Paul Simon keeps coming back to this blog not only because of his incredible music and style, but also his beautiful way of storytelling and emoting through words. His lyrics hit so hard, and sometimes it takes the 413th time of hearing it to understand it.

This catchy song is off his self titled album from 1972. It’s a nice and easy song with some hard truths. How long do you think that you can run that body down? At this point in his life, Paul is in his early thirties and has just finished an incredible run as a duo with Art Garfunkel. This is his quasi-first solo album after the breakup, and I can only imagine how busy his life must have been at this moment. He had just married his first wife named Peggy Harper in 1969, and refers to “Peg” and himself throughout the song. He was doing so much work at this point and was about to take off even further in his career. I imagine he had absolutely “run that body down.”

My Listening Tips/Ideas:

Quick Fun Fact: Jazz legend Ron Carter is on the bass on this track. He only played on this specific song on the album.

The first verse he talks of going to his doctor and getting a check up. The doc asks Paul: how long do you think you can run that body down? How many nights do you think you can do what you’ve been doing? Who are you fooling?

The second verse he talks to his wife that night and he asks her the same questions. Peg you better look around. How long do you think you can run that body down? Who are you fooling?

He then goes into a nice and easy breezy bridge with some ooos and a guitar solo to change the pace.

He finishes with talking to the audience. Kid you better look around. How many nights do you think you can do what you’ve been doing? Who are you fooling? Who am I fooling? Who are we fooling?

Hope you enjoy this great song

Went to my doctor yesterday
She said I seem to be okay
She said, “Paul, you better look around
How long you think that you can
Run that body down?
How many nights you think you can
Do what you been doin’?
Who, now who you foolin?”

---

I came back home and I went to bed
I was resting my head
My wife came in and she said
“What’s wrong, sweet boy, what’s wrong?
Ah, I told her what’s wrong
I said, “Peg, you better look around
How long you think you can
Run that body down?
How many nights you think you can
Do what you been doin’?
Now who you foolin’?
Who you foolin’?
Who you foolin’?

---

Kid, you better look around
How long you think that you can
Run that body down?
How many nights you think you can
Do what you been doin’?
Who, now who you foolin’?
Who you foolin’?
Who you foolin’?

Recent Posts

My name is Michael Sanchez and I’m an avid record collector and obscure song searcher. My goal is to post (hopefully) one song a day that’s been on my stereo/turntable frequently. If you don’t like the song… too bad 🙂 You can just wait for the next one. All the info I find is from wikipedia/youtube/interviews/news articles/personal stories I’ve heard/random googling. Sorry if there are any mistakes 🙂

Subscribe below to get some great tunes in your inbox each day. Or maybe forward to a friend you think would love the song. Hope you enjoy!