Loves Me Like a Rock

Album: There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973)
Charted: 39 2
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  • (Mhm, that's that, that's that groove)

    When I was a little boy
    (When I was just a boy)
    And the Devil called my name
    (When I was just a boy)
    I'd say, "Now who do (who)
    Who do you think you're fooling?"
    (When I was just a boy)

    I'm a consecrated boy
    (When I was just a boy)
    Singer in a Sunday choir
    Oh, my mama loves me, she loves me
    She get down on her knees and hug me
    Oh, she loves me like a rock
    She rock me like the rock of ages
    And loves me
    She love me, love me, love me, love me

    When I was grown to be a man
    (Grown to be a man)
    And the Devil would call my name
    (Grown to be a man)
    I'd say "now who do (who)
    Who do you think you're fooling?"
    (Grown to be a man)

    I'm a consummated man
    (Grown to be a man)
    I can snatch a little purity
    My mama loves me, she loves me
    She get down on her knees and hug me
    Oh, she loves me like a rock
    She rock me like the rock of ages
    And loves me
    She love me, love me, love me, love me

    And if I was President
    (Was the president)
    The minute the Congress called my name
    (Was the president)
    I'd say "now who do (who)
    Who do you think you're fooling?"
    (Who do you think you're fooling?)

    I've got the presidential seal
    (Was the president)
    I'm up on the presidential podium
    My mama loves me, she loves me
    She get down on her knees and hug me
    Oh, and she loves me like a rock
    She rock me like the rock of ages
    And love me
    She love me, love me, love me, love me
    (Loves me like a rock)
    She love me, love me, love me, love me
    (Loves me like a rock)
    She love me, love me, love me, love me
    (Loves me like a rock)

    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock)
    (Loves me like a rock, oh baby) Writer/s: Paul Simon
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • Ron Fowler from SeahurstThere are a few words spoken before the song on the album version. It sounds like "groove, sessa sessa grooves" "K" "duh".
  • Brian D from British Columbia"S" from Portland refers to the son's mother "down on her knees 'loving him.' " Further; that this was an "act of fellatio." Ugh. No; she "got down on her knees and hugged me." Adults can't hug short; younger children standing up; they get down to their level. The thought of some perverted incest is imposed on the song.
  • Becca from Union N.j.This is is def'ly one of my old favorites. The college radio station WFMU that used to be in Uppsala- now in Hoboken was playing a Vintage gospel recording of the Blind,blind boys of Alabama singing the original version. I love those old gospel recordings too.
  • Jennifur SunMy mama loved me like a rock too. Miss her.
  • S from Portland, OrTo build upon other comments, I think it's clear that the song outlines the life on an individual, who is tempted by the Devil (insert your own interpretation). The Rock, and the Rock of Ages, refers to the hymn "Rock of Ages" by Augustus Toplady, who wrote the hymn in the 1760's about a rock formation he found shelter in during a storm while traveling in England. The rock, therefore, shelters the protagonist of Simon's song from the onslaught of outside forces that would cause him peril. If one views this song in it's temporal framework (like other commentators suggested), "Mama" refers to Mother Country, especially the populace of the country that unconditionally supported Nixon. Once in possession of the "Presidential Seal" the subject of the song says "Mama" gets down on her knees and loves him (performs fellatio). Nixon thought his base (Mama) would do anything (and Simon uses this metaphor liberally) to appease him because he knows he has her unconditional support. And, he would go so far as to completely abuse her (referring to the whole of the country and it’s political/judicial process) just to enjoy the level of prestige to which she has elevated him. This song is arguably more socially relevant now (2020) than it's ever been. It's a truly (and unfortunately) timeless classic which showcases Simon's lyrical genius. P.S. 30+ years is a long snooze. Wake up to reality!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 6th 1979, Paul Simon appeared in concert* at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England...
    At the time he didn't have a record on any U.S. or U.K. chart; but exactly six years earlier on November 6th, 1973 his "Loves Me Like a Rock" was at #30 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, a little over five weeks earlier on September 30th it had peaked at #2 {for 1 week} and it stay on the chart for 16 weeks...
    It was his second straight record that peaked at #2; "Kodachrome" reached the runner-up spot earlier in 1973 on July 1st...
    * At the end of the concert Mr. Simon offered to buy everyone in the audience a drink, his bar tab came to about $2,000.00.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyPaul wanted to do a gospel-feel type song, without it actually being a gospel song (Paul is Jewish). And he wanted to have fun with the lyrics. This was recorded in early 1973, around the time the Senate Watergate Committee was holding its famous hearings and Paul couldn't resist the playful reference.
  • Magic Kenny from Irvine, CaGreat song, and the Dixie Hummingbirds knock it out of the park. Apparently, they came up with the backing vocal arrangement on their own (per Phil Ramone).
  • Mike from San Marcos, CaLove this song. The Dixie Hummingbirds are awesome.
  • Kevin from Reading , PaIn my mind, this is about Nixon and that makes it an even better song than I otherwise might think it is.
  • Henry from Los Angeles, CaI like the way the speaker's (Nixon?) means of justifying himself shows a corruption of his soul. In the beginning he is "consecrated" by some religious rite, an outpouring of God's mercy. Then he is "consummated", referring to the act of consummation which makes complete and is justified by the marriage rite, but at the same time refers to the sex act in corrupt terms: "snatch a little purity". Finally, the speaker is not justified by God at all buy by his own power: the Presidential Seal.
  • Heather from Los Angeles, CaI wish Congress would ask the current president the same thing.
  • Madison from Los Angeles, CaI read in an interview Simon gave that the lines "My momma loves me....." are specifically about Nixon, that no matter how many dirty things he did, in Nixon's mind it was ok because his mom loved him.
  • Lalah from Wasilla, AkTHis song plays at the end of th movie Zathura as the credits are rolling.
  • Jude from Thomasville, GaThis is just a good old gospel song. You can't help tapping your foot and singing along!
  • Johnny from Bridgeport, OhGreat underrated song.Great lead vocal and great background vocals.When this song comes on the radio I listen and sing.
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