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."
Questions for the Angels
Paul Simon Lyrics
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Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge
His sneakers torn
In the hour when the homeless
Move their cardboard blankets
And the new day is born
Folded in his backpack pocket
Who am I in this lonely world?
And where will I make my bed tonight?
When twilight turns to dark
Questions for the angels
Who believes in angels?
Fools do
Fools and pilgrims all over the world
If you shop for love in a bargain store
And you don't get what you bargain for
Can you get your money back?
If an empty train in a railroad station
Calls you to its destination
Can you choose another track?
Will I wake up from these violent dreams?
With my hair as white as the morning moon?
Questions for the angels
Who believes in angels?
I do
Fools and pilgrims all over the world
Downtown Brooklyn
The pilgrim is passing a billboard
And catches his eyes
It's Jay-Z
He's got a kid on each knee
He's wearing clothes that he wants us to try
If every human on the planet
And all the buildings on it
Should disappear
Would a zebra grazing in the African Savannah
Care enough to share one zebra tear?
Questions for the angels
The song "Questions for the Angels" by Paul Simon is a contemplative piece that speaks to the struggles of the human condition. The lyrics introduce us to a pilgrim walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, who is burdened with a backpack full of questions, such as "Who am I in this lonely world?" and "Where will I make my bed tonight?" The image of the homeless people with their cardboard blankets and the sunrise symbolizes a new beginning, and with it comes the realization that there are no guarantees or assurances in life.
The pilgrim's questions gradually shift to more existential queries about the nature of reality, such as "Who believes in angels?" and "If every human on the planet should disappear, would a zebra grazing in the African Savannah care enough to share one zebra tear?" These questions point to the universal themes of mortality, meaning, and purpose, and Simon delivers them with his poetic and introspective lyrics. The haunting melody and the sparse musical accompaniment add to the song's melancholic tone, creating a space for contemplation and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
A pilgrim on a pilgrimage
A person on a journey with a religious purpose
Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge
Crossed the iconic bridge in New York
His sneakers torn
His shoes were in bad condition
In the hour when the homeless
During the time when people living on the streets are waking up
Move their cardboard blankets
Adjust their makeshift bedding made of cardboard boxes
And the new day is born
As dawn breaks
Folded in his backpack pocket
Kept in his backpack
The questions that he'd copied from his heart
The important questions he had written down from his emotions
Who am I in this lonely world?
What is my place and identity in this world?
And where will I make my bed tonight?
Where will I sleep tonight?
When twilight turns to dark
When the light begins to fade into darkness
Questions for the angels
Questions about life's mysteries and spirituality
Who believes in angels?
Who has faith in angels?
Fools do
Only foolish people do
Fools and pilgrims all over the world
Both naive people and those on a spiritual journey share the belief in angels
If you shop for love in a bargain store
If you try to find love only in cheap and easy places
And you don't get what you bargain for
And you are disappointed with what you find
Can you get your money back?
Can you undo the mistake?
If an empty train in a railroad station
If a train with no passengers shows up at a station
Calls you to its destination
Seems to be offering you a way out
Can you choose another track?
Can you change your path and destination?
Will I wake up from these violent dreams?
Will I be able to escape from these disturbing nightmares?
With my hair as white as the morning moon?
With signs of aging and stress on my appearance
Downtown Brooklyn
In the city district of Brooklyn
The pilgrim is passing a billboard
The traveler walks by a large advertisement
And catches his eyes
It attracts his attention
It's Jay-Z
It's an ad featuring the rapper Jay-Z
He's got a kid on each knee
He is shown with two young children on his lap
He's wearing clothes that he wants us to try
He is promoting the clothing he is wearing
If every human on the planet
If all human beings
And all the buildings on it
And all the man-made structures
Should disappear
Were to vanish
Would a zebra grazing in the African Savannah
Would an animal living in its natural habitat on the continent of Africa
Care enough to share one zebra tear?
Be moved to shed a tear for the loss of humanity and its creations?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind