"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 fifty 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 fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty 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
Ooh, slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
You just listen to me
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 fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty 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 listen to me
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free


Lyrics submitted by zygoticmynci

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Lyrics as written by Paul Simon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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50 Ways To Leave Your Lover song meanings
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    General Comment

    Like someone mentioned previously, this song is not meant to be deeply profound - it is instead playful, a touch sad, and ever so mildly philosophical.

    My belief is the girl wants out of the relationship - but she has yet to tell the guy. Then one night she senses ambivalence (bordering on pain) in the guy's feelings about the relationship.

    So she jumps on the opportunity, slyly giving the guy his freedom to end the relationship with her full blessing and no ill feelings. In so doing, she paints her own image as caring and altruistic. But ultimately she is only giving him his freedom so that she gets her own freedom as well - with the added bonus that the blame goes on the guy's shoulders. This frees her of any guilt about ending the relationship (except, of course, in her own conscience - if she has any)

    I like the catchy drum work at the start of the song and during the 'A' choruses :)

    tsreybon October 08, 2009   Link

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