There are many types of bookends available for purchase: from the head and behind of a cat, to dinosaur heads, and even perfectly split crystals. They serve a simple, practical purpose: to hold chapters of knowledge between them, keeping books in place, untouched by the outside world. Yet, through the brilliant minds of Simon & Garfunkel, the concept of “bookends” are transformed into something much deeper and philosophical. Their iconic 1968 album Bookends tells the human experience, masterfully blending haunting lyrics and soul-moving melodies. It evokes feelings of nostalgia and forces listeners to question their understanding of life, from youth to old age. In the same way that some pop songs give listeners a dopamine rush, Bookends offers emotional resonance, but with a lasting sense of reflection and connection. The album’s theme is a profound journey through life, capturing the progression from childhood to death through the transition between songs. This obsession with Bookends has yet to detach itself from my current interests; it has shaped me and simultaneously thrown me into existential crises about the meaning of life.
Beginning with Bookends Theme, the soft opening feels like the tender sounds of childhood, like a mother gazing into the eyes of her child for the first time. It evokes innocence and wonder, signaling the beginning of life, filled with the promise of future experiences, while being untouched by the complexity of the world. The simplicity of the music reflects this early stage in life, offering a quiet entry into the album’s exploration of human existence. The nostalgic melody makes one wonder of the innocence they so ignorantly pushed away in hopes of being seen as an adult. Hearing this song makes me question if my mothers heart skipped a beat when I would be asleep in her arms and if she would hum to settle me down. It truly forces the listener to take a journey through the past.
Save the Life of My Child paints a heartbreaking portrait of a mother’s desperate plea to save her child, entangled in the chaos of drug addiction and rebellion. It touches on the classic teenage experience where the mother and child fall apart as the child yearns for independence. The song represents the emotional turbulence of adolescence, the conflict between desire for autonomy and the protective instincts of the parent. Philosophically, it illustrates the painful tension between freedom and responsibility, and the struggle to hold onto loved ones while they seek their own path.
America is a powerful commentary on the disillusionment of youth, with the song’s quest for identity and meaning playing out against the backdrop of the American landscape. The search for “America” is symbolic of the search for self, capturing the tension between dreams and reality, idealism and despair. This track highlights a young person’s feeling of being lost with their newfound independence, disconnected from the promises of a greater society, and searching for belonging.
Overs, which brings in a sense of reflection and melancholy, speaks to the passage of time. It highlights the idea of dreams and ambitions that have been left behind, only to fade into the background of everyday life. The lyrics ponder how time slips away unnoticed, and how the weight of the past and its lost potential can burden the present. It’s a meditation on missed opportunities and the feeling of moving past what could have been.
Voices of Old People captures the sound of older generations, offering their wisdom and observations. It serves as a stark contrast to the youthful energy of earlier tracks, signaling the inevitable transition into older age. Philosophically, it represents the accumulation of life experience, and the voices of those who have lived through multiple chapters of life, holding both joy and regret in their words.
In Old friends, the beginning is sweet and soft, like how one feels thinking of a time they miss. The song’s lyrics maintain a theme of how weird it is to split apart from someone, but the background does the fascinating job of moving your emotions and thoughts. When the instruments get deeper and louder, and the violins hold a high note, it sounds like a human cry. This magical harmony evokes strong emotions like the uncomfort of not being able to return to a time where things were simple, flaws weren’t known, and life didn’t get in the way of a familiar face. The ending feels angry, like an uncontrollable desire to go back and say what one never could. At the very end, all the instruments join in a massive rise and fall, leaving just the violin at the very end. The note doesn’t fade away, it holds steady and is abruptly stopped. It feels hopeless after the anger and confusion felt before.
Along with Old friends, the next song, Bookends Theme – Reprise is one of my all-time favorites. If you play the album in order, Bookends Theme – Reprise plays the exact same violin note as the song before. This touch is powerful because in the song they mention how odd it is to feel space between someone you used to know. I feel that Old Friends channeling into Bookends Theme – Reprise makes the message and the feeling that much more real. Between bookends is knowledge and chapters of stories, similar to the knowledge and chapters of someone’s life you get to know and be a part of. When you remove the books, there is nothing. Bookends hold stories that can change, and the more books you add and the more life you live, the farther the bookends are from each other.
Fakin’ It is a reflection on the pressures of societal expectations and the disillusionment that often accompanies adulthood. The song captures the feeling of “faking it” – putting on a mask to fit in, hiding insecurities, and pretending to have it all together. Philosophically, it explores the tension between authenticity and the need to conform, critiquing the ways we navigate societal norms in order to avoid feeling out of place. This is always a difficult song as its ironically upbeat nature makes you think you’re having a good time. However, once the lyrics sink in, it causes intense feelings of discomfort. Many young teenagers wonder who they’ll be and sit around anxiously waiting for that fulfilling day to arrive. Something about being an adult and not having certain affairs in order disrupts the comfortable idea of stability.
Punky’s Dilemma is a whimsical yet poignant song that captures the absurdity of life’s contradictions. It deals with moments of confusion, indecision, and the realization that some things just don’t make sense. The song’s lighthearted nature belies its deeper, philosophical questions about meaning and direction in life. It’s a reflection on the small, silly dilemmas that somehow feel much bigger when we’re in the middle of them.
Mrs. Robinson is one of Simon & Garfunkel’s most iconic songs, with its exploration of disillusionment and loss. It speaks to the complexity of relationships and the tension between expectations and reality. The titular character, Mrs. Robinson, represents the fading dreams of the older generation, caught in a sense of nostalgia and unfulfilled potential. The song touches on themes of betrayal, the passing of time, and the loss of innocence, making it a rich commentary on aging and the complexities of adult life. In the complex movie The Graduate, the song perfectly captures the film’s sense of confusion and alienation, highlighting Benjamin’s struggle as he grapples with the complexities of life and the tensions between generations.
A Hazy Shade of Winter speaks to the harshness of life’s seasons, particularly the winter years, which are symbolic of the later stages of life. It captures the stark reality of growing older, filled with regret and unfulfilled dreams. It reflects on the transient nature of time and the inevitable approach of life’s end, with winter serving as a metaphor for the coldness and solitude that often accompany old age. Much like the aforementioned songs, the upbeat nature of the song is what makes it catchy but it’s really the lyrics that keep you connected to the music; that is the beauty in Simon & Garfunkel.
The closing track, At the Zoo, is a lighthearted and somewhat surreal reflection on the simplicity of life’s pleasures. In the context of aging, it represents finding joy in the little things, even as life draws to a close. It’s a reminder to appreciate the simple moments that bring happiness. The zoo, with its creatures and colorful characters, symbolizes the whimsy and childlike wonder that should persist even as we grow older and face the inevitable.
The voices of Paul and Art have become extremely dear to me. They have played through my crimson JBL speaker on some of the foggiest days. Their style of music has become my philosophy. I strive to be the kind of person who skips through life while snapping my fingers, yet leaves you wondering on the bus what I meant in our conversation. The need to understand Paul and Art is unlike any hobby I’ve had, for this one truly sticks. Although they broke up for the sake of their individual art, they will always be holding my hands, skipping down the sidewalk, singing in my heart (or nostalgically crying in the rain).