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."
One-Trick Pony
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One trick is all that horse can do
He does, one trick only
It's the principal source of his revenue
But when he steps into the spotlight
You can feel the heat of his heart
Come rising through
See how he loops from side to side
See how he prances
The way his hooves just seem to glide
He's just a one-trick pony, that's all he is,
But he turn that trick with pride
He makes it
Look so easy, it looks so clean
He moves like God's immaculate machine
He makes me
Think about, all these extra moves I've made
And all this herky-jerky motion
And the bag of tricks it takes
To get me through my working day
One-trick pony
He's a one-trick pony
He either fails or he succeeds
He gives his, testimony
Then he relaxes in the weeds
He's got one trick to last a lifetime
But that's all a pony needs
Yeah, that's all he needs
Looks so easy, it looks so clean
He moves like God's immaculate machine
He makes me
Think about, all these extra moves I make
And all this herky-jerky motion
And the bag of tricks it takes
To get me through my working day
One-trick pony
One-trick pony
One-trick pony
One-trick pony
One-trick pony
Paul Simon's "One-Trick Pony" is a song that delves into the life of a performer who has found success but with limited abilities. The lyrics portray a man who only has one talent, his one trick, and he relies on it to make a living. Although his success is limited, he takes pride in what he does and performs it with dedication.
The song reveals the performer as he steps onto the stage, and the audience can feel the passion and heat coming from him. The lyrics "See how he dances, See how he loops from side to side, See how he prances, The way his hooves just seem to glide" offer a beautiful imagery of the performance. Despite his limited abilities, he makes it look effortless and beautiful.
The lyrics also suggest the performer's influence on the singer. The performer makes him think about his work and the extra moves that he makes to get through the day. The performer's success and dedication inspire the singer to reflect on his own life and the way he approaches his work. Although the performer may be a one-trick pony, his dedication and passion for his craft are admirable qualities.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a one-trick pony
This person only has one skill to offer.
One trick is all that horse can do
The person's skill is limited and has no other abilities.
He does, one trick only
The person does not have a diverse range of skills.
It's the principal source of his revenue
This one trick is what provides the person with their income.
But when he steps into the spotlight
When it's time to showcase his skill, he shines.
You can feel the heat of his heart
The person puts passion into their one trick.
Come rising through
This passion is evident and visible.
See how he dances
Observe the way in which he performs.
See how he loops from side to side
Witness his unique style and movements.
See how he prances
Notice his graceful and lively behavior.
The way his hooves just seem to glide
It appears effortless, and he does it with ease.
He's just a one-trick pony, that's all he is,
Again, the person's skill is limited and only has one trick.
But he turn that trick with pride
Despite the limitation, the person is proud of their skill and performs it with excellence.
He makes it
The person portrays his skill as easy.
Look so easy, it looks so clean
It seems effortless and without flaws.
He moves like God's immaculate machine
His movements are precise, like a well-oiled machine.
Think about, all these extra moves I've made
The person listening considers their own extra, unnecessary movements.
And all this herky-jerky motion
Their movements are choppy and unpolished.
And the bag of tricks it takes
They require multiple skills and tricks to accomplish their work.
To get me through my working day
These skills are essential for their job, unlike the one-trick pony's skill.
He either fails or he succeeds
The one-trick pony does not have any other alternatives but to fail or succeed.
He gives his, testimony
He showcases his one skill and proves its worth.
Then he relaxes in the weeds
After showcasing his skill, he returns to his normal self and routine.
He's got one trick to last a lifetime
This persons one trick is sufficient for their lifetime.
But that's all a pony needs
Like a pony, the person only requires one skill to survive.
One-trick pony
A reminder of the person's limited and singular skill.
One-trick pony
Again, a reminder that this person has only one trick.
One-trick pony
Tying it back to the title, emphasizing the significance of the one skill.
One-trick pony
A final reminder of the person's singularity of skill.
One-trick pony
The end of the song, and a final reminder of the title.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnzeman7862
How this song only hit #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 around thanksgiving 1980 is just a mystery
Should have gone higher
@natehaux7575
thats how I found it Today, as a matter of fact. a local station replays the cassey Kasem American top 40 on sundays 8-12. this song was on. had to hear it again.
@benphillips3693
I am sorry but this boy absolutely knows rhythm!!!
@mirandac8712
and his stepwise chord progressions (and he has a pretty good drummer, too)
@PhenixDj
@@mirandac8712 Calling Steve Gadd a pretty good drummer is quite the understatement though
@mirandac8712
An underrated song from actually a somewhat underrated film. Great bridge!
@gogoyubari366
Miranda: How do you know it's underrated?
@hmackie6823
The movie is only under rated because they NEVER show it!
@MrButtcrackJones
It has under 1000 ratings on IMDb, less than 500 views on Letterboxd, and after two decades of reading books about films I don't think I've ever seen it discussed or reviewed.
It's a great movie. Yes, it's underrated.
@kidmack3556
I've been waiting to see it on cable/dish/digital etc.etc. ever since I saw the trailer before we watched "Flash Gordon" (1980) at the post theater on Ft. Dix while I was in basic.
Miranda is 100% right, and it never gets shown.