Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

Paul Simon

About Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the fourth single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. The song features guest vocals from the South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.


Year:
1986
5:48
175 

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(A-wa) O kodwa you zo-nge li-sa namhlange
(A-wa a-wa) Si-bona kwenze ka kanjani
(A-wa a-wa) Amanto mbazane ayeza
She's a rich girl
She don't try to hide it
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

He's a poor boy
Empty as a pocket
Empty as a pocket with nothing to lose
Sing Ta na na
Ta na na na

She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

People say she's crazy
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Well that's one way to lose these
Walking blues
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

She was physically forgotten
Then she slipped into my pocket
With my car keys
She said you've taken me for granted
Because I please you
Wearing these diamonds

And I could say Oo oo oo
As if everybody knows
What I'm talking about
As if everybody would know
Exactly what I was talking about
Talking about diamonds on the soles of her shoes

She makes the sign of a teaspoon
He makes the sign of a wave
The poor boy changes clothes
And puts on after-shave
To compensate for his ordinary shoes

And she said honey take me dancing
But they ended up by sleeping
In a doorway
By the bodegas and the lights on
Upper Broadway
Wearing diamonds on the soles of their shoes

And I could say Oo oo oo
As if everybody here would know
What I was talking about
I mean everybody here would know exactly
What I was talking about
Talking about diamonds

People say I'm crazy
I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes
Well that's one way to lose
These walking blues
Diamonds on the soles of our shoes

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Paul Simon

Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an award-winning musician whose talents in composing, performing, and vocal harmony placed him at the forefront of the singer-songwriters on an international scale. Simon's fame, influence and commercial success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts: "The Sounds of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The duo split up in 1970 at the height of their popularity, and Simon began a successful solo career, recording three highly acclaimed albums over the next five years. In 1986, he released Graceland, an album inspired by South African… more »

6 fans

Written by: Paul Simon, Joseph Shabalala, Dp

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Composer
The song "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" was composed and performed by "Paul Simon" and the South African Zulu group "Ladysmith Black Mambazo".
Album Origin
The song is derived from "Graceland", the seventh solo studio album by "Paul Simon" which was released in 1986.
Collaboration
The song highlighted the cultural integration between American and South African music, as it was one of the first major collaborations between American and African artists.
Inspirational Significance
The song was inspired by a real-life incident where Paul Simon came across a woman wearing diamond-decorated shoes during a party.
Cultural Influence
The Zulu background harmonies by Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the song spread the unique sound of South African acapella music, known as Isicathamiya, to a worldwide audience.
Controversy
Paul Simon faced criticism for violating the cultural boycott of South Africa, which was in place at the time due to the apartheid, but "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes" was widely celebrated for crossing musical borders and it helped raise global awareness of the situation in South Africa.
SNL Appearance
The song was first introduced in USA during Paul Simon's appearance in "Saturday Night Live", where he performed it live with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Musical Style
"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" is categorized under the genres of Folk-Rock, Pop, and Worldbeat. It features a blend of American folk music and the mbaqanga music of South Africa.
Critical Response
The song became a critical success, praised for its intricate structure and cultural authenticity, and it helped the album "Graceland" to win the 1987 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Legacy
Despite the initial controversies, "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" is now recognized as a milestone in popular music for its fusion of diverse musical styles and for boosting international recognition of African music.

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