Mother and Child Reunion

Simon wrote this in response to the Jimmy Cliff song "Vietnam," where a mother receives a letter about her son's death on the battlefield. Simon recorded "Mother and Child Reunion" in Jamaica using Cliff's musicians, hence the very authentic sound. Simon said of the song that it "became the first reggae hit by a non-Jamaican white guy outside Jamaica."

Simon came up with the title after seeing a chicken and egg dish called "Mother and Child Reunion" on the menu at 456 Restaurant in Chinatown, New York.

This was Simon's first single as a solo artist.