| "Loves Me Like a Rock" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Single cover (Netherlands release) | ||||
| Single byPaul Simon | ||||
| from the albumThere Goes Rhymin' Simon | ||||
| B-side | "Learn How to Fall" | |||
| Released | July 17, 1973 (1973-07-17) | |||
| Recorded | 1972 | |||
| Studio | Muscle Shoals (Sheffield, Alabama) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:32 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter | Paul Simon | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Paul Simon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Loves Me Like a Rock" onYouTube | ||||
"Loves Me Like a Rock" is a song by the American singer-songwriterPaul Simon. It was the second single from his third studio album,There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), released onColumbia Records. It features background vocals fromthe Dixie Hummingbirds, aSouthernblack gospel group. Although the lyrics are not typically associated with gospel music, the Dixie Hummingbirds were eager to record the song with Simon, and they recorded their own version soon after for their 1973 albumWe Love You Like a Rock/Every Day and Every Hour.[2][3]
The song peaked at number two on theBillboard Hot 100; it was also a top five hit in Canada. It was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.
According toBillboard magazine, the lyrics of "Loves Me Like a Rock" describe "how a mother loved her son, even when he became the president" and the music has aquasi-gospel flavor.[4]Cash Box said that the song combines "the grace of Simon with a touch of gospel".[5]
Paul Simon's version of "Loves Me Like a Rock" peaked at number two on theBillboard Hot 100 chart the week of October 6, 1973, kept from the summit byCher's "Half-Breed".[6] It remained in theTop 40 for 14 weeks and was certified a gold record.[7] It also spent two weeks atop theBillboardeasy listening chart in September 1973.[2] It reached the Top 40 in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 39 on theUK Singles Chart.[8]The gospel version of "Loves Me Like a Rock" by the Dixie Hummingbirds[9] reached number 72 on theBillboardR&B chart[2] and won the group a Grammy forBest Soul Gospel performance in1974.
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[20] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Paul Simon made a promotional appearance onThe Muppet Show in 1980 in support of his movie and albumOne-Trick Pony. The show ended with a performance of "Loves Me Like a Rock" featuringthe Muppets.[21]
The song was featured in the end credits of the 2005 filmZathura: A Space Adventure.[22]
Christian rock bandThird Day covered the song on their 2017 albumRevival.[23]
The B-side song "Learn How To Fall" was featured in the last scene of the 2003 filmSomething's Gotta Give.
Later that same year, Simon again made it up to #2 with the giddy, gospel-infused "Loves Me Like A Rock".
Paul Simon songs | |
|---|---|
| The Paul Simon Songbook | |
| Paul Simon | |
| There Goes Rhymin' Simon | |
| Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin' | |
| Still Crazy After All These Years | |
| Greatest Hits, Etc. |
|
| One-Trick Pony |
|
| Hearts and Bones |
|
| Graceland | |
| The Rhythm of the Saints | |
| You're the One |
|
| Surprise |
|
| So Beautiful or So What |
|
| Stranger to Stranger |
|
| Featured singles | |
| Other songs | |
