Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Paul Simon
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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 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 ooh ooh ooh 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 ooh ooh ooh 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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Written by: Paul Simon, Joseph Shabalala, Dp
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
ComposerThe song "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" was composed and performed by "Paul Simon" and the South African Zulu group "Ladysmith Black Mambazo".
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Album OriginThe song is derived from "Graceland", the seventh solo studio album by "Paul Simon" which was released in 1986.
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CollaborationThe 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.
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Inspirational SignificanceThe song was inspired by a real-life incident where Paul Simon came across a woman wearing diamond-decorated shoes during a party.
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Cultural InfluenceThe 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.
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ControversyPaul 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.
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SNL AppearanceThe song was first introduced in USA during Paul Simon's appearance in "Saturday Night Live", where he performed it live with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
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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.
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Critical ResponseThe 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.
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LegacyDespite 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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Citation
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