Paul Simon: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Meaning

Song Released: 1975
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Lyrics
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...
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This came out or rather I heard it around 1972. My wife left me for a younger man. This song left me empty, and heart sick
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Communication and/or lack thereof is a common theme among Paul Simon's work. Paul lists some of the 50 ways in the song, but the real problem is that the couple speaking to each other do not actually communicate to each other, even in ways to break up. Ultimately, the lack of communication is always going to lead to a break up.
Paul was right in the middle of divorcing Peggy in 1975 when this song was penned. Some of his best work in this time period came from heartbreak.
It is well documented that part of this song also came from simply wanting to come up with fun rhymes for his son Harper.
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