3 of the Best Opening Lines From Paul Simon Songs

When it comes to great lyricists, there is a slew. You can talk about Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and any other number of them. But for a sliver of time there in the 20th century, the best writer of them all just might have been the Newark, New Jersey-born artist named Paul Simon.

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Whether as part of his duo with Art Garfunkel or as a solo artist, Simon boasts some of the greatest (lyrical) compositions in modern music. And here below, we wanted to explore three of those. A trio of tracks penned by Paul that demonstrate not only great melody and musicianship, but excellent lyricism as well. Indeed, these are three of the best opening lines from Paul Simon songs.

[RELATED: 3 Timeless Simon & Garfunkel Songs that Showcase the Art of Songwriting at Its Best]

“The Sound of Silence” from Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964)

Offering one of the greatest opening lines in music history, when Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sing over the plucked electric guitar and sing harmoniously Hello, darkness, my old friend, you’re just in as a listener. There is no turning away from a song that opens like that. Music is supposed to enlighten. And to do so with an opening about darkness and cuddling up to it—well, that’s poetry right there. Indeed, the two sing,

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

“Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” from Paul Simon (1972)

This explosion of music and storytelling opens with some frenetic, fancy lyrics. From Simon’s self-titled 1972 solo album, this track just might be his most famous offering. Does the song make lyrical sense? Well, it’s up for interpretation, which is perhaps better than offering exact clarity. But more than anything, we feel truth in its composition. And it all begins with a high-paced opening, as Simon sings,

The mama pajama rolled out of bed
And she ran to the police station
When the papa found out he began to shout
And he started the investigation

“The Boxer” from Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

Touching and heartfelt, this song of sentimentality was originally released on the 1970 Simon & Garfunkel album Bridge Over Troubled Water. But it’s also one Simon has performed often solo (as in the video here below). It tells the story of a young man out to make his way in the world. Simon uses the image of a beaten-down boxer who continues to persevere as a central image. And he sings on the lonesome offering to open it,

I am just a poor boy
Though my story’s seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles

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