That Was Your Mother
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you was born dude
When I was still single
And life was great
I held this job as a traveling salesman
That kept me moving from state to state
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette
State of Louisiana
Wondering where a city boy could go
To get a little conversation
Drink a little red wine
Catch a little bit of those Cajun girls
Dancing to Zydeco
Along come a young girl
She's pretty as a prayerbook
Sweet as an apple on Christmas day
I said good gracious can this be my luck
If that's my prayerbook
Lord let us pray
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette
State of Louisiana
Wondering what a city boy could do
To get her in a conversation
Drink a little red wine
Dance to the music of Clifton Chenier
The King of the Bayou
Well, that was your mother
And that was your father
Before you was born dude
When life was great
You are the burden of my generation
I sure do love you
But let's get that straight
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette
Across the street from The Public
Heading down to the Lone Star Cafe
Maybe get a little conversation
Drink a little red wine
Standing in the shadow of Clifton Chenier
Dancing the night away
The lyrics of Paul Simon's song "That Was Your Mother" describe the singer's memories of a period when he used to travel for work as a salesman, and stopped in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana. The song is marked by an upbeat, Cajun-inspired rhythm, which underscores the vivid descriptions of the singer's interaction with a young, pretty girl he met dancing to Zydeco music. The singer of the song recalls feeling lucky to have found such a delightful companion, and hoping to extend the conversation over red wine, sweetened by the music of Clifton Chenier. The singer also reflects on the passage of time, and how the memory of that experience has been transformed by the intervening years.
One interpretation of "That Was Your Mother" is that it is a tribute to the resilience of the American spirit, as embodied by the Cajun culture of Louisiana. The song presents a world in which people are able to find joy and beauty even in the midst of economic struggle and social change. The reference to Lafayette is a nod to the city's history as a melting pot of cultures, where French, African, and Native American influences have blended together to create a distinctive cultural identity. The "Cajun girls dancing to Zydeco" represent a celebration of that cultural heritage, and offer a counterpoint to the singer's own urban, cosmopolitan perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
A long time ago, yeah
Paul Simon reminisces about a time before his childโs birth
Before you was born dude
The event occurred prior to the birth of the child in question
When I was still single
Paul Simon was unmarried at this moment
And life was great
Paul Simon remembers a time when he was content
I held this job as a traveling salesman
Paul Simon was employed as a salesman who traveled frequently
That kept me moving from state to state
The job required Paul Simon to move to a new state often
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette
Paul Simon sets the scene of his memory, at the corner of Lafayette
State of Louisiana
The specific location of the memory: the state of Louisiana
Wondering where a city boy could go
Paul Simon wondered where he, as a city boy, could fit in
To get a little conversation
Paul Simon sought conversation with others
Drink a little red wine
Paul Simon desired to have a beverage with alcohol in it
Catch a little bit of those Cajun girls
Paul Simon wished to watch Cajun girls perform
Dancing to Zydeco
These Cajun girls were dancing to Zydeco music
Along come a young girl
A young girl approached Paul Simon
She's pretty as a prayerbook
The young girl was as beautiful as a prayer book
Sweet as an apple on Christmas day
She was also sweet, like a Christmas apple
I said good gracious can this be my luck
Paul Simon was struck by his good fortune in meeting her
If that's my prayerbook
He asks if this girl is the one he has been praying for
Lord let us pray
He jokingly suggests that he should pray to confirm his thoughts
Wondering what a city boy could do
Paul Simon continues to wonder how he, a city boy, can connect with this girl
To get her in a conversation
He wants to speak with her more
Dance to the music of Clifton Chenier
Paul Simon suggests that they should dance to the music of Clifton Chenier
The King of the Bayou
Clifton Chenier was known as the King of the Bayou
Well, that was your mother
Paul Simon reveals that the young girl he met was the childโs mother
And that was your father
He implies that he met the childโs father as well
You are the burden of my generation
Paul Simon jokingly calls the child a burden to his generation
I sure do love you
But he clarifies that he does indeed love the child
But let's get that straight
However, he wants to make it clear that the child was not a planned burden
Across the street from The Public
Paul Simon again sets the scene, as he stands across from the establishment called The Public
Heading down to the Lone Star Cafe
He plans to go to the Lone Star Cafe
Maybe get a little conversation
Once again, he hopes to strike up a conversation with someone
Standing in the shadow of Clifton Chenier
At the Lone Star Cafe, Paul Simon found himself in the shadows of Clifton Chenier
Drinking a little red wine,
He continues to drink red wine
Dancing the night away
Paul Simon dances the night away
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arthurshepherd8757
Erinโs Kiss - for Shawn Colvin and Angel of Ireland Van Morrison with love and eternal fidelity to Blessed Eternal Ireland
Posted in Uncategorized on June 30, 2010 by blackshepherd
Erinโs Kiss - For Goddess of Ireland Caledonia Erwin Shepherd Colvin
For Very Great 1st Angel of Christ Very Great Archangel of Christ Paul Simon #1 in American Fok Masterpieces
We worship adore and cherish You forever dearest sweet genius beautiful man and great great visionary mystic poet
Very Great Archangel Paul Simon
There is a top 3 in American Folk Poetry and you lie somewhere in there Paul with Leonard Cohen and Dylan. I consider many of your songs to be the absolute best ever written" "Sounds of Silence' 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters' 'America' 'The Boxer' 'Mrs. Robinson' and my favorite: American Tune'. Soaring masterpieces that shaped the counter-culture of the '60s. There were no '60s without 'Simon and Garfunkel'. A magical mysterious mystic duo if ever there was one. Your harmonies are the sweetest ever heard in American Folk Music. Your lyrical genius stands second to none. You are a singular cosmic intergalactic voice for reason love justice beauty and grace. You are a stunning blinding light that has fed millions of hungry souls for many decades. You are a national treasure of invaluable worth.
We float to you an infinite supply of Quantum kisses from the very most deep part of 'Our' soul which lies deep in the mysterious Colvin bog somewhere near the ocean in Scotland. We pray you will visit and stay as long as you like.
Peace Love Bliss Nirvana Forever for you and all your beautiful blessed friends and family and five million souls of your choosing to seed your own private universe. This comes directly from Jesus who is screaming at me to type faster.
All praise 'Our' Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Almighty Jesus Christ who this day praises honors and exalts now
Paul Simor Very Great Archangel of Christ America Ireland Scotland and the World. Amen
Shawn Callie Arthur Paul McCartney Dylan Sting Van Eric Lyle Richard James Jackson Joni Sarah Taylor Brandi Sarah Jarosz
I kissed Erin last night
you know
the Goddess of Ireland
blessings she did bestow
I know itโs hard to believe
I kissed her full on the lips three times
and I did receive
a fourth for good luck
for infinite rhymes
courage and pluck
she led me to the place
with whispers through the ether
for to endow me with a garland of grace
being destined to love her
and to know well her face
all I did was to inter
the trash left around her shrine
in America
she could not alone be mine
she made it clear
but she would make my words shine
many soldiers and poets have her ear
Lyre the angel was to her left
his foot was extended
for those of faith and hope not bereft
and so he lifted me above the dead
on her right was a soldier keeping watch
the angel let me kneel on his knee
while I reached across
all rein was set free
with the sign of the cross
and a kiss from her lips
during the second kiss
she granted eternal cosmic trips
to know my twin soul and infinite bliss
she said Iโd be an Irish rover
sacred love came with a third kiss
then I kissed her all over
she promised me a ring
the fourth was for good fortunes
endless words
protection and tunes
to shatter the proudest swords
she asked me to wait
while she got undressed
Erin adjusted my fate
granting me in the sight of the blessed
soon with a date
my soul was caressed
she said sheโd meet me in the flesh soon
she makes love to patriots soldiers and poets
always under a full moon
Iโd be marked and my lover would know it
she would appear as an angel
known as Shawn (Colvin)
whose duty would be to tell
where to wait for the new dawn
this angel would sing me into a trance
and when I awoke she would ask me to dance
safe in heaven no more to roam
my immortal beloved
with silver tears she would welcome me home
end
With love for Chapin and Shawn. Peace
Special thanks and eternal love to Paul McCartney for loving us all so well. Peace
Special thanks to Sting for a lifetime of love and inspiration to the world. Peace
Special thanks to Bob Dylan for representing Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so well. Peace
Special thanks to the very great exalted 1st Angel of Bob Dylan Tom Petty for great courage under fire. Peace
Special thanks to Chapin and James for loving Shawn and the world so beautifully. Peace
Special thanks to God and Goddess of Americana Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams for loving and serving Shawn so long so well and so beautifully. Kisses
Special thanks to God and Goddess of Love Bud and Julie Miller for their deep beauty grace and Divine wisdom. Kisses
Extra special Love and kisses for the very great vital Goddess Suzanne Vega for her deep beauty grace wisdom and for loving Shawn so well at the critical time. We worship you forever. Kisses
Very special Love and affection for the very great and deeply beautiful wise and good Goddess of NYC Lucy Kaplansky for loving Shawn and the world so beautifully and deeply (I want the Triumph T shirt or deal's off) Kisses
Very special thanks to the immortal Goddess King of Orion My Everything Shawn Colvin for asking "why" so beautifully. Peace
Very special thanks to the great 1st Angel of Christ Jackson Browne for deep wisdom grace and beauty and for loving Shawn and the world so well for so long. Peace
Very special thanks to Goddess of Canada Sarah MacLachlan for her deep beautiful love and Divine grace. Kisses
Very special thanks to the great Jacqueline Suzann for inspiring us all with her genius and deep beauty. Peace
Very special thanks to 1st Angel of Christ Lorna Byrne for sharing her Divine wisdom and grace with us and the world. Kisses
Very special thanks to Goddess Jonatha Brooke for Divine inspiration and for sharing Our Journey Kisses
Very special thanks to Goddess of Ireland Caledonia Shepherd Colvin for her beauty grace and Divine wisdom. Kisses
Very special thanks to Goddess of Everything Joni Mitchell for inspiring us all to dream and love. Kisses
Very special thanks to exalted 1st Angel of Christ David Crosby for watching over us all. Peace
