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."
Thelma
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well that's good luck
Running through young veins
And if life is a blessing
That brushes the tops of the trees
Well it's a short walk
In a sweet breeze
All for the taste of your sweet love thelma
If a heart is an open memory book
That was the chance I took
The more I searched, the more shook with thelma
Last night I slept on a rented pillow
A silver moon above my head
A thirsty dreamless sleep released me
And I reached for the phone
By the side of the bed
Now the first time that I saw you I thought
"she's beautiful, but she's too young to be caught"
People aware of my history
Trying to steer you away from me
I left a message at your hotel
Don't let management poison the well
I will need you, feed you, seed you, plead with you
All for the taste of your sweet love thelma
The phone is ringing and I realize
We are timezones and oceans apart
The words I speak in the middle of my night
They fall on your yesterday scars
If the sun don't shine, the wind don't break
The clock don't jump off the wall
Thelma, my darling, I will cushion your fall
I will need you, feed you, seed you, plead with you
Without the taste of your sweet love thelma
I am only a man who has skirted the edge of despair
For a long time now, and I don't care
I watch you sleeping a the hospital bed
The baby curled up in a ball
Winter sunlight hits the family tree
And everything else becomes nothing at all
In "Thelma," Paul Simon uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to describe the passionate and all-consuming love he has for Thelma. He expresses the idea that the feeling of being in love is like a stroke of good luck and life is a gift to be cherished. The singer insists that he will do anything to be with Thelma, even though others have warned him against it. He acknowledges that he has a complicated past, but doesn't care because Thelma is worth it. He recounts a dreamless night spent in a foreign hotel and reaching for the phone to call her the next morning, despite the distance between them. He tells Thelma that he will cushion her fall and protect her from the difficulties of life, ultimately expressing his deep feelings for her and his commitment to their relationship.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was inspired by a real-life Thelma, who Paul Simon met during a trip to Brazil. Simon was fascinated by her and her exotic beauty, and this inspired him to write the song. Another interesting fact is that the song features Simon's characteristic complex chord changes and syncopated rhythms, which are influenced by Brazilian music. Additionally, "Thelma" features a driving acoustic guitar riff and a soulful vocal performance from Simon. The song was released on Simon's 1990 album "The Rhythm of the Saints," which explored the rhythms and timbres of African and South American music.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it has been covered by many artists, including Marc Cohn, Los Lobos, and Rhydian Roberts. Additionally, Simon has said that he considers "Thelma" to be one of his favorite songs of his own catalog. The song was not released as a single, but it remains a beloved deep cut among Simon's fans. Simon has stated in interviews that the song is about the joy and pain of falling in love and the intensity of feeling that comes with it.
The chords for "Thelma" are as follows:
Intro: Em D Em D Em D Em D
Verse: Em D C G D C G D Em D C G D C G D
Chorus: G D Em C G D Em C G D Em C G D C G D
Note: These chords may vary and may not be entirely accurate.
Line by Line Meaning
If a feeling's born and no one complains
If a deep emotion arises but nobody opposes it, that's good fortune.
Well that's good luck
It implies that the feeling that was born is a positive one.
Running through young veins
This refers to the energy and enthusiasm that is characteristic of youth.
And if life is a blessing
Life is perceived in a positive light.
That brushes the tops of the trees
Life is limitless and full of possibilities.
Well it's a short walk
Life is ephemeral, so we should enjoy it while it lasts.
In a sweet breeze
Life is serene and pleasant.
I will need you, feed you, seed you, plead with you
The artist expresses the extent of his love and devotion for Thelma.
All for the taste of your sweet love thelma
The artist craves the love and affection of Thelma.
If a heart is an open memory book
If we consider the heart as a metaphor for our lives, then it is like an open book, waiting to be written with all our experiences and memories.
That was the chance I took
The singer took a chance by falling in love with Thelma and opening his heart to new experiences.
The more I searched, the more shook with thelma
The more the artist got to know Thelma, the more emotionally invested he became.
Last night I slept on a rented pillow
The singer slept away from home.
A silver moon above my head
The singer describes the environment where he was sleeping.
A thirsty dreamless sleep released me
The singer endured a difficult night due to his physical surroundings.
And I reached for the phone
The artist longs for Thelma and tries to contact her.
By the side of the bed
In the space beside the bed where the artist is sleeping.
Now the first time that I saw you I thought
The singer reflects on his initial thought upon meeting Thelma.
"she's beautiful, but she's too young to be caught"
The singer is expressing an internal conflict concerning Thelma's age and their possible relationship.
People aware of my history
The artist is known for his past romantic experiences.
Trying to steer you away from me
The artist's acquaintances try to prevent Thelma from being romantically involved with him.
I left a message at your hotel
The artist tries to communicate with Thelma while she is staying somewhere else.
Don't let management poison the well
The singer cautions Thelma not to be influenced by others.
The phone is ringing and I realize
The artist hears the sound of the phone and becomes aware of the distance between him and Thelma.
We are timezones and oceans apart
The physical distance between the singer and Thelma is metaphorical.
The words I speak in the middle of my night
The singer expresses himself emotionally at night when he is alone.
They fall on your yesterday scars
The singer's words affect Thelma's previous emotional wounds.
If the sun don't shine, the wind don't break
Life's obstacles cannot break the love that the artist has for Thelma.
The clock don't jump off the wall
Time cannot destroy the love that the artist has for Thelma.
Thelma, my darling, I will cushion your fall
The singer promises to be a support system for Thelma when she is down.
Without the taste of your sweet love thelma
The singer expresses his dependence on Thelma's affection and how it affects him.
I am only a man who has skirted the edge of despair
The artist has dealt with adversity in his life and is currently struggling emotionally.
For a long time now, and I don't care
The artist is apathetic about his personal life and potential repercussions.
I watch you sleeping a the hospital bed
The artist watches Thelma sleep while she is in the hospital.
The baby curled up in a ball
There is a child present in the room with Thelma.
Winter sunlight hits the family tree
The artist is describing the surroundings of the hospital room where Thelma and he are.
And everything else becomes nothing at all
The singer is focused on Thelma and the child, ignoring the rest of the world outside the hospital room.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind