I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told.
I have squandered my resistance,
For a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises.
All lies and jest.
Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.
When I left my home and my family I was no more than a boy,
In the company of strangers,
In the quiet of a railway station, runnin' scared.
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters,
Where the ragged people go.
Lookin' for the places, only they would know.
Lie-la-lie ...
Asking only workman's wages I come lookin' for a job,
But I get no offers,
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue.
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome,
I took some comfort there.
Oooh la, la, la ...
And the years are rollin' by me.
They are rockin' evenly.
I am older than I once was, and younger than I'll be.
That's not unusual.
It isn't strange,
After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same.
After changes, we are more or less the same.
Lie-la-lie ...
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was gone,
Going home, where the New York City winters aren't bleedin' me.
Leadin' me, to goin' home.
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade,
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down,
Or cut him 'til he cried out in his anger and his shame,
"I am leaving, I am leaving."
But the fighter still remains.
Lie-la-lie ...
C AM G F C AM G F C G F C G C C AM G AM F G C
The Boxer ( Simon and Garfunkle )
I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest (hmmmm....mmmm......)
When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers.....
In the quiet of the railway station, runnin' scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(La la la la li...)
Seeking only workman's wages, I come looking for a job, but I get no offers.....
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there (li la la, la, la la)
Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin' even me
I am older than I once was, and younger than I'll be, that's not unusual
No it isn't strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same.........
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(La la la la li...)
And I'm laying out my winter clothes, wishing I was gone, goin' home
Where the New York city winters aren't bleedin' me, leadin' me to go home
In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminder of every glove that laid him down or cut him
'Til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes, he still remains........................
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(La la la la li...)
(Li la la la li la li)
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
(La la la la li...)
(Li la la la li la li)
(Li la li... li la la la li la li)
SOUNDS OF SILENCE
Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain,
Still remains, within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone,
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp,
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light,
That split the night,
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked land I saw,
Ten thousand people, maybe more,
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs, that voices never shared.
No one dared,
Disturb the sound of silence.
"Fools" said I, "you do not know,
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed, in the wells of silence.
And the people bowed and prayed,
To the neon god they'd made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,
And tenement halls.
And whispered in the sound of silence.
AM G G AM AM F C C F C C F F C C AM G AM
Em D
Em
1 Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk to you again.
G C G
For the vision softly creeping,
G C G
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
C G
And the vision that was planted in my brain,
Em G D Em
Still remains, within the sound of silence.
Em D Em
2 In restless
dreams I walked alone through narrow streets of cobblestone.
G C G
Beneath the
halo of a street lamp,
G C G
I turned my
collar to the cold and damp.
C G
When my eyes
were stabbed by a flash of the neon light,
Em
G D Em
And split the
night, and touched the sound of
silence.
Em D Em
3 And in the
naked light I saw ten thousand people maybe more.
G C G
People talking
without speaking,
G C G
People hearing
without listening.
C G
People writing
songs that voices never shared,
Em
G D Em
No one dared
disturb the sound of silence.
Em D Em
4 "Fools," said
I, "you do not know, silence like a cancer grows.
G C G
Hear my words
that I might teach you,
G C G
Take my arms
that I might reach you."
C G - Em - G
But my words
like silent raindrops fell,
D Em
Echoed in the
wells of silence.
Em
D Em
5 And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made.
G C G
And the sign flashed out its warning,
G C G
In the words that it was forming, and the sign said:
C G
"The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,
Em G D Em
Tenement halls," and whispering the sound of silence.
HOMEWARD BOUND
Lyrics:
I'm sittin' in the railway station,
Got a ticket for my destination, mmm mmm mmm.
On a tour of one night stands,
My suitcase and guitar in hand,
And every stop is neatly planned,
For a poet and a one man band.
Homeward bound, I wish I was, homeward bound.
Home, where my thought's escaping,
Home, where my music's playing,
Home, where my love lies waiting,
Silently for me.
Every day's an endless stream,
Of cigarettes and magazines.
And each town looks the same to me,
The movies and the factories.
And every stranger's face I see,
Reminds me that I long to be,
Homeward bound, I wish I was, homeward bound.
Home, where my thought's escaping,
Home, where my music's playing,
Home, where my love lies waiting,
Silently for me.
Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
I'll play the game and pretend.
But all my words come back to me,
In shades of mediocrity.
Like emptiness in harmony,
I need someone to comfort me.
Homeward bound, I wish I was, homeward bound.
Home, where my thought's escaping,
Home, where my music's playing,
Home, where my love lies waiting,
Silently for me,
Silently for me.
I AM A ROCK
Lyrics:
A winter's day,
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below,
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock.
I am an island.
I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship.
Friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock.
I am an island.
Don't talk of love.
Well I've heard the word before.
It's sleeping in my memory,
And I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock.
I am an island.
I have my books,
And my poetry to protect me.
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room,
Safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock.
I am an island.
And a rock can feel no pain.
And an island never cries.
SOUNDS OF SILENCE
Lyrics:
Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain,
Still remains, within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone,
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp,
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light,
That split the night,
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked land I saw,
Ten thousand people, maybe more,
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs, that voices never shared.
No one dared,
Disturb the sound of silence.
"Fools" said I, "you do not know,
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed, in the wells of silence.
And the people bowed and prayed,
To the neon god they'd made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,
And tenement halls.
And whispered in the sound of silence.
SLIP SLIDING AWAY
Lyrics:
Slip slidin' away,
Slip slidin' away,
You know the nearer your destination,
The more you're slip slidin' away.
I know a man, he came from my home town.
He wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown.
He said, "Delores, I live in fear.
My love for you is so overpowering,
I'm afraid that I will disappear."
Slip slidin' away,
Slip slidin' away,
You know the nearer your destination,
The more you're slip slidin' away.
I know a woman, became a wife.
These are the very words she uses to describe her life:
She said "A good day ain't got no rain."
She said "A bad day's when I lie in bed,
And I think of things that might have been."
Slip slidin' away,
Slip slidin' away,
You know the nearer your destination,
The more you're slip slidin' away.
I know a father who had a son.
He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he had done.
He came a long way just to explain.
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping,
Then he turned around and he headed home again.
Slip slidin' away,
Slip slidin' away,
You know the nearer your destination,
The more you're slip slidin' away.
God only knows. God makes his plan.
The information's unavailable to the mortal man.
We're working our jobs, collect our pay,
Believe we're gliding down the highway,
When in fact we're slip slidin' away.
Slip slidin' away,
Slip slidin' away,
You know the nearer your destination,
The more you're slip slidin' away.
Slip slidin' away,
Slip slidin' away,
You know the nearer your destination,
The more you're slip slidin' away.
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
Words & music by Paul Simon 1969
|Eb |
When you're weary
Ab |Eb |
Feeling small
Ab Db Ab |Eb |Ab
When tears are in your eyes
|Eb Ab|Eb Ab|
I will dry them all
Eb Bb Cm |Bb |
I'm on your side
|Eb Eb/D|
Oh, when times get rough
Eb7 |Ab F |Bb
And friends just can't be found
Eb7 Eb9|Ab Adim|Eb/Bb C7 |
Like a bridge over troubled water
Ab G7 |Cm
I will lay me down
Eb7 Eb9|Ab Adim|Eb/Bb C7 |
Like a bridge over troubled water
Ab Bb Bb7|Eb |Ab |Eb |Ab |Eb |
I will lay me down
|Eb |
When you're down and out
Ab |Eb |
When you're on the street
Ab Db A b |Eb |Ab
When evening falls so hard
|Eb Ab|Eb Ab|
I will comfort you
Eb Bb Cm |Bb |
I'll take your part,
|Eb Eb/D|
Oh, when darkness comes
Eb7 |Ab F|Bb
And pain is all a-round
Eb7 Eb9|Ab Adim|Eb/Bb C7 |
Like a bridge over troubled water
Ab G7 |Cm
I will lay me down
Eb7 Eb9|Ab Adim|Eb/Bb Cm |
Like a bridge over troubled water
Ab Cm/G G Cm |F7 |Eb |Ab Cm|Ab Abm|Eb |Ab |Eb |Ab |Eb |
I will lay me down
Ab |Eb |
Sail on Silver Girl,
Ab |Eb |
Sail on by
Ab Db Ab |Eb |Ab
Your time has come to shine
|Eb Ab |Eb Ab|
All your dreams are on their way
Eb Bb Cm |Bb |
See how they shine
|Eb Eb/D |
Oh, if you need a friend
Eb7 |Ab F|Bb
I'm sailing right behind
Eb7 Eb9|Ab Adim|Eb/Bb Cm |
Like a bridge over troubled water
Ab Cm/G G |Cm
I will ease your mind
Eb7 Eb9|Ab F7 |Eb/Bb Cm |
Like a bridge over troubled water
Ab G7 Cm |F9 Fmaj9|Eb/Bb |Ab | Abm|Eb |
I will ease your mind
DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES
Words & music by Paul Simon & Joseph Shabalala 1986
E | | | |
(a-wa a-wa) Odez enzuene zanamchinge
| |
(a-wa a-wa) Si bona kwenze ka kanjani
| |
(a-wa a-wa) Amanto mbazane ayeza
|
She's a rich girl
| |
She don't try to hide it
|
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
| |
He's a poor boy
|
Empty as a pocket
|
Empty as a pocket with nothing to lose
|A |E
Sing Ta na na, ta na na na
|B |E
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
|A |E
Ta na na, ta na na na
|B |E |
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
A |E |
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
B |E |
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
B |E |
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
A |E |Tacet |
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
F |Bb C|F |Bb C|
F
People say she's crazy
|Bb C |F
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
|Bb C |F |
Well that's one way to lose these walking blues
Bb C |F |
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Bb C |F
She was physically forgotten
|Bb C
Then she slipped into my pocket
|F
With my car keys
|Bb |C
She said you've taken me for granted
|F
Because I please you
|Bb C|F |
Wearing these di-iamonds
Bb C |F |Bb C|F
And I could say oo-------
|Bb C
As if everybody knows
|F
What I'm talking about
|Bb
As if everybody here would know
C |F
Exactly what I was talking about
|Bb C |
Talking about diamonds on the soles of her shoes
F |Bb C|F F/Bb|Bb/C C|
F F/Bb|Bb/C C|F |Bb C|F |Bb C|
F |
She makes the sign of a teaspoon
Bb C |F
He makes the sign of a wave
|Bb C |F
The poor boy changes clothes and puts on after-shave
|Bb C |F |
To compensate for his ordinary shoes
Bb C |F
And she said honey take me dancing
|Bb C
But they ended up by sleeping
|F
In a doorway
|Bb |C
By the bodegas and the lights on
|F
Upper Broadway
|Bb C |F |
Wearing diamonds on the soles of their shoes
Bb C |F |Bb C|F
And I could say oo-------
|Bb C
And everybody here would know
|F
What I was talking about
|Bb
I mean everybody here would know
C |F
exactly what I was talking about
|Bb C|F
Talking about di-iamonds
F |Bb C|F F/Bb|Bb/C C|
F F/Bb|Bb/C C|F |Bb C|F |Bb C|
F
People say I'm crazy
|Bb C |F
I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes
|Bb C |F |
Well that's one way to lose these walking blues
Bb C |F |
Diamonds on the soles of your shoes
Repeat and fade:
F |Bb C |
Ta na na na na, ta na na na na
GRACELAND
Words & music by Paul Simon 1986
|E |
The Mississippi Delta was shining
|A |
Like a National guitar
|C#m
I am following the river
|
Down the highway
|B |
Through the cradle of the civil war
A |E
I'm going to Graceland, Graceland
| B
In Memphis Tennessee
A |E | D A|
I'm going to Graceland
E |
Poor boys and Pilgrims with families
B A |E | D
And we are going to Graceland
A |E | B
My traveling companion is nine years old
A |E | D
He is the child of mv first marriage
A |E
But I've reason to believe
| B A |E | D A|E |
We both will be received In Graceland
| |
She comes back to tell me she's gone
|A
As if I didn't know that
| |C#m |
As if I didn't know my own bed
|B |
As if I'd never noticed
|E |
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
| |
And she said losing love
| |
Is like a window in your heart
|C#m |
Everybody sees you're blown apart
|B |
Everybody sees the wind blow
A |E |
I'm going to Graceland
B
Memphis Tennessee
A |E | D A|
I'm going to Graceland
E |
Poor boys and Pilgrims with families
B A |E | D
And we are going to Graceland
A |E | B A
My traveling companions are ghosts and empty sockets
|E | D
I'm looking at ghosts and empties
A |E
But I've reason to believe
| B A |E | D A|E |
We all will be received In Graceland
|
There is a girl in New York City
| |A |
Who calls herself the human trampoline
|C#m |
And sometimes when I'm falling, flylng
| |
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
B |
Oh, so this is what she means
|E |
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
| |
And I see losing love
| |
Is like a window in your heart
|C#m |
Everybody sees you're blown apart
|B |
Everybody feels the wind blow
|E |
In Graceland, in Graceland
B A |E | D
I'm going to Graceland
A |E
For reasons I cannot explain
| B A |
There's some part of me wants to see
E |
Graceland
D A |E
And I may be obliged to defend
| B
Everv love, every ending
A |E | D
Or maybe there's no obligations now
A |E
Maybe I've a reason to believe
| B
We all will be received
A |E |
In Graceland
Repeat and fade:
E | B A |E | D A |
I AM A ROCK
Words & music by Paul Simon 1965
|C |
A winter's day
|F |C | |
In a deep and dark December;
Dm G7 |C |
I am alone,
Dm Em |Dm Em
Gazing from my window to the streets below
|Dm F |G7
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|C |
I've built walls,
|F |C | |
A fortress deep and mighty,
Dm G7 |C |
That none may penetrate.
Dm Em |Dm Em
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
|Dm F |G7
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|C |
Don't talk of love,
|F |C | |
I've heard the words before;
Dm G7 |C |
It's sleeping in my memory.
Dm Em |Dm Em
And I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
|Dm F |G7
If I never loved I never would have cried.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|C |
I have my books
|F |C | |
And my poetry to protect me;
Dm G7 |C |
I am shielded in my armor,
Dm Em |Dm Em
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
|Dm F |G7
I touch no one and no one touches me.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|Dm Em |C
And a rock feels no pain;
|Dm Em |C | |
And an island never cries.
LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK
Words & music by Paul Simon 1973
|G C |G
When I was a little boy, (when I was just a boy)
| C |G
And the Devil would call my name (when I was just a boy)
|C7 |
I'd say "now who do,
|G C |G
Who do you think you're fooling?" (when I was just a boy)
| C |G
I'm a consecrated boy (when I was just a boy)
G7 |C |
I'm a singer in a Sunday choir
|G |D
Oh , my mama loves, she loves me
|G |Em
She get down on her knees and hug me
|C |G |
Like she loves me like a rock
C |F C
She rocks me like the rock of ages
|G |
And loves me
| |
She love me, love me, love me, love me
|G C |G
When I was grown to be a man (grown to be a man)
| C |G
And the Devil would call my name (grown to be a man)
|C7 |
I'd say "now who do,
|G C |G
Who do you think you're fooling?" (grown to be a man)
| C |G
I'm a consummated man (grown to be a man)
G7 |C |
I can snatch a little purity
|G |D
My mama loves me, she loves me
|G |Em
She get down on her knees and hug me
|C |G |
Like she loves me like a rock
C |F C
She rocks me like the rock of ages
|G |
And loves me
| |
She love me, love me, love me, love me
| C |G
And if I was President (was the President)
| C |G
The minute Congress call my name (was the President)
|C7 |
I'd say "who do,
|G C |G
Who do you think you're fooling? (Who do you think you're fooling)
| C |G
I've got the Presidential Seal (was the president)
|C |
I'm up on the Presidential Podium
|G
My mama loves me
|D
She loves me
|G |Em
She get down on her knees and hug me
|C |G |
Like she loves me like a rock
C |F C
She rocks me like the rock of ages
|G |
And loves me
Fade out:
|
She love me, love me, love me, love me
|
(loves me like a rock)
ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD
Words & music by Paul Simon 1971
|G
The mama pajama rolled out of bed
| |C
And she ran to the police station
|D
When the papa found out he began to shout
| |G
And he started the investigation
|C
It's against the law
|G
It was against the law
|D
What the mama saw
|G
It was against the law
|
The mama looked down and spit on the ground
| |C
Everytime my name gets mentioned
|D
The papa said oy if I get that boy
| |G
I'm gonna stick him in the house of detention
|C
Well I'm on my way
|G
I don't know where I'm going
|C
I'm on my way
|G
I'm taking my time
A D
But I don't know where
|C |G
Goodbye to Rosie the queen of Corona
|G F
See you, me and Julio
C D |G
Down by the schoolyard
|G F
See you, me and Julio
C D |G |
Down by the schoolyard
G F C D |G
Me and Julio down by the schoolyard
|G
In a couple of days they come and take me away
| |C
But the press let the story leak
|D
And when the radical priest
Come to get me released
| |G
We was all on the cover of Newsweek
|C
And I'm on my way
|G
I don't know where I'm going
|C
I'm on my way
|G
I'm taking my time
A D
But I don't know where
|C |G
Goodbye to Rosie the queen of Corona
|G F
See you, me and Julio
C D |G
Down by the schoolyard
|G F
See you, me and Julio
C D |G |
Down by the schoolyard
G F C D |G
Me and Julio down by the schoolyard
MRS. ROBINSON
Words & music by Paul Simon 1968
|Bb |Gm |
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Bb |Gm | | |F7 |
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo wo wo).
|Bb |Gm |
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Bb |Gm |Eb | |Cm | |G | | |
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).
|G7 | | |
We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files.
|C7 | |C9 | |
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself.
F |Bb |Eb |Cm | |
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes.
G |
Stroll around the grounds
|F7 |
Until you feel at home.
|Bb |Gm |
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Bb |Gm | | |F7 |
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo wo wo).
|Bb |Gm |
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Bb |Gm |Eb | |Cm | |G | | | |
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).
G7 | | | | |
Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes.
C7 | | | |
Put it in you pantry with your cupcakes.
F7 |Bb |Eb |Cm | |
It's a little secret, just the Robinsons' affair.
G |F7 |
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids.
|Bb |Gm |
Coo coo ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson,
Bb |Gm |Eb | |F7 |
Jesus loves you more than you will know (wo wo wo).
|Bb |Gm |
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Bb |Gm |Eb | |Cm | |G | | | |
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).
G7 | | | | |
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon,
C7 | | | |
Going to the candidates' debate,
F7 |Bb |Eb |Cm | |
Laugh about it, shout about it, when you've got to choose,
G |F7 |
Every way you look at it you lose.
|Bb |Gm
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
|Bb |Gm |Eb | |F7 |
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you (Woo woo woo).
|Bb |Gm |
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Bb |Gm |Eb | |Cm | |G | | |G7add6 |
"Joltin' Joe has left and gone away" (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).
MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION
Words & music by Paul Simon 1971
|C D |G
No I would not give you false hope
|C D |G
On this strange and mournful day
|C D |G Em
But the mother and child reu-nion
|Am G |D | |Em |
Is only a motion away, oh, little darling of mine.
|D |
I can't for the life of me
|Em |
Remember a sadder day
|D |
I know they say let it be
|Em |
But it just don't work out that way
|C |
And the course of a lifetime runs
|D |
Over and over again
|C D |G
No I would not give you false hope
|C D |G
On this strange and mournful day
|C D |G Em
But the mother and child reu-nion
|Am G |D | |Em |
Is only a motion away, oh, little darling of mine.
|D |
I just can't believe it's so,
|Em |
and though it seems strange to say
|D |
I never been laid so low
|Em |
In such a mysterious way
|C |
And the course of a lifetime runs
|D |
Over and over again
|C D |G
But I would not give you false hope
|C D |G
On this strange and mournful day
|C D |G Em
When the mother and child reu-nion
|Am G |D |
Is only a motion away,
|C D |G
Oh, oh the mother and child reunion
|C D |G
Is only a motion away
|C D |G|Em
Oh the mother and child reu-nion
|Am G |D | |G |
Is only a moment away
MY LITTLE TOWN
Words & music by Paul Simon 1975
E |
In my little town
Em |Em7/A A
|
I grew up believ--ing
D
|Bm |Am | |
God keeps His eye on us all
F
|C |
And He used to lean upon me
C+
|E7 |A
|
As I pledged allegiance to the wall
Bm |E
Lord I recall
|A |
My little town
A/G# |F#m
|
Coming home after school
Am6 |D9
Flying my bike past the gates
|G |E7
|F |
Of the factories
B
|F |
My mom doing the laundry
F+ |A
Hanging our shirts
|D
| |
In the dirty breeze
|G
And after it rains
|
There's a rainbow
|
|D
And all of the colors are black
|Em
|D
It's not that the colors aren't there
| |G |Dmaj7
|E |
It's just imagin-ation they lack
|Em7
Everything's the same
|A
|D |G |D |G |
Back in my little town
D
|C#m7
Nothing but the dead and dying
|Bm | |
Back in my little town
D
|C#m7
Nothing but the dead and dying
|Bm | | |
Back in my little town
A |F#m |
In my little town
Am6
|D9
I never meant nothin'
|G
|E7 |F |
I was just my fathers son
Bb |F |
Saving my money
Bb |F
|
Dreaming of glory
Bb
|F
Twitching like a finger
|F+ A
|D | |
On the trigger of a gun
|D
|C#m7
Leaving nothing but the dead and dying
|Bm | |
Back in my little town
Repeat and fade:
D
|C#m7
Nothing but the dead and dying
|Bm | |
Back in my little town
SCARBOROUGH FAIR/CANTICLE Words by Paul Simon Arranged by Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel
Em | |D |Em |
Are you going to Scarborough Fair:
G |Em |G A |Em | | |
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
| |G | F#m Em |D | |
Remember me to one who lives there.
Em |D Em |D Em D |Em | |
She once was a true love of mine.
| |D Em D |Em
Tell her to make me a cam - bric shirt:
- - - - - - - - -On the side of a hill
| |G
in the deep forest green.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
|Em |G A |Em
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tracing
| | |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
of sparrow on snow-crested brown.
| |G | F#m Em |D
Without no seams nor ne-edle work,
- - - - - - - - - - -Blankets and bedclothes
| |
- - - - - - - -
the child of the
Em |D Em|D Em D |
Then she'll be a true love of
mountain - - - - - - - - - - -
Em | | | |
mine.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.
| |D Em D |Em
Tell her to find me an ac - re of land:
- - - - - - - - -On the side of a hill
| |G
- - - - - - - - - - -
a sprinkling of leaves.
|Em |G A |Em
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Washes
| | |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
the grave with silvery tears.
| |G | F#m Em |D
Between the salt water and the sea strand,
- - - - - - - - - - - -A sol-dier cleans
| |Em |D Em|D Em D |
and polishes a gun. - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -Then she'll be a true love of
Em | | | |
mine. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.
| |D Em D |Em
Tell her to reap it with a sic-kle of leather:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -War bellows blazing
| |G
- - - - - - - - - - -
in scarlet battalions.
|Em |G A |Em |
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Generals
| |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
order their soldiers to kill.
| |G | F#m Em|D
And gather it all in a bunch of heather,
- - - - - - - - And to fight for a cause
| |Em
- - - - - - - - - - Then
they've long ago forgotten.
|D Em|D Em D |Em
she'll be a true love of mine.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Words & music By Paul Simon 1974
Amaj7 |Emaj7 |Emmaj7 |Am7 |Cmaj7 |G | |
| |G7/B
I met my old lover
|C |
On the street last night
F |G |F#dim
She seemed so glad to see me
|Bsus4 B7|
I just smiled
Em Ebm7 |Dm7 |G7
And we talked about some old times
|C |C#dim
And we drank ourselves some beers
|G |D7 |Em |
Still crazy afler all these years
C#dim |G/D |D7 |Cm | |D7 |G C |
Oh, still crazy after all these years
| |G7/B
I'm not the kind of man
|C |
Who tends to socialize
F |G |
I seem to lean on
F#dim |Bsus4 B7|
Old familiar ways
Em Ebm7 |Dm7 |G7
And I aint no fool for love songs
|C |C#dim
That whisper in my ears
|G |D7 |Em |
Still crazy afler all these years
C#dim |G/D |D7 |G9 | | |
Oh, still crazy after all these years
Amaj7 | |
Four in the morning
E |Em |
Crapped out, yawning
G#m7 |C#sus C#|F#maj7 | |
Longing my life a--way
Em B C |
I'll never worry
B C |G |
Why should I?
