The discussion thus far has involved different people - primarily Sir Larrikin, JForsythe and padmewan - trying to impose different interpretations upon this song.
JForsythe, for example, says that the metaphor of 'diamonds on the souls of her shoes' consistently refers to the feeling of being in love, while Sir Larrikin thinks it's about wealth and dating 'above your station.'
To have a discussion like this is to ignore the essence of Paul SImon's lyrical genius. The point is, his best lyrics - as with any sublime lyrics - cannot be explained in only one way. The metaphor of 'diamonds on the souls of her shoes' deals simultaneously with: love, beauty and the degradation thereof, the disparity between rich and poor, socio-economic injustice in South Africa, and more.
It is the complexity of Simon's lyrics - the fact that one can't just say "the metaphore [sic] is rich and deep, but this one i feel as if i understand" - that makes them truly great.
The discussion thus far has involved different people - primarily Sir Larrikin, JForsythe and padmewan - trying to impose different interpretations upon this song.
JForsythe, for example, says that the metaphor of 'diamonds on the souls of her shoes' consistently refers to the feeling of being in love, while Sir Larrikin thinks it's about wealth and dating 'above your station.'
To have a discussion like this is to ignore the essence of Paul SImon's lyrical genius. The point is, his best lyrics - as with any sublime lyrics - cannot be explained in only one way. The metaphor of 'diamonds on the souls of her shoes' deals simultaneously with: love, beauty and the degradation thereof, the disparity between rich and poor, socio-economic injustice in South Africa, and more.
It is the complexity of Simon's lyrics - the fact that one can't just say "the metaphore [sic] is rich and deep, but this one i feel as if i understand" - that makes them truly great.