Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: singer-songwriter
Song Meaning of “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes – Live at Webster Hall, New York City – June 2011” by Paul Simon
The song “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”, recorded live at Webster Hall in 2011, is a song about acceptance and understanding amidst cruelty and suffering. Paul Simon paints a vivid picture of the inner world of someone who faces extreme poverty and immense suffering but still manages to remain humble and hopeful despite the wretched circumstances. He talks about a girl who, despite wearing shoes with only diamonds on the soles, has not lost her spirit and dignity.
The lyrics are full of imagery, with words like “strings of ragtime melody” hinting at the hope which gleams through the darkness of her destitute city. Despite wearing shoes with diamonds on the soles, a symbol of wealth and privilege, the sense of joy and hope in the girl’s spirit shines through.
The girl is a symbol of resilience, and her diamonds on the soles of her shoes remind us of the splendor of life, even in the darkest of times. Throughout the song, Paul Simon encourages us to look beyond this person’s physical circumstances and focus on their inner spirit, which gives hope in challenging and turbulent times.