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 outputâcomprising Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)âkept 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."
Proof
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No easy trick without a guide or walking stick
Begin before the bells of twilight peal
Downhill town
The road ahead
Spiral, as a serpent's bed
A teaspoon of desire for my meal
I trade my tears
To ask the Lord
For proof of love
If only for the consolation
Of gazing at the stars above
Amen, amen, amen
The road is steep
The air is thin
I hear a voice inside my skin
Don't be afraid
Your days won't end with night
Feel the sun
Drink the rain
Let your body heal its pain
Bathe beneath a waterfall of light
I trade my tears
To ask the Lord
For proof of love
If only for the explanation
That tells me what my dreams are made of
Amen, amen
The valley below
An ocean of debris
I ask the Lord for proof of love
Love is all I seek
Love is all I seek
And when at times my words desert me
Music is the tongue I speak
I rest my head beside a white oak tree
No deadly nightshade, Belladonna
Dare lay a leaf on me
Silent night
Still as prayer
Darkness fills with light
Love on Earth is everywhere
The song "Proof" by Paul Simon is a beautiful and profound ode to the journey of life and the search for love. The verses describe the challenges of starting anew and finding one's way through the twists and turns of existence, while the chorus speaks of the desire for proof of love, a reassurance that there is something greater than ourselves in this world.
The first verse, "Begin again / No easy trick without a guide or walking stick / Begin before the bells of twilight peal," sets the stage for the difficulty of starting over and finding one's way. The downhill town and spiral road further emphasize the challenges of the journey. The line "A teaspoon of desire for my meal" suggests that even in the face of difficulties, there is a hunger for something greater, something to sustain us through the hard times.
The chorus, "I trade my tears / To ask the Lord / For proof of love / If only for the consolation / Of gazing at the stars above," expresses the yearning for proof of love and a connection to something greater. The repetition of "amen" further emphasizes the spiritual nature of this quest. The second verse offers more encouragement, urging the listener to "Drink the rain" and "Bathe beneath a waterfall of light." The goal is to find healing and renewal in the natural world, to embrace love in all its forms.
The final verse brings the song to a peaceful and hopeful conclusion, with the image of the singer resting his head beside a white oak tree. The line "Music is the tongue I speak" reminds us of the power of art to express our deepest feelings and connect us to others. The closing lines affirm that love is always present, even in the darkest of times.
Overall, "Proof" is a song that speaks to the human experience of struggle and renewal, of faith and doubt, and ultimately of the solace and joy that can be found in connecting with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Begin again
Starting afresh
No easy trick without a guide or walking stick
The journey will be difficult and will require assistance
Begin before the bells of twilight peal
Start early to avoid running out of time
Downhill town
The place where things become easier
The road ahead
The future
Spiral, as a serpent's bed
The path is winding and unpredictable
A teaspoon of desire for my meal
I want just a little of what I crave
I trade my tears
I offer my sorrow
To ask the Lord
To seek guidance from a higher power
For proof of love
To receive confirmation of affection
If only for the consolation
Even if it provides only a little comfort
Of gazing at the stars above
By looking up at the sky
Amen, amen, amen
An expression of agreement or affirmation
The road is steep
The path is difficult
The air is thin
Life is scarce
I hear a voice inside my skin
I listen to my inner self
Don't be afraid
Do not fear
Your days won't end with night
Life goes on
Feel the sun
Experience warmth
Drink the rain
Take what is offered
Let your body heal its pain
Allow yourself to recover
Bathe beneath a waterfall of light
Immerse yourself in happiness
If only for the explanation
Even if it only makes sense in my mind
That tells me what my dreams are made of
What inspires me
The valley below
The place where I came from
An ocean of debris
A mess of unwanted things
Love is all I seek
I only want affection
And when at times my words desert me
When I can't express myself
Music is the tongue I speak
I turn to sound to communicate
I rest my head beside a white oak tree
I take a break for rejuvenation
No deadly nightshade, Belladonna
I avoid danger
Dare lay a leaf on me
I am cautious
Silent night
A time of peace
Still as prayer
As quiet as a spiritual offering
Darkness fills with light
Hope arrives
Love on Earth is everywhere
Affection exists all around us
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clayeedou5774
Woooooow !!! I'm from Cameroon and this makes me so proud. Many of the musicians who played on that record are from Cameroon (Georges Seba, André Manga...) as well as the background singers (Charlotte Mbango, Sissy Dipoko and Florence Gnimagnon). There is even a chorus in bulu, my native language ("Eh ah... Wa yi na me bo ayaaaaa eh ah" which means "What do you want me to do?")
@julieholt7889
Thanks for this info! I really love the way Paul so obviously loved, connected with and elevated rhythms from all around the world. His affection and respect for these artists is so evident and tender.
@armelmba509
237 brother
@raidrfrk
Ever listen to King Sunny Ade'
@yourskinyourhealth9338
My native language and first cousin of George Seba . Iâm so proud of my tribe.
@rach9466
@Liz Muschinski right? My favorite too, love the blend of Western and African elements. â€ïž
@justjennie7394
This video was filmed in my hometown of Richmond Virginia at our annual Christmas parade. It was the biggest thing to hit the city in decadesâ€
@lauretteRHPS
My mom loves to tell the story, we were there! She went to go get us cocoa and walked into a staging area, and saw Chevy Chase getting out of the car, and of course freaked out "oh my god it's chevy chase it's chevy chase" and right beside her she heard a very mocking voice go "Oh it's chevy chase!" like making fun of her, so she turned around it was Steve Martin, he cracked up and patted her on the shoulder and she was too stunned to speak.
@henriolamachannel
Proof is a rhythm of Central Africa called Bikutsi. To achieve this, Paul Simon had the collaboration of Cameroonian musicians such as Martino Atangana, Vincent Nguini, Armand Sabbal-Lecco and Georges Seba ...
@armelmba509
Exactly...the beat is purely Bikutsi from the Beti ethnic group in Cameroon