When thinking about a song that successfully describes the need to embrace a whimsical, groovy, and a lighthearted mood in a busy, bustling, and sometimes dark urban setting such as New York, the song ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)’ by Simon and Garfunkel comes to mind. ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song’ offers listeners a place to escape to in their minds, urging them to slow down and enjoy life and the small pleasures it can offer.
‘The 59th Street Bridge