Paul Simon’s self-titled solo album was a bit of an oddity in that it didn’t carry over the style of the songs he wrote for Simon & Garfunkel but neither did it feel like the great material that was still to come.
His next album, released a year later in 1973, feels a lot more like a true Paul Simon record. There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, despite its goofy title, is Simon’s first great solo album.
Classics ‘Kodachrome,’ ‘American Tune’ and ‘Loves Me Like a Rock’ show up here, alongside sublime forays into Dixieland and gospel. Every song is a keeper on this bright, optimistic record that never fails to put a smile on my face.
Sweetest of all is ‘St. Judy’s Comet,’ a lullaby written for Simon’s son. Musicians’ kids have it good. My daughters had to make do with their old man’s off-key renditions of ‘Blackbird’ and ‘In My Life.’ Simon’s kids got original songs like this one.
Do you know what time it is?
Well the hour of your bedtime’s long been past
And though I know you’re fighting it
I can tell when you rub your eyes
You’re fading fast, oh fading fast
Won’t you run come see St. Judy’s Comet
Roll across the skies
And leave a spray of diamonds in it’s wake
I long to see St. Judy’s Comet
Sparkle in your eyes when you awake
Oh, when you wake, wake
Little boy
Won’t you lay your body down
Little boy
Won’t you close your weary eyes
Ain’t nothing flashing but the fireflies
Well I sang it once and I sang it twice
I’m going to sing it three times more
I’m going to stay ’til your resistance
Is overcome
‘Cause if I can’t sing my boy to sleep
Well it makes your famous daddy look so dumb
Look so dumb
Won’t you run come see St. Judy’s Comet
Roll across the skies
And leave a spray of diamonds in it’s wake
I long to see St. Judy’s Comet
Sparkle in your eyes when you awake
Oh, when you wake, wake
Little boy, little boy
Won’t you lay your body down
Little boy, little boy
Won’t you close your weary eyes
Ain’t nothing flashing but the fireflies
Oo, little sleepy boy
Do you know what time it is?
Well the hour of your bedtime’s long been past
And though I know you’re fighting it
I can tell when you rub your eyes
You’re fading fast, oh fading fast
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’d say your kids are pretty lucky. They have a dad with great taste in music and a good voice. Paul Simon might have been reluctant to sing “Blackbird” to his son, who may have gotten sick of only hearing “St. Judy’s Comet” night after night.
I don’t own this album, but I’m familiar with all the songs you mention. My favorite is “American Tune.” I’m most intrigued by the album cover. What an odd cover it is! I’m quite curious what the story is behind that album art.
Each piece of artwork is tied to a song on the album. The mask for ‘Take Me to the Mardi Gras,’ the chairs for ‘One Man’s Ceiling is Another Man’s Floor,’ and so on.
I’m not familiar with this album either, other than the hits you referenced. Today’s song is lovely, but it ain’t no “American Tune,” which to me is one of Simon’s standout songs.
So your readers don’t have to look too far to find the gem Dana and I adore.
They can also find it on this very blog.
🙂 I figured, but you usually make it a link when you’ve featured it in the past!
featuring some wonderful insights 🙂