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."
The Coast
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the little harbor church of St. Cecilia
Two guitars, bata, bass drum and tambourine
Rose of Jericho and Bougainvillea
This is a lonely life
Sorrows everywhere you turn
And that's worth something
That's worth some money
That's worth something
When you think about it
That is worth some money
A trip to the market
A trip into the pearl gray morning sunlight
Settling over Washington
A trip to the market
A trip around the world
Where the evening meal
Is negotiable, if there is one.
This is a lonely life
Sorrows everywhere you turn
And that's worth something
When you think about it
That's worth some money
That's worth something
When you think about it
That is worth some money
To prove that I love you
Because I believe in you
Summer skies, stars are falling
All along the injured coast
If I have money
If I have children
Summer skies, stars are falling
All along the injured coast
Oh-wah oh-wah Doo-wop a Doo-wah
Summer skies and stars are falling
All along the injured coast
Oh-wah oh-wah Doo-wop a Doo-wah
Summer skies and stars are falling
All along the injured coast
We are standing in the sunlight
The early morning sunlight
In the harbor church of St. Cecilia
To praise a soul's returning to the earth
To the rose of Jericho and the Bougainvillea
To prove that I love you
Because I believe in you
Summer skies, stars are falling
All along the injured coast
If I have money
If I have children
Summer skies, stars are falling
All along the injured coast
If I have weaknesses
Don't let them blind me now
Summer skies, stars are falling
All along the injured coast
Oh-wah oh-wah
Doo Wop a Doo Wah
Summer skies, stars are falling
Leaving the shadow of the valley behind me now
All along the injured coast
Oh-wah oh-wah
Doo Wop a Doo Wah
Summer skies and stars are falling
All along the injured coast
Oh-wah oh-wah
Doo Wop a Doo Wah
The first stanza describes a family of musicians who seek refuge for the night in the church of St. Cecilia. They bring their instruments with them - two guitars, bata, bass drum, and tambourine. The mention of Rose of Jericho and Bougainvillea is likely a reference to the flowers and plants that decorate the church. The line "This is a lonely life, sorrows everywhere you turn" is repeated throughout the song and suggests that the life of a traveling musician can be isolating and full of hardship. However, the following lines "And that's worth something when you think about it, that's worth some money" suggest that the struggles of the musician's life have value.
The next stanza takes us to a market and references the early morning sunlight settling over Washington. The singer implies that in their travels, they must be flexible with their meals and implies that the evening meal may not always be guaranteed. The repeated lines, "This is a lonely life, sorrows everywhere you turn" reinforce the idea that this life is difficult.
The final stanza brings us back to St. Cecilia's church, where the family of musicians are standing in the sunlight, praising a soul's returning to the earth among the flowers. The singer expresses their love and belief in the person they are addressing and acknowledges their weaknesses, but asks not to be blinded by them. The song concludes with the repeated lines "Summer skies and stars are falling all along the injured coast," perhaps suggesting that despite the struggles of life, there is still beauty and wonder to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
A family of musicians took shelter for the night
A group of musicians found refuge in the church of St. Cecilia
In the little harbor church of St. Cecilia
The church where the musicians took refuge was located in a small harbor
Two guitars, bata, bass drum and tambourine
The musicians had a few instruments with them, including guitars, bata, bass drum, and tambourine
Rose of Jericho and Bougainvillea
The church had some plants inside, specifically a Rose of Jericho and Bougainvillea
This is a lonely life
Being a musician can be a solitary existence
Sorrows everywhere you turn
One can experience sadness and grief frequently
And that's worth something
The pain of life can be seen as valuable and worthwhile
When you think about it
Upon reflection, one can see the worth in the struggles of life
That's worth some money
The value of one's pain can be monetized
A trip to the market
Going to the market
A trip into the pearl gray morning sunlight
Traveling outside to see the morning light
Settling over Washington
The light was shining over Washington
A trip around the world
Traveling around the world
Where the evening meal
When it comes time to eat dinner
Is negotiable, if there is one.
The availability of dinner is uncertain or depends on circumstances
To prove that I love you
Showing love for another person
Because I believe in you
Having faith in the recipient of love
Summer skies, stars are falling
The atmosphere in the summer, where shooting stars are visible
All along the injured coast
The location of the summer skies mentioned is along the coast where there is devastation
If I have money
If the artist possesses wealth
If I have children
If the artist has offspring
If I have weaknesses
If the artist has shortcomings
Don't let them blind me now
The singer does not want their weaknesses to cloud their perspective in the present moment
Leaving the shadow of the valley behind me now
Moving on from a difficult past
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Find That Music!
You know with Paul you will get a beautiful and wonderfully put together song, this album is total magic.
Jamee Zielke
One of my favorite songs of all time
Relax Music
Самая потрясающая музыка, сколько лет слушаю а пробирает аж до мурашек, на все времена. 🥰
Danny Brooks
This song could define wistful for me. Always a spectrum of delight through poignant, meaningful deep mixed with 'whats that about?'in a Paul Simon song
Randomdudeman Artisan Mixtapes
yo...that is worth some money...
Sweet Home London
Rest in peace Vincent Nguini, your Music will live on forever,, I have been listening to this song since late 90s, one of my favourites
Paul Novak
Paul's music has the glorious effect of giving happiness
F McDirmid
Dear Paul, I owe you a great deal. In 2016 my best friend was into Graceland the album and eventually turned me onto your music. I had just graduated high school and was ready to move on, you know that feeling of wanting to start fresh. We were sitting in the middle of a back courtyard at an elementary school pounding Budweisers laughing up a storm at dusk. I’ll never forget the absolute glee, which is forever associated with a tone you set for me that lasted 2 of my best years. It’s personal yeah, but it’s one of my most potent memories, the summer that followed, what I learned about myself. This song in particular somehow highlighted and practically mused the forging of an eternal bond. I know now who my real friends are, rather, my brothers. When I hear your music I’m reminded of brotherhood.
Rach
Aww!! Such a good soundtrack for memories like that.
Jenny Sharp
Wonderful 👍