Paul Simon Trivia

1. Which baseball star was mentioned in the song 'Mrs. Robinson'?

From Quiz Paul Simon Songs

Answer: Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio was a baseball player who played for the New York Yankees in the major leagues for all his thirteen year career. From 1954 to 1955 he was married to Marilyn Monroe. Mrs. Robinson was a character in the film 'The Graduate' and was played by Anne Bancroft. Paul Simon, a lifelong Yankees fan told Fran Healy for MSG's "The Game 365" that Joe DiMaggio asked him what he meant by 'Where did you go Joe DiMaggio?' because he had not gone anywhere. Paul said that his meaning was where are all the great heroes like Joe now? Joe was flattered by the explanation and they shook hands.

From Quiz Mother and Child Reunion Tour

Answer: From an Asian menu with a chicken and egg dish of the same name.

In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine in 1972, Paul Simon said that he saw the name of this dish on a Chinese restaurant's menu. That said, the dish seems to have its origins in Japan where a rice dish called oyakodon is served. In this dish, the chicken and egg are simmered in a stock, then served over a large bowl of rice.

From Quiz Paul Simon's Greatest Hits

Answer: I Am a Rock

"I Am a Rock" was originally released in the UK on Paul Simon's 1965 solo album "The Paul Simon Songbook". It was re-recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966 for their "Sounds of Silence" album.

From Quiz Rhymin' Simon

Answer: what the mama saw

This was the second single from his solo debut album "Paul Simon" from 1972. The single reached UK #15. Even Paul admits to not knowing what is was "the mama saw". Although in an interview he said it might have been something sexual, but he didn't think it made any difference to the song. (Rolling Stone interview 1972)

From Quiz Simon's Songs

Answer: make a new plan Stan

This is from 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover'. Jack, Stan, Lee, Gus and Roy are all featured in this song. Their girlfriends can't be up to much can they, considering they all want to leave them?

From Quiz Paul Simon: The Man and his Music

Answer: Annie Hall

A rare film appearance by Paul. He came between the characters played by Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in this Oscar-winning film.

From Quiz Paul Simon Songs

Answer: Cancer

Originally this song was a flop and led to Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel breaking up as a group. Paul went to England and Art returned to his studies. In the spring of 1965 it began to get airplay and Tom Wilson the producer of the recording remixed it dubbing in electrical instruments. Paul and Art were not told about this until after its release in September 1965.

From Quiz Mother and Child Reunion Tour

Answer: It was the first time only artists' surnames had been used to name a group in pop music.

Up until 1964, the duo had been performing as "Tom & Jerry". When they got a contract for their first album with Columbia Records, executives there felt that they should use their own names for the group. This led to a change to "Simon & Garfunkel".

From Quiz Paul Simon's Greatest Hits

Answer: Bridge over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" won five Grammys in 1971, including Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year, and Best Contemporary Song. The "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album also won Album Of The Year!

From Quiz Rhymin' Simon

Answer: they're longing to be told

This is a beautiful song from "Rhymin' Simon" 1973. This album also contained "Kodachrome", a #2 in the US. Simon had some trouble with using the title as it is a registered trademark. As you can see by its presentation; there's a copyright-symbol at the end of the title.

From Quiz Simon's Songs

Answer: the house of detention

From 'Me and Julio Down By The School Yard'.

From Quiz Paul Simon: The Man and his Music

Answer: Kingston, Jamaica

Other tracks on his first solo album, 'Paul Simon', were recorded in Paris and Los Angeles, but this one was recorded in Jamaica with several local musicians.

From Quiz Paul Simon Songs

Answer: 50

Paul wrote this song 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover' shortly after the break up of his marriage to Peggy Harper. In an article in the Independent by Robert Webb published on Friday 24 June 2011 it says that a positive thing that came from the breakdown was the fact that Paul got to spend more time with his son Harper. It was whilst he was reading a rhyming book with the three year old that he got the inspiration for the lyrics for the chorus i.e. 'Slip out the back Jack, make a new plan Stan' etc. 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover' was one of Paul's most popular singles and the backing was sung by Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, and Phoebe Snow.

From Quiz Mother and Child Reunion Tour

Answer: Hey, Schoolgirl

"Hey, Schoolgirl" was written and performed by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel as Tom & Jerry in 1957. It was recorded by Big Records and reached Number 49 in the charts. Both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were still in high school when this song was recorded.

From Quiz Rhymin' Simon

Answer: Jack

The song was begun as Paul tried to teach his son how to rhyme. Hence the short and simple rhyming in the chorus. From the Grammy winning album "Still Crazy After All These Years" released in 1975. This single sat on the top of the American charts for 3 weeks.

