paul Simon is listening to a talk show but doesn't recognize the name of the host or the guest.
Politics is ugly
The talk show conversation has turned to politics, which Paul Simon sees as an unpleasant topic.
At the end of the dial there's the gospel show
Paul Simon has switched channels and is now listening to a religious program.
Maybe now I can exit and rest
The religious message gives Paul Simon peace of mind and helps him relax and reflect on his journey.
There's a blizzard rolling down off the banks of Lake Michigan
The weather is changing, and Paul Simon knows that he must be careful if he wants to reach his destination safely.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind