Paul Simon — 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
Album: Still Crazy After All These YearsAvg rating:
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Length: 3:32
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"The problem is all inside your head," she said to me.
"The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be 50 ways to leave your lover."
She said, "It's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
But I'll repeat myself at the risk of being crude
There must be 50 ways to leave your lover."
50 ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
Just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
She said, "It grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again."
I said, "I appreciate that and would you please explain
About the fifty ways?"
She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right
There must be 50 ways to leave your lover
50 ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Oh, you hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
Slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
You just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
"The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be 50 ways to leave your lover."
She said, "It's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
But I'll repeat myself at the risk of being crude
There must be 50 ways to leave your lover."
50 ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
Just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
She said, "It grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again."
I said, "I appreciate that and would you please explain
About the fifty ways?"
She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right
There must be 50 ways to leave your lover
50 ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Oh, you hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
Slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
You just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
Comments (42)add comment
Still Amazing After These Years!
joejennings wrote:
Always has been
HE STILL IS!!!
HE STILL IS!!!
craigandbee wrote:
Correction: I was actually trying to reply to redeyespy's post:
"Strangely enough, I remember singing these words along with my 3rd or 4th grade classmates while dangling from the monkey bars."
I totally get it! Right before I read your comment, I had JUST posted my own childhood memory linked to this song...Funny how music works like that!
This song is etched in my brain as one of my earliest "musical memories"...I'm 5 years old on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, toe-to-toe with my older sister. No power due to a crazy snowstorm so the family is hunkered down in the living room together in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, listening to our battery-operated transistor AM/FM radio (1970-what?!?) and this song is playing...It's funny thinking back on it now; the words of the song don't really correlate to what was happening during that moment in time. But to this day, whenever I hear that opening drum line, I'm immediately transported 45+ years back in time.
Cool story. Thank You for sharing it.
Correction: I was actually trying to reply to redeyespy's post:
"Strangely enough, I remember singing these words along with my 3rd or 4th grade classmates while dangling from the monkey bars."
To this I reply: I was only three, but I sure remember singing it. LOL... I didn't have the concept ... But I loved it cuz it was so catchy and rhymed so well to a little one... oh, and that flutter of the drum... fun to march around to :)
I totally get it! Right before I read your comment, I had JUST posted my own childhood memory linked to this song...Funny how music works like that!
This song is etched in my brain as one of my earliest "musical memories"...I'm 5 years old on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, toe-to-toe with my older sister. No power due to a crazy snowstorm so the family is hunkered down in the living room together in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, listening to our battery-operated transistor AM/FM radio (1970-what?!?) and this song is playing...It's funny thinking back on it now; the words of the song don't really correlate to what was happening during that moment in time. But to this day, whenever I hear that opening drum line, I'm immediately transported 45+ years back in time.
Cool story. Thank You for sharing it.
Jelani wrote:
HE STILL IS!!!
Ah, when Paul Simon was good.
HE STILL IS!!!
Ah, when Paul Simon was good.
Flashback to me as a first grader on the school bus in the late 70s, happily trying to sing along while having no idea what the song was about. 
One of the cleverest songs ever, and includes deceptively difficult drumming.
reckase wrote:
52...
perhaps some updated lyrics:
"ignore the tweet, Pete
give em the ghost, Jost"
52...
GoodKarm wrote:
Correction: I was actually trying to reply to redeyespy's post:
"Strangely enough, I remember singing these words along with my 3rd or 4th grade classmates while dangling from the monkey bars."
I totally get it! Right before I read your comment, I had JUST posted my own childhood memory linked to this song...Funny how music works like that!
This song is etched in my brain as one of my earliest "musical memories"...I'm 5 years old on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, toe-to-toe with my older sister. No power due to a crazy snowstorm so the family is hunkered down in the living room together in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, listening to our battery-operated transistor AM/FM radio (1970-what?!?) and this song is playing...It's funny thinking back on it now; the words of the song don't really correlate to what was happening during that moment in time. But to this day, whenever I hear that opening drum line, I'm immediately transported 45+ years back in time.
Correction: I was actually trying to reply to redeyespy's post:
"Strangely enough, I remember singing these words along with my 3rd or 4th grade classmates while dangling from the monkey bars."
To this I reply: I was only three, but I sure remember singing it. LOL... I didn't have the concept ... But I loved it cuz it was so catchy and rhymed so well to a little one... oh, and that flutter of the drum... fun to march around to :)
I totally get it! Right before I read your comment, I had JUST posted my own childhood memory linked to this song...Funny how music works like that!
This song is etched in my brain as one of my earliest "musical memories"...I'm 5 years old on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, toe-to-toe with my older sister. No power due to a crazy snowstorm so the family is hunkered down in the living room together in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, listening to our battery-operated transistor AM/FM radio (1970-what?!?) and this song is playing...It's funny thinking back on it now; the words of the song don't really correlate to what was happening during that moment in time. But to this day, whenever I hear that opening drum line, I'm immediately transported 45+ years back in time.
This song is etched in my brain as one of my earliest "musical memories"...I'm 5 years old on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, toe-to-toe with my older sister. No power due to a crazy snowstorm so the family is hunkered down in the living room together in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, listening to our battery-operated transistor AM/FM radio (1970-what?!?) and this song is playing...It's funny thinking back on it now; the words of the song don't really correlate to what was happening during that moment in time. But to this day, whenever I hear that opening drum line, I'm immediately transported 45+ years back in time.
Paul Simon does not get enough credit as one of the USA's premier songwriters.
Love this song. Reminds me of early days when I first heard it.
The musicianship is great, sure, but does anyone else think the lyrics are a bit, I don't know, skeevy? It feels skeevy.
I saw Paul speak a few years ago. The interviewer asked "what's your most surprising hit?" His reply: "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
perhaps some updated lyrics:
"ignore the tweet, Pete
give em the ghost, Jost"
"ignore the tweet, Pete
give em the ghost, Jost"
redeyespy wrote:
"Strangely enough, I remember singing these words along with my 3rd or 4th grade classmates while dangling from the monkey bars."
To this I reply: I was only three, but I sure remember singing it. LOL... I didn't have the concept ... But I loved it cuz it was so catchy and rhymed so well to a little one... oh, and that flutter of the drum... fun to march around to :)
Paul probably had fun writing the lyrics for this one.
Perhaps a toke or two with some friends was involved?
Perhaps a toke or two with some friends was involved?
k3rmit wrote:
I heard something like that, but it was in Biology class.
I remember a middle school teacher explaining simple machines... there must be 50 ways to love your lever.
I heard something like that, but it was in Biology class.
Egctheow wrote:
Good music in the teacher's office improves grade averages! Students should be grateful to Radio Paradise.
OK, so I'm grading papers and getting gradually depressed, almost at the pulling my hair out stage. One can only take in so much bad grammar and badly digested content... And then this comes on and that's me smiling again. Thanks RP. At least I don't have to do my grading with a swimming cap on just yet.
and that's me smiling again. Thanks RP. At least I don't have to do my grading with a swimming cap on just yet.
Good music in the teacher's office improves grade averages! Students should be grateful to Radio Paradise.
OK, so I'm grading papers and getting gradually depressed, almost at the pulling my hair out stage. One can only take in so much bad grammar and badly digested content... And then this comes on and that's me smiling again. Thanks RP. At least I don't have to do my grading with a swimming cap on just yet.
and that's me smiling again. Thanks RP. At least I don't have to do my grading with a swimming cap on just yet. I remember a middle school teacher explaining simple machines... there must be 50 ways to love your lever.
I'm disappointed that the line goes 'You don't need to discuss much' instead of 'You don't need to discuss, Moss', in fashion of other male names in the chorus.
Such a missed opportunity...
Such a missed opportunity...
Back in the 70's I worked stage crew when Paul Simon played in Charlottesville. A few of us were sitting out in the auditorium watching the sound check. At the time Art Garfunkel lived in the area, so I was only mildly surprised when I turned my head and saw him sitting a dozen seats over to my right. I still wonder what was going through his head.
Hate this song.. :(((( sorry..
I only recently learned about Gadd - I KNOW, hameful - so many tracks. Another standout of many.
redeyespy wrote:
Sadly, this skill is lost in the age of Pro Tools
Lest we forget Steve Gadd's amazing drumline in this. Deceptively simple; you try keeping time like he does.
Sadly, this skill is lost in the age of Pro Tools
Yes indeedy.
Jan 2020...
Rating:
Paul Simon - 10
Steve Gadd - 100
Inspired genius.
Jan 2020...
Rating:
Paul Simon - 10
Steve Gadd - 100
Inspired genius.
Pee Wee Herman did a remake of this...
50 ways to love your lever.
50 ways to love your lever.
What a track. Gats drumming is totally original!
I'm going +1 on this track simply cuz my wife sings along (and gets all the lyrics right) when this plays....and that drumming! LLRP!!
This man has a special talent with the English language, eh? Pretty good with a melody, too.
Everything he touches has class.
No wonder he gets such great backup musicians.
No wonder he gets such great backup musicians.
Great tune. I remember seeing him do this on Saturday Night Live...you know, when SNL was funny.
One can see on the dates of the postings, this song does not get played often.
2008 and then 2015?
And others are being played so often which are not even half as good, until they come out of ones ears!
2008 and then 2015?
And others are being played so often which are not even half as good, until they come out of ones ears!
redeyespy wrote:
Wow he is phenomenal, thanks for the info redeyespy : )
this cool tune helped me get the guts to leave a lousy job, "no need to discuss much bye bye"
Lest we forget Steve Gadd's amazing drumline in this. Deceptively simple; you try keeping time like he does.
Wow he is phenomenal, thanks for the info redeyespy : )
this cool tune helped me get the guts to leave a lousy job, "no need to discuss much bye bye"
Lest we forget Steve Gadd's amazing drumline in this. Deceptively simple; you try keeping time like he does.
Cruithne3753 wrote:
"Make a new plant stand"
She may be heartbroken, but at least she'll have something nice to display her geraniums on.
Is that what he says? I always thought it was,
"Make new plans, Stan..."
"Make a new plant stand"
She may be heartbroken, but at least she'll have something nice to display her geraniums on.
Strangely enough, I remember singing these words along with my 3rd or 4th grade classmates while dangling from the monkey bars.
Don't forget to drop off your key, Lee.
One of the best "love lost" love songs ever written. 