The Boy in the Bubble
Paul Simon
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It was a slow day And the sun was beating On the soldiers by the side of the road There was a bright light A shattering of shop windows The bomb in the baby carriage Was wired to the radio These are the days of miracle and wonder This is the long distance call The way the camera follows us in slo-mo The way we look to us all The way we look to a distant constellation That's dying in a corner of the sky These are the days of miracle and wonder And don't cry baby, don't cry Don't cry It was a dry wind And it swept across the desert And it curled into the circle of birth And the dead sand Falling on the children The mothers and the fathers And the automatic earth These are the days of miracle and wonder This is the long distance call The way the camera follows us in slo-mo The way we look to us all, oh yeah The way we look to a distant constellation That's dying in a corner of the sky These are the days of miracle and wonder And don't cry baby, don't cry Don't cry It's a turn-around jump shot It's everybody jump start It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts Medicine is magical and magical is art The boy in the bubble And the baby with the baboon heart And I believe These are the days of lasers in the jungle Lasers in the jungle somewhere Staccato signals of constant information A loose affiliation of millionaires And billionaires and baby These are the days of miracle and wonder This is the long distance call The way the camera follows us in slo-mo The way we look to us all, oh yeah The way we look to a distant constellation That's dying in a corner of the sky These are the days of miracle and wonder And don't cry baby, don't cry Don't cry, don't cry
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Written by: Forere Motlhoheloa, Paul Simon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Album Production"The Boy in the Bubble" is the first song on Paul Simon's seventh studio album "Graceland" that he released in 1986.
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CollaborationPaul Simon co-wrote this song with Forere Motloheloa, who also played the accordion on the track.
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Global InfluencesThe song was recorded in South Africa and features a blend of American and African musical styles, specifically the indigenous South African pop genre known as mbaqanga.
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Lyrics MeaningThe lyrics describe technological advancements as a "boy in the bubble," suggesting that despite technological progress, human nature and conflicts stay the same.
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Political Context"The Boy in the Bubble" was written during the apartheid era in South Africa, and its lyrics touch on themes of despair and hope, struggle and change, reflecting the political atmosphere of the time.
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Chart SuccessThe song did not chart in the US, but it did reach No. 26 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 15 in the Irish Singles Chart, making it an international success.
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Music VideoA music video was produced for the song, featuring Paul Simon in the diverse landscape of South Africa, emphasizing the cultural differences discussed in the song.
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AwardsThe "Graceland" album, which includes "The Boy in the Bubble," won Album of the Year at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in 1987.
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Concert PerformancesPaul Simon often opened his concerts with "The Boy in the Bubble" during his "Graceland" tour, using the energetic track to engage the audience.
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Covers and TributesThe song has been covered by many artists in several genres, including a version by Peter Gabriel for his 2010 covers album "Scratch My Back".
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Social Relevance"The Boy in the Bubble" continues to be referenced in contemporary media, demonstrating its lingering cultural and social relevance.
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Citation
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