1650 Simon & Garfunkel - Richard Cory

1650 Simon & Garfunkel - Richard Cory

From: Sounds of Silence, Year: 1966
Genre: Folk Rock

This song dislodged itself from the recesses of my mind the other day and I hadn't heard it in ages; isn't it weird how that happens sometimes?
Anyway, this classic track was based off of a poem of the same name written by Edwin Arlington Robinson in the year 1897.
The song's lyrics diverge a bit from the original poem; they were written from the perspective of a poor man who works in the factory of a very wealthy man named Richard Cory. He curses his life of poverty and envies the life of his boss who apparently has everything he could ever want. Both the song and the poem end the same way with Richard Cory taking his own life and how the man telling the story can't fathom why a man who had everything would do himself in.
As always Simon and Garfunkel do an excellent job in their delivery of the narrative through their excellent musical style.

Here is the studio version on YouTube.
Watch a live performance circa '66 on YouTube.



My song pick a year ago today: The Doors - Waiting for the Sun

My song pick two years ago today: Black 47 - Funky Céilí (Bridie's Song)

My song pick three years ago today: Duran Duran - Planet Earth

My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Rocks on the Road

+