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."
Think Too Much
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Controls the right
They say that the right side
Has to work hard all night
Maybe I think too much for my own good
Some people say so
Other people say no no
The fact is
Hmmm
I had a childhood that was mercifully brief
I grew up in a state of disbelief
I started to think too much
When I was twelve going on thirteen
Me and the girls from St. Augustine
Up in the mezzanine
Thinking about God
Maybe I think too much
Maybe I think too much
Maybe I think too much
Maybe I think too much
Have you ever experienced a period of grace
When your brain just takes a seat behind your face
And the world begins The Elephant Dance
Everything's funny
Everyone's sunny
You take out your money
And walk down the road
That leads me to the girl I love
The girl I'm always thinking of
But maybe I think too much
And I ought to just hold her
Stop trying to mold her
Maybe blindfold her
And take her away
Maybe I think too much
Maybe I think too much
Maybe I think too much
Maybe I think too much
In Paul Simon's song, "Think Too Much," he explores themes of overthinking, questioning reality, and the search for emotional connection. The lyrics are rooted in the idea that overthinking can be both a blessing and a curse, as the singer grapples with the consequences of his incessant pondering. The opening lines of the song reference the popular belief that the left side of the brain controls "logic" while the right side controls "creativity." Simon suggests that his right side is working too hard, and he may be thinking too much for his own good.
The song also touches on the singer's troubled past, with lines like "I had a childhood that was mercifully brief" and "I grew up in a state of disbelief." These lyrics reveal that the singer is haunted by his past experiences and is constantly trying to make sense of them through his thoughts. Furthermore, the reference to "thinking about God" suggests that the singer is grappling with larger existential questions and searching for deeper meaning in life.
The second half of the song shifts to a more positive tone, with Simon describing moments of "grace" where the singer's overthinking takes a backseat and allows him to experience the world in a more carefree way. He references "The Elephant Dance," a joyful image that symbolizes the beauty and humor in life that can often be missed when we're lost in our thoughts. Simon ends the song with a plea to stop overthinking and just "hold" the person he loves.
Overall, "Think Too Much" is a complex meditation on the challenges and rewards of overthinking. It offers a nuanced perspective on the topic, acknowledging both the pitfalls and the potential for deeper understanding and emotional connection.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that the left side of the brain Controls the right
According to research, our left brain is responsible for controlling the right side of our body.
They say that the right side Has to work hard all night
Similarly, the right brain is responsible for controlling the left side of our body and is always active, even during sleep.
Maybe I think too much for my own good
The singer believes that he overanalyzes situations and thoughts which might not always be beneficial for him.
Some people say so
There are people in the artist's life who have told him that he thinks too much.
Other people say no no
There are others who disagree with the fact that the artist thinks too much.
The fact is You don't think as much as you could Hmmm
The singer believes that people generally do not think as much as they should, hinting towards human negligence and ignorance.
I had a childhood that was mercifully brief
The singer had a short childhood which he is grateful about or finds solace in.
I grew up in a state of disbelief
The artist had a hard time coming to terms with the harsh reality of the world which continued even as he grew older.
I started to think too much When I was twelve going on thirteen
At the age of 12 or 13, the artist realized that he had started to think too much and overanalyze things around him.
Me and the girls from St. Augustine Up in the mezzanine
The artist is reminiscing about spending time with the girls from St. Augustine in a balcony-like level of a theater or auditorium.
Thinking about God
The singer and his companions were contemplating the existence of God.
Have you ever experienced a period of grace When your brain just takes a seat behind your face
The artist is referring to a time when his mind was at peace and his thoughts were not constantly bothering him.
And the world begins The Elephant Dance Everything's funny Everyone's sunny You take out your money And walk down the road
In such a period of mental peace, the world appears to be a happier place, and the smallest things bring joy and laughter.
That leads me to the girl I love The girl I'm always thinking of
The singer is headed towards the girl who he loves and is always on his mind.
But maybe I think too much
However, the singer is skeptical of his thoughts and his own tendencies to overthink.
And I ought to just hold her Stop trying to mold her Maybe blindfold her And take her away
The artist thinks he should just focus on enjoying the moment with his partner instead of continuously trying to change her or mold her towards his liking.
Maybe I think too much Maybe I think too much Maybe I think too much Maybe I think too much
The repetition of these lines reaffirms the artist's tendency to overthink and reflect his ongoing doubt within himself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind