September 16, 2008
The song that is next on my list to be honored is”The Only Living Boy in New York“. Click and Listen.
It is a song written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon and Garfunkel. It is the eighth track from the duo’s fifth and final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water. An album that received six (6) Grammy’s.
This album is a “must have” in your collection.
Simon wrote this as a thinly-veiled message to Art Garfunkel, referring to a specific incident where Garfunkel went to Mexico to act in the film Catch-22. Simon was left alone in New York writing songs for Bridge over Troubled Water, hence the lonely feelings of “The Only Living Boy In New York.” Simon refers to Garfunkel in the song as Tom, referring to their early days when they performed as Tom and Jerry.
This song was an indication of their breakup as a duo. As soon as the album was released Paul Simon went on to great success as a solo artist and Art Garfunkel pursued acting.
I believe that this is one of their best songs and clearly one their most unknown.
The song also contains a few of my favorite lyrics of all time:
I get the news I need on the weather report.
I can gather all the news I need on the weather report.
I wish life was just that simple…
But then again, maybe it’s just me.
Posted by David Lee 
