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."
Quality
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's got quality
Come on baby, let's go downtown
Little girl, you sure look good to me
The way you move
It's got quality
Step in the light so I can see
The way you move
It's got quality
I want to know
Are you my beautiful young boy
Or just another love
Passing through my life
I need to know
Will you be my sorrow and my joy
And maybe one day soon
Will I be your wife
Come on baby, let's rock some more
I want to spend my salary
The way you move
It's got quality
Come on baby, let's go downtown
Little girl, you sure look good to me
The way you move
It's got quality
I want to know
Are you my beautiful young boy
Or just another love
Passing through my life
I need to know
Will you be my sorrow and my joy
And maybe one day soon
Will I be your wife
Quiero saber
Quiero saber
Nadie nunca sabe
En la vida
The way you move
It's got quality
In Paul Simon's song Quality, the singer is drawn to an attractive woman and is intrigued by the way she moves. He repeatedly states that her movements have "quality" implying that he is mesmerized by her grace and elegance. He takes the opportunity to ask her various questions, such as whether she is simply a passing lover or someone who will have a more significant impact in his life. He even contemplates whether she could be his future spouse. Simon's lyrics illustrate how one can be drawn to another based solely on their physical movements, and how this attraction can lead to excitement and uncertainty about the future.
The song also includes some Spanish lyrics towards the end, with the phrase "Quiero saber" repeating several times. This translates to "I want to know" which suggests that the singer still has unanswered questions about his love interest. The use of Spanish also emphasizes the multicultural aspect of the song, which is characteristic of Simon's musical style.
Overall, Quality is a catchy tune that explores themes such as attraction, uncertainty, and cultural diversity. Simon's lyrics highlight the power of physical movements to spark interest, as well as the anxiety and questioning that can arise in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
The way you move
Paul Simon is admiring the way this person moves.
It's got quality
The way this person moves is of exceptional quality, and it's admirable.
Come on baby, let's go downtown
Paul Simon wants to take this person out to the city and enjoy their time together.
Little girl, you sure look good to me
Paul Simon finds this person attractive and is complimenting them on their looks.
Come on baby, now don't be shy
Paul Simon is encouraging this person to be confident and open with him.
Step in the light so I can see
Paul Simon wants this person to come out of their hiding place and let him admire them further.
I want to know
Paul Simon is expressing his desire to know more about this person.
Are you my beautiful young boy
Paul Simon is wondering if this person is the one he's been looking for.
Or just another love
Paul Simon is questioning if this person is just another temporary fling.
Passing through my life
Paul Simon is wondering if this person will just be a brief part of his life.
I need to know
Paul Simon states that it's important for him to learn more about this person.
Will you be my sorrow and my joy
Paul Simon is asking if this person will be with him through both the good and bad times.
And maybe one day soon
Paul Simon is dreaming of a potential future with this person.
Will I be your wife
Paul Simon is asking if this person will be his lifelong partner.
Come on baby, let's rock some more
Paul Simon wants to dance and have fun with this person for a longer period.
I want to spend my salary
Paul Simon is willing to spend his money on this person.
Quiero saber
This is the Spanish translation of 'I want to know.' Paul Simon repeats this line to emphasize the importance of knowing more about this person.
Nadie nunca sabe
This is the Spanish translation of 'Nobody never knows.' Paul Simon is expressing uncertainty about the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WALCOTT, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind