The Only Living Boy in New York: A Tale of Woe or Woe-ho?
So, you’re wondering what the heck Paul Simon was on about when he penned the classic, "The Only Living Boy in New York." Well, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to dive into the murky depths of this melancholic masterpiece.
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| What is The Song The Only Living Boy In New York About |
A City of Solitude
Let’s get one thing straight: this isn't a chipper tune about pizza and skyscrapers. No, this is a full-blown ballad of loneliness, disguised as a breezy melody. Paul Simon was basically feeling like the last surviving cockroach after a nuclear winter.
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The song was born out of a period when his musical partner, Art Garfunkel, ditched him for Hollywood. Imagine being the only one left to hold up the fort while your buddy is living it large on a Mexican beach. It's like being the designated driver when everyone else is at the party.
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Is it About New York?
Now, you might be thinking, "Hold on, the song is called 'The Only Living Boy in New York'. It's about New York, right?" Wrong-o. While the city sets the scene for this tale of woe, it’s more about the feeling of isolation than the actual place. You could be in Timbuktu and still feel like the only living soul.
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Deciphering the Lyrics
The lyrics are like a cryptic crossword puzzle, but instead of words, it's emotions. We've got "do-n-do-d-do-n-do"s, which are basically musical shrugs, and a general aura of "woe is me." It's like Paul Simon is trying to communicate in Morse code, but instead of dots and dashes, it's chords and harmonies.
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But fear not! Despite the gloomy undertones, the song has a strange beauty to it. It's like finding a silver lining in a cloud of existential dread. And hey, if you ever find yourself feeling like the only living person in a concrete jungle, just remember, you're in good company.
How To...
- How to feel like the only living boy in New York: Spend a day alone in your apartment, order takeout, and binge-watch documentaries about the decline of civilization.
- How to appreciate the genius of Paul Simon: Listen to "The Only Living Boy in New York" on repeat while staring out the window.
- How to avoid feeling lonely: Get a pet, join a club, or talk to a real human being.
- How to write a song about loneliness: Feel really, really sad and then put your feelings into rhyme.
- How to cope with existential dread: Eat ice cream and watch funny cat videos.
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