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."
Señorita with a Necklace of Tears
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inside my crowded face
I have a friend who is a born-again
Found his savior's grace
I was born before my father
And my children before me
We are born and born again
Like the waves of the sea
And that's how I want it to be
Nothing but good news
There is a frog in South America
Whose venom is a cure
For all the suffering that mankind
Must endure
More powerful than morphine
And soothing as the rain
A frog in South America
Has the antidote for pain
That's the way it's always been
And that's the way I like it
Some people never say no
Some people never complain
Some folks have no idea
And others will never explain
That's the way it's always been
That's the way I like it
And that's how I want it to be
That's the way it's always been
That's the way I like it
And that's how I want it to be
If I could play all the memories
In the neck of my guitar
I'd write a song called
â??Señorita with a necklace of tearsâ??
And every tear a sin I'd committed
Oh these many years
That's who I was
That's the way it's always been
Some people always want more
Some people are what they lack
Some folks open a door
Walk away and never look back
I don't want to be a judge
And I don't want to be a jury
I know who I am
Lord knows who I will be
That's the way it's always been
That's the way I like it
And that's how I want it to be
That's the way it's always been
That's the way I like it
And that's how I want it to be
In this song, Paul Simon discusses various themes such as birth, religion, healing, and human nature. He starts the song by describing his own physical appearance, specifically his wisdom tooth, as a representation of the imperfections and challenges we face in life. He then goes on to talk about a friend who has found salvation through religion, hinting at the idea of rebirth or starting anew. The lyric, "We are born and born again like the waves of the sea," connects to this idea of renewal and the cyclical nature of life.
Simon shifts the focus to the natural world, mentioning the healing power of a frog's venom in South America. This illustrates the idea that nature holds the answers to some of our greatest challenges and that we are still discovering new ways to heal ourselves. He then concludes the song with a reflection on human nature, acknowledging that some people never say no or complain, while others never explain themselves. Simon, however, doesn't want to be a judge or a jury, remaining content with who he is and who he will become.
Overall, "Señorita With a Necklace of Tears" is a reflective song that touches on a range of perspectives and experiences, ultimately emphasizing the importance of acceptance and finding peace within oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a wisdom tooth
I have a tooth in my mouth that I am not currently using.
Inside my crowded face
In my face, which already has many features, there is not much space left for another tooth.
I have a friend who is a born-again
I know someone who has had a spiritual reawakening and now follows a different path in life.
Found his savior's grace
He has found a connection to a higher power and feels redeemed by that connection.
I was born before my father
I am the oldest male in my family line and was born before my father was able to have a child.
And my children before me
My children were born before me, which is a reversal of the traditional order of things.
We are born and born again
We are constantly reborn, either spiritually or through having children.
Like the waves of the sea
Our rebirths come in waves, just like the ebb and flow of the tide.
That's the way it's always been
This cycle of birth and rebirth is part of the natural order of things, and has been for a long time.
And that's how I want it to be
I am content with this way of life and do not wish to change it.
Nothing but good news
I do not wish to hear anything negative, and only want to hear positive things.
There is a frog in South America
There exists a certain type of frog in South America.
Whose venom is a cure
The venom from this frog can be used to cure illnesses.
For all the suffering that mankind
This venom can help to alleviate pain for all of humanity.
Must endure
Which is a fate that we all must face at some point in our lives.
More powerful than morphine
This frog's venom is stronger than morphine in its ability to alleviate pain.
And soothing as the rain
The effects of this venom are also comforting and relaxing in a way similar to rain.
A frog in South America
This particular type of frog exists in the continent of South America.
Has the antidote for pain
Its venom can be used to counteract pain in the human body.
Some people never say no
Some people always agree to everything they are asked to do.
Some people never complain
Some people are content with everything, and do not express any dissatisfaction.
Some folks have no idea
Some people are oblivious to certain things.
And others will never explain
Some people refuse to tell others about their thoughts or feelings.
If I could play all the memories
If I could access and express all of my memories through music.
In the neck of my guitar
Using my guitar as the medium through which to express these memories.
I'd write a song called 'Señorita with a necklace of tears'
I would create a piece of music that speaks to the experience of a woman who is wearing a necklace made of her own tears.
And every tear a sin I'd committed
Each tear in the necklace represents a wrongdoing that I have committed in my life.
Oh these many years
Over the course of many years.
That's who I was
That's who I was in the past, but I have grown and changed since then.
Some people always want more
Some people are never satisfied with what they have and always want more.
Some people are what they lack
Some people define themselves by what they do not have, rather than what they do have.
Some folks open a door
Some people venture into new possibilities and experiences.
Walk away and never look back
These people do so without looking back or regretting their decision.
I don't want to be a judge
I do not wish to judge others or be in a position of judgment over others.
And I don't want to be a jury
I also do not wish to serve on a jury and be responsible for deciding the fate of another person.
I know who I am
I am secure in my identity and know who I am as a person.
Lord knows who I will be
I may not know what the future holds, but a higher power does, and has a plan for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind