Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, Simon's career has spanned six decades. Born in New Jersey, Simon grew up in the borough of Queens in New York City and developed an interest in rock music in his teens.

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."

Virgil
Paul Simon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got a wife and four grown children
I can't afford their education
I've been a prison guard for fourteen years
That ain't exactly a vacation
Since he's been here he's followed ev'ry rule and I
Told you my position
The law says he's got the right to go to school
We abide by the court's decision

I got a Winchester two forty three
I like that gun for deer

Upstate November and the air is free
Feels like hunting seasons here
He's the one to keep your eye on
He's a sneak yeah but he's quiet
He's a trouble maker if I ever seen one
Next thing ya know it's Attica
And we got a prison riot

There ain't no way that punk gets his degree
And hides behind the constitution

No way in hell that smart assed spic goes free
Not while I'm in this institution

Overall Meaning

The song "Virgil" by Paul Simon is a story about a prison guard, who is conflicted between his job duties and his moral values, the prisoner Virgil, and his own family needs. The guard mentions that he has a wife and four grown children, implying that he has a significant financial burden on his shoulders. He says that he can't afford their education, which suggests that he is unable to provide for his family's future unless he continues to work as a prison guard.

The guard also mentions that he has been a prison guard for fourteen years, which is not an easy job to do. He has a prisoner named Virgil under his watch, and he conveys that Virgil is a model prisoner and has followed all the rules since he has been there. The guard goes on to say that, according to the law, Virgil has the right to go to school, and the institution must comply with the court's decision. The guard's feelings are conflicted because he knows that Virgil is not like the other prisoners, and he deserves a chance to learn and improve his life.

However, the guard's feelings towards Virgil changes seemingly quickly. He takes out his Winchester 243 and claims that he likes that gun for deer. This sentence gives an impression that the guard is not only a prison guard, but he is also a well-armed hunter. He then goes on to describe the approaching hunting season and how Virgil is the one to keep an eye on because he's a sneak, quiet, and a troublemaker. The guard's racial prejudice becomes apparent when he calls Virgil a "smartassed spic," and he conclusively states that he will not allow Virgil to get his degree or go free as long as he works at the institution.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got a wife and four grown children
I have a family to support.

I can't afford their education
It is too expensive for me to pay for their schooling.

I've been a prison guard for fourteen years
I have worked as a correctional officer for a long time.

That ain't exactly a vacation
It is not an easy job.

Since he's been here he's followed ev'ry rule and I
The prisoner has been well-behaved since his arrival.

Told you my position
I have already shared my views on the matter.

The law says he's got the right to go to school
The prisoner has a legal right to an education.

We abide by the court's decision
We follow the ruling of the court.

I got a Winchester two forty three
I own a rifle, a Winchester .243.

I like that gun for deer
I use it for hunting deer.

Upstate November and the air is free
It's November upstate, and the air is crisp and fresh.