(words and music by Paul Simon; beginning by Paul Simon and

Joseph Shabalala)



(a-wa) O kodwa u 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



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 Oo oo oo

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 Oo oo oo

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 your shoes