The Songs You Didn’t Know Featured Paul Simon

Published Jun 9, 2025 By Dowell

via Paul Simon / Youtube

Paul Simon is no stranger to musical greatness. As one of the most respected songwriters ever, his work with Simon & Garfunkel and his solo career has left an undeniable mark on music. But beyond his famous hits, Simon has quietly popped up on tracks by other artists, adding his voice, guitar, and songwriting magic. Here are three songs you might be surprised to learn he helped bring to life.

1. “Fast Car” by Wyclef Jean
Paul Simon teamed up with Wyclef Jean in a collaboration few saw coming. On the track “Fast Car” from Jean’s 2007 album Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, Simon not only co-wrote the song but also sang alongside the Haitian-American rapper. His gentle voice takes the lead on a hopeful verse:

“When that fast car picks you up / You will weep and smile and see / Heaven in the headlights / Mile after mile after mile after mile.”

The song became the album’s second single, and the album itself landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

2. “The Boxer” (Cover) by Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons honored a classic when they covered Simon & Garfunkel’s 1969 masterpiece “The Boxer” for their Grammy-winning 2012 album Babel. Paul Simon wrote the original and lent his voice and electric guitar to this updated version. Though he didn’t take center stage, you can hear his vocals and feel his presence alongside Jerry Douglas’s lively Dobro and banjo. It’s a beautiful nod to a timeless song.

3. “Walk Tall” by Ziggy Marley
In 2009, Ziggy Marley invited Simon to join him on Family Time, an album created for kids. On the track “Walk Tall,” Simon joins Marley with soft, uplifting harmonies:

“Walk tall, walk tall / Even if you fall get up / Stand tall, stand tall / Even if you fall get up.”

The album won Best Musical Album for Children at the 2010 Grammys, and part of the proceeds went to support a school in Marley’s native Jamaica.