G7 |C |B |C |B |C |B Am7 |
It's all gonna fade
|G |G7/B
Now I sit by my window
|C |
And I watch the cars
F7|G |F#dim
I fear I'll do some damage
|Bsus4 B7|
One fine day
E D/E |A |A7/C#
But I would not be convicted
|D |D#dim
By a jury of my peers
|A |E E#dim|F#m |
Still crazy after all these years
D#dim |A |
Oh, still crazy
|D |
Still crazy
|A/E |E7 |A D|A |
Still crazy after all these years
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES
Words & music by Paul Simon 1986
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
Joseph's face was black as night
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |
The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
His path was marked
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
By the stars in the southern hemisphere
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
And he walked his days
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
Under African skies
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
This is the story of how we begin to remember
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
After thc dream of falling and calling your name out
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
In early mem - 'ry mission music
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
Was ringing 'round my nursery door
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb
I said take this child, Lord
|Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
From Tucson Ari-zona
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
Give her the wings to fly through harmony
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
And she won't bother you no more
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
This is the story of how we begin to remember
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
After thc dream of falling and calling your name out
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |
These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain
Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |
Kaoomba oomba oomba oh
Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |
Kaoomba oomba oomba oh
Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |
Kaoomba oomba oomba o-o-o- o-o-oh
Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
Kaoomba oomba oomba oh
Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
Joseph's face was as black as the night
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |
The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
Eb/Bb Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
His path was marked
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
By the stars in the southern hemisphere
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb
And he walked the length of his days
Bb |Eb Ab |Eb/Bb Bb |
Under African skies
CECILIA
Words & music by Paul Simon 1969
F |Bb F
Celia, you're breaking my heart
|Bb F |C
You're shaking my confidence daily.
|Bb F |Bb |F
Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees,
|Bb F |C |
I'm begging you please to come home.
F |Bb F
Celia, you're breaking my heart
|Bb F |C
You're shaking my confidence daily.
|Bb F |Bb |F
Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees,
|Bb F |C
I'm begging you please to come home.
|F |
Ho-ho-home
|Bb |F
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Bb F |C F |
Up in my bedroom,
|Bb
I got up to wash my face
|F
When I come back to bed,
|C F |
someone's taken my place.
F |Bb F
Celia, you're breaking my heart
|Bb F |C
You're shaking my confidence daily.
|Bb F |Bb |F
Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees,
|Bb F |C
I'm begging you please to come home.
|F
Come on home.
|Fsus F |Bb |C
Poh poh poh poh poh poh poh poh poh poh poh poh poh
|Bb F
Jubila-tion,
|Bb F
She loves me again,
|Bb F |C
I fall on the floor and I laughing,
|Bb F
Jubila-tion,
|Bb F
She loves me again,
|Bb F |C
I fall on the floor and I laughing,
HOMEWARD BOUND
Words & music by Paul Simon 1966
| |
I'm sitting in the railway station.
|Em/B | |Gm6/Bb | |A7 | |
Got a ticket to my destination. Mmm
Dm | |Bb |
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
|C | | |G7 |C |
And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
|F |
Homeward bound,
|C |
I wish I was,
|F | |
Homeward bound,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my thought's escaping,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my mu-sic's playing,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my love lies waiting
G |C | |
Silently for me.
|
Ev'ry day's an endless stream
|Em/B | |Gm6/Bb | |A7 |
Of cigarettes and magazi-ines. Mmm
|Dm | |Bb |
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
|C | | |G7 |C |
And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
|F |
Homeward bound,
|C |
I wish I was,
|F | |
Homeward bound,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my thought's escaping,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my mu-sic's playing,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my love lies waiting
G |C |
Silently for me.
| |
Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
|Em/B | |Gm6/Bb | |A7 |
I'll play the game and prete-end. Mmm
|Dm | |Bb |
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
|C | | |G7 |C |
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
|F |
Homeward bound,
|C |
I wish I was,
|F | |
Homeward bound,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my thought's escaping,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my mu-sic's playing,
C |Dm C Bb F |
Home where my love lies waiting
G |C |Cmaj7/B |
Silently for me.
|C7/Bb | |C |F |C | |
Silently for me.
I AM A ROCK
Words & music by Paul Simon 1965
|C |
A winter's day
|F |C | |
In a deep and dark December;
Dm G7 |C |
I am alone,
Dm Em |Dm Em
Gazing from my window to the streets below
|Dm F |G7
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|C |
I've built walls,
|F |C | |
A fortress deep and mighty,
Dm G7 |C |
That none may penetrate.
Dm Em |Dm Em
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
|Dm F |G7
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|C |
Don't talk of love,
|F |C | |
I've heard the words before;
Dm G7 |C |
It's sleeping in my memory.
Dm Em |Dm Em
And I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
|Dm F |G7
If I never loved I never would have cried.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|C |
I have my books
|F |C | |
And my poetry to protect me;
Dm G7 |C |
I am shielded in my armor,
Dm Em |Dm Em
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
|Dm F |G7
I touch no one and no one touches me.
|C
I am a rock,
|G |C | | |
I am an is-land.
|Dm Em |C
And a rock can feel no pain;
|Dm Em |C | |
And an island never cries.