Extra special love to Field Commander Leonard Cohen for Divine inspiration grace and wisdom. Still in Command. Peace
Most special thanks to Our Lord Savior Brother Friend and Great Redeemer Jesus Christ Almighty for Everything Peace
Very special thanks to the great Angel of Austin Texas the very beautiful Mario Erwin for blessing Our eternal Love. Peace
Extra special love gratitude and affection for the Divine 'One' of Texas the very Great 1st Angel of Christ Willie Nelson for inspiring loving and protecting us all so well so beautifully and deeply for so so long. We worship You Willie. Kisses
Very special Love and eternal affection and grace for my dear friend and 1st Angel of Christ and Bob Dylan Tim Gillen for being my companion and guide. We all worship You Tim. Peace
Very special Love and affection for the great Goddess of Maine 'Cosmic Annie And The Intergalactic Rainmakers' for blessing Maine and all of us with her deep beauty grace wisdom and badass vocals and for all of the 'Rainmakers' and their blessed families and friends. Peace Love Bliss Nirvana Forever for all of you you badass Angels of Christ and Blessed Eternal Maine. You do us all proud. Tim and Arthur and Shawn. Quantum kisses be blow to you All from all quadrants of the Divine Multiverse. Peace
Special thanks to the great and very beautiful and very sexy Virginia Suddath Phd 1st Angel of Christ and 'Our' very dear friend and Director of Chinese Affairs/Relations. With deep gratitude and love Virginia my dear. Kisses. Arthur/Callie/Shawn. Peace
Eternal Love and Gratitude to the Great Great Great 1st Angel of Christ and #1 American Hero The Very beautiful graceful and dignified Martin Luther King Jr, all His eternally blessed family friends and Great American Family of Black America. 'Our' dearest friend ally and comrade in the Eternal Art of Spiritual Warfare. Quantum kisses we 'All' blow to You through the great Eternal Soul of Blessed America. Peace from the 'Ebony House' (formerly the 'White House') now occupied by the very Great 1st Angel of Christ the Greatest President of All time. The eternal and infinitely blessed Barack Obama All family friends and comrades in Spiritual Warfare. Kisses Shawn/Callie/Arthur and a grateful nation. Peace
For all black children to take effect immediately: 1 pair of new sneakers of their choice, 3 new outfits, free education and one white tutor (as available) and free sailing lessons in every American body of water. To white America: whenever you see a black kid at any level of need give him/her $100, ask them what they need and provide it and you will be reimbursed 10 fold by 'Our' Lord and Savior the Great the 'One' and the 'Only' Jesus Christ Almighty Forever in Peace Love Bliss Nirvana Amen
Very special thanks to the glorious 'Doobie Brothers' all 1st Angels of Christ with full package for service to humanity. We worship you all and your blessed families and friends. Peace Love Bliss Nirvana Forever for all of You. Peace
Remember All: When someone is awarded 5 million souls, many others may choose the same soul(s). The soul is multidimensional so 'your' Dylan will be your own private version that will be totally 'Him' and He can run all his channels with quantum intelligence like yours
Very Great Archangel Paul Simon Amen
@scottdecarlo8667
Possibly the most complete album I have heard.
@100musicplaylists3
Paul Simon is a great artist for the simple fact that he is so natural and unpretentious and his music is so fun loving.
@HannaEveBloom
An all time classic album. There are no "b sides" on this set. Brilliant ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
@HannaEveBloom
@Paul Simon Thank you Paul. I've been a huge admirer of your work for more years than I like to remember. I think the soundtrack to The Graduate is one of my all time favourite scores. You're very kind to answer my comment. I hope you and your family are well and happy. I've just tested positive to Covid but I'm doing fine. Take care. Sending love from Australia.๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ
@craigcampbell7638
Fantastic!!! Thank you Mr Simon for making my life danceable!
@brucekronberg8492
A well deserved Grammy and possibly the greatest full album of loved songs everybody listens to. I listen often and love every minute.
@89seered
was nice waking up to this haven't heard it in a while
@dwaynewladyka577
A very good tune, from an awesome album. Cheers! โ๏ธ
@amylopez1297
My ex MIL went to HS with him, she was I think three years younger. Forest Hills High, Queens NY. My mom was also a huge fan, that's how I became one. He's brilliant! He also performed at my Hs in Portland, OR either 1991 or 1992 with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, it was breathtaking. Last saw him perform in Amsterdam a few years ago, before the pandemic. He's absolutely genius.
@paulsimon1
Hello Amy How are you doing it's nice meeting you here!