Questions For The Angels

Album: So Beautiful Or So What (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The theme of So Beautiful Or So What is the meaning of life, and Simon asks the question on this track: if humanity suddenly disappeared, "would a zebra gazing in the African Savannah care enough to shed one zebra tear"? He said to Mojo: "I imagine two zebras saying, 'Bummer! Those humans have gone.' 'Yeah what a drag!"
  • Simon penned the ballads for So Beautiful Or So What before working on the more uptempo songs. He explained why in an interview with Spinner: "'Amulet,' 'Love and Hard Times' and 'Questions for the Angels' were the first three songs written. Maybe that's part of its strength - that I spent a lot of time on the ballads. I was interested in beginning from another premise than rhythm. When you start with the rhythm, if you get a really good groove going, you're perfectly happy to play one chord or just a few chords and just repeat it, like on 'Christmas Day' or 'The Afterlife' or 'So Beautiful Or So What.' That's just the same pattern repeated, but they had good grooves and you don't need to get into a lot of changes on rhythm."

Comments: 1

  • Janet from Glendale, CaDoes anyone know when Sheet Music for songs "The Afterlife" and "Rewrite" will be available to purchase?
    I can not find Sheet Music for any songs from Paul Simon's album, SO BEAUTIFUL OR SO WHAT.
    Any information, appreciated. Thank you, Janet
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.