Bookends?Old Friends
Simon And Garfunkel · Other Songs - Simon And Garfunkel
Sat on their parkbench like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
of the high shoes of the old friends
Old friends, winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends.
Can you imagine us years from today,
Sharing a parkbench quietly
How terribly strange to be seventy
Old friends, memory brushes the same years,
Silently sharing the same fears
Time it was
and what a
time it was
it was
A time of innocence
a time of confidences.
Long ago
it must be
I have a photograph
preserve your memories
they're all that's left you.
Bookends?Old Friends
Simon & Garfunkel's "Bookends?Old Friends" stands as a poignant exploration of memory and the passage of time, delivered with the duo's signature acoustic intimacy. Recorded during their mid-career period, the track reflects the band's evolution from their early folk-rock roots toward a more mature, reflective sound. The song's title, a playful juxtaposition of the iconic "Bookends" and "Old Friends," hints at themes of nostalgia and the enduring nature of personal connections. It captures the quiet tension between the past and the present, characteristic of the pair's ability to weave narrative into their music. As a standalone recording, it showcases their lyrical precision and melodic sensitivity, offering a glimpse into their artistic journey beyond their most famous hits.