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."
Outrageous
Paul Simon Lyrics
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Outrageous the crime some human beings must endure.
It's a blessing to wash your face in the summer solstice rain.
It's outrageous a man like me stand here and complain.
But I'm tired, nine hundred sit-ups a day.
I'm painting my hair the colour of mud, mud, okay?
I'm tired, tired
I'm painting my hair the colour of mud.
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Tell me, who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Aw, who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
It's outrageous the food they try to serve in a public school.
Outrageous, the way they talk to you like you're some kind of clinical fool
It's a blessing to rest my head in the circle of your love.
It's outrageous I can't stop thinking about the things I'm thinking of.
And I'm tired, nine hundred sit-ups a day.
I'm painting my hair the colour of mud, mud, okay?
I'm tired, tired, anybody care what I say? No!
Painting my hair the colour of mud.
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Tell me, who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Tell me, who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
God will,
Like he waters the flowers on your window sill.
Take me, I'm an ordinary player in the key of C,
And my will was broken by my pride and my vanity
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
God will,
Like he waters the flowers on your window sill.
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
The lyrics to Paul Simon's song "Outrageous" reflect a complex mix of social criticism, personal reflection, and existential questioning. The opening lines, "It's outrageous to line your pockets off the misery of the poor / Outrageous the crime some human beings must endure," establish a theme of societal injustice, focused on the exploitation of the disadvantaged by the wealthy and powerful. The juxtaposition of this with the line "It's a blessing to wash your face in the summer solstice rain" highlights the natural beauty and simplicity that is denied to many people due to systemic inequalities.
The following verse shifts to a personal perspective, with the repeated refrain "I'm tired, nine hundred sit-ups a day / I'm painting my hair the colour of mud, mud, okay? / I'm tired, tired / Anybody care what I say? No! / Painting my hair the colour of mud." The character in the song seems to be struggling with feelings of fatigue, boredom, and invisibility, perhaps reflecting a broader sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with contemporary society. The second verse returns to the theme of social critique, invoking "the food they try to serve in a public school" and the condescension with which students are often treated. The final verse shifts again, suggesting a spiritual resolution to the various conflicts and anxieties presented throughout the song: "God will… water the flowers on your window sill" and "Take me, I'm an ordinary player in the key of C" expressing a sense of humility and acceptance.
Overall, the lyrics to "Outrageous" offer a complex and thought-provoking exploration of themes of social injustice, personal dissatisfaction, and spiritual faith.
Line by Line Meaning
It's outrageous to line your pockets off the misery of the poor.
It is unacceptable for anyone to profit from the suffering of the less fortunate.
Outrageous the crime some human beings must endure.
It is heartbreaking to witness the injustices some people have to go through.
It's a blessing to wash your face in the summer solstice rain.
It is a privilege to experience the purity and tranquility of nature.
It's outrageous a man like me stand here and complain.
It is hypocritical for someone with privilege to whine about their life.
But I'm tired, nine hundred sit-ups a day.
Despite physical exhaustion, I continue to push myself every day.
I'm painting my hair the colour of mud, mud, okay?
I am deliberately making myself look unattractive to rebel against societal standards.
Anybody care what I say? No!
I feel unheard and unimportant in a world that values superficial things.
Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
The singer questions the sincerity of love that is based on physical appearances.
It's outrageous the food they try to serve in a public school.
The quality of food served in public schools is unacceptable.
Outrageous, the way they talk to you like you're some kind of clinical fool.
The way some people are condescended to is infuriating.
It's a blessing to rest my head in the circle of your love.
Being loved by someone brings comfort and contentment.
It's outrageous I can't stop thinking about the things I'm thinking of.
The singer feels guilty for obsessing over trivial matters when there are bigger problems in the world.
God will, like he waters the flowers on your window sill.
The singer believes that even when people lose their looks, there is still someone who will love and care for them.
Take me, I'm an ordinary player in the key of C,
The singer sees himself as just an average person.
And my will was broken by my pride and my vanity
The singer admits that his ego has caused him to make mistakes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind