1) This could definitely be interpreted as the story of a single family. Initially we see a passion romantic relationship, although there are hints of pain as well -- passion is compared to a "thorny crown", the woman's name "Dolores" translates to "sorrows", and the man expresses fear of losing himself in love. They get married but as time passes his wife starts feeling depressed and wondering "what might have been" if she had made other choices. The relationship falls apart and the man leaves his wife and son. Later, he returns, intending to explain...
1) This could definitely be interpreted as the story of a single family. Initially we see a passion romantic relationship, although there are hints of pain as well -- passion is compared to a "thorny crown", the woman's name "Dolores" translates to "sorrows", and the man expresses fear of losing himself in love. They get married but as time passes his wife starts feeling depressed and wondering "what might have been" if she had made other choices. The relationship falls apart and the man leaves his wife and son. Later, he returns, intending to explain to his son why he left, but in the end he just kisses the boy and leaves without waking him up. The last verse reflects on the bigger picture about how we go about our day to day lives without realizing that life may be slipping away from us.
2) Paul Simon wrote this song in 1975, when he had just divorced Peggy Harper after a 5-year marriage. They had a 3-year-old son at the time. So it's likely that this song was inspired at least in part by autobiographical events.
I am interested in the answers to two questions about this (brilliant) song:
1) Is it the story of one single family? (passion --> marital stagnation --> alienation)
2) How much is autibiographical? I've always felt that verse three must be.
Please let me have your thoughts...
@ShineYouDiamond
@ShineYouDiamond
1) This could definitely be interpreted as the story of a single family. Initially we see a passion romantic relationship, although there are hints of pain as well -- passion is compared to a "thorny crown", the woman's name "Dolores" translates to "sorrows", and the man expresses fear of losing himself in love. They get married but as time passes his wife starts feeling depressed and wondering "what might have been" if she had made other choices. The relationship falls apart and the man leaves his wife and son. Later, he returns, intending to explain...
1) This could definitely be interpreted as the story of a single family. Initially we see a passion romantic relationship, although there are hints of pain as well -- passion is compared to a "thorny crown", the woman's name "Dolores" translates to "sorrows", and the man expresses fear of losing himself in love. They get married but as time passes his wife starts feeling depressed and wondering "what might have been" if she had made other choices. The relationship falls apart and the man leaves his wife and son. Later, he returns, intending to explain to his son why he left, but in the end he just kisses the boy and leaves without waking him up. The last verse reflects on the bigger picture about how we go about our day to day lives without realizing that life may be slipping away from us.
2) Paul Simon wrote this song in 1975, when he had just divorced Peggy Harper after a 5-year marriage. They had a 3-year-old son at the time. So it's likely that this song was inspired at least in part by autobiographical events.