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neongoddess 
May-11-2006, 14:37 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

Does anyone have any insight as to what this song is about? Being from the "Hearts an Bones" album, I assume it´s autobiographical in some way. I read somewhere that he was singing about age; however, I always thought it must be about money (hence the line, "We´ve got number by the trillions, here and overseas."

Thoughts?

neongoddess
May-11-2006, 14:42 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

I meant "we´ve got numbers."

Berit
May-11-2006, 14:57 GMT
IP:
Denmark

Neon, I can see why you think it´s about money. I´ve always wondered about this one, too.
However, I´ve lately come to think that it´s about heartache too. Hence the last verse:

And after all is said and done
And the numbers all come home
The four rolls into three
The three turns into two
The two becomes a one.

And he is lonely again !

Tom
May-11-2006, 17:43 GMT
IP:
Unknown

It seems to me that certain themes preoccupy him. the potentially dehumanizing aspects of modern culture appears to be a preoccupation for him. Privilging objectivity over subjectivity( numbers over feelings for instance) would be one instance of this. The song Proof would be another song in that vein

neongoddess
May-11-2006, 20:36 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

Considering that that "Hearts And Bones" was originally going to be "Think Too Much"--an S&G album--I find myself wondering if it was inspired by the S&G reunion. Like, maybe his "people" wanted him to do a tour to generate a bunch of money, and were waiting for him to make a decision ("All those numbers waiting patiently"). Maybe I´m way off, but that´s just what it makes me think of.

I agree with you, Berit, about the end of the song. It does seem as if is about lonlieness. It´s as if he is saying that material things do not lead to satisfaction; regardless of what happens with money, etc, he is still alone.

Was Paul still with Carrie Fisher when this was written? Just curious.

Jeroen
May-11-2006, 21:52 GMT
IP:
Netherlands

I think Tom is right. Hearts And Bones is a thematic album touching upon the dichotomy between feeling(hearts) and thinking(bones). Numbers are concrete (cut them with a knife)whereas Love is seen innumerably. Radical thinkers from the sixties claimed that objectiveness and scientific thinking offered the fertile ground for alienation, also one of his favorite topics. it still is, judging from How can You Live in the North-East.
I think the coda is a postive account of how the only number that matters is one, since we´re actually all united in life.

Jupira 
May-11-2006, 23:03 GMT
IP:
Brazil

Of course Paul was not talking about Math tests, but when I was a student I used to sing that with this meaning...
Just for fun!!!

Micky
May-11-2006, 23:10 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

Hearts & Bones was originally going to be a Paul Simon album, he´d already started writing before the concert. Then him and Artie toured and he thought it might be good to change it to an S&G album. Things went pear shaped with Artie, and Paul didn´t feel confortable with Art singing, what was very personal songs, and dropped Artie. And he then backed stepped and made it a PS solo album again.

neongoddess
May-11-2006, 23:27 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

"The only number that matters is one, since we´re actually all united in life."

Interesting observation!

Mickey,

Thanks for the history refresher. :-) I was under the impression that it was originally supposed to be S&G. When did he start writing the songs for album? Paul seems to take quite awhile to perfect enough songs to put anything out.

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