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Today's Morning Edition music is from "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon which was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 40 years ago. 

In an interview, Simon described how he created the song by saying: "I woke up one morning in my apartment on Central Park and the opening words just popped into my mind. I wrote it with a Rhythm Ace, one of those electronic drum machines, so maybe that's how it got that sing-song 'make a new plan Stan, don't need to be coy Roy' quality. It's basically a nonsense song."   

To date, it's Simon's only No. 1 hit as a solo artist.

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Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" was No. 1 40 years ago.  It's his only No. 1 hit as a solo artist.

Paul Simon hit number one as a solo artist with "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."  It's his only number one hit as a solo artist.

Paul Simon's only No. 1 solo hit was 40 years ago

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