From Quiz Simon's Songs

Answer: late in the evening

Of course it was 'Late in the Evening', from the song of the same title. 'Just around midnight' is from 'Brown Sugar' by The Rolling Stones, '9 o'clock on a Saturday' is from 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel and 'Zero hour, nine am' is from 'Rocket Man' by Elton John.

From Quiz Paul Simon: The Man and his Music

Answer: Carrie Fisher

Unfortunately they divorced soon after, but the depression induced by the break-up inspired some of his best work on 'Hearts and Bones' and 'Graceland'.

From Quiz Paul Simon Songs

Answer: Betty

Paul has said that the first line of the song "You Can Call Me Al' which is 'A man walks down the street' was inspired by all the bad jokes that began with 'A man walks into a bar'. There are many theories about the meaning of this song, none have been substantiated. One theory is that it is about a depressed and introspective man, another is that it is about a person who has been plunged into an alien culture. There is another theory that it is about alcoholism i.e. Al for alcohol and the Betty a reference to Betty Ford Clinic. There have even been suggestions of it being a reworking of Dante's Inferno. Perhaps it means what strikes a chord with the listener.

From Quiz Mother and Child Reunion Tour

Answer: First

This song marks the first time that Paul Simon recorded music that some considered somewhat experimental. Its rhythm was inspired by Jamaican music, and reached the top five on both the US and British music charts.

From Quiz Rhymin' Simon

Answer: rainbows in the high desert air

This song just rolls along and hits you like a freighttrain never could. It just takes your breath away... The song is about his and Carrie Fisher's marriage. There's a line in the song that goes: "One and one-half wandering Jews". Simon is Jewish and Fisher is half-Jewish.

From Quiz Paul Simon: The Man and his Music

Answer: Frank Lloyd Wright

A great melancholy song on one of their best albums. 'Architects may come and architects may go...'

From Quiz Paul Simon Songs

Answer: Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

This is an eighteenth century English folk song of which there are many versions. It is about a young man sending a message to his ex-lover asking her to do some impossible tasks, and says that he will love her when she has. In other words there is no way that she can regain his love.

From Quiz Mother and Child Reunion Tour

Answer: 12

Paul Simon has actually been nominated for 24 Grammy Awards over the years in a number of different categories. Besides winning twelve of those awards, he also won two Brit Awards and has been nominated for an additional Brit Award.

From Quiz Paul Simon's Greatest Hits

Answer: So Beautiful or So What

This is the title track from Paul Simon's 12th solo studio album. Paul Simon reflected during an interview, " 'So beautiful or so what' is a valid question when you're facing the enormity of the infinite. Or pure Love."

From Quiz Rhymin' Simon

Answer: The Statue of Liberty

Also from "Rhymin Simon". The song was chosen by "Rolling Stone Magazine" as song of the year in 1973, and was the album's third single. It reached US #35.

From Quiz Simon's Songs

Answer: the statue of liberty

From 'American Tune'. Great melody but not very well known. Come on, be honest, if I asked you to name a Paul Simon song is this the one you'd come up with? Didn't think so!

From Quiz Paul Simon: The Man and his Music

Answer: Graceland

Makeba and Masekela are prominent South African artists who were largely unknown to the rest of the world at the time of the tour due to the cultural boycott against South Africa to protest apartheid. Ladysmith Black Mambazo also toured with Paul to promote this album in 1987.

From Quiz Paul Simon Songs

Answer: A Spy

This song is about two young lovers travelling across the States. In 1964, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M" producer Tom Wilson explained he had recalled Simon to the States from England to record their debut album. When he landed in the States he took his girlfriend Kathy Chitty on a Greyhound Bus Trip across the States instead The couple were amusing themselves at the Pittsburgh greyhound station by making up stories about the other people on the bus, and Kathy said that the man in the gaberdine suit was a spy. Paul answered 'Be careful his bow tie is really a camera!'.

From Quiz Paul Simon's Greatest Hits

Answer: Still Crazy After All These Years

Paul Simon won a 1975 Grammy award (Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male) for this title song from his "Still Crazy After All These Years" album. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

From Quiz Rhymin' Simon

Answer: a stone in the abyss

From his solo outing "You're The One" 2000. This album was his first album since "Hearts And Bones" in 1983, that was more a collection of songs than a cultural flavoured album. "Graceland" being an African record, and "Rhythm Of The Saints" being a South-American-themed album. The album does however tie together well as an entity. The songs do fit together nicely. So I think anyway...

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Last Updated May 09 2026 5:46 AM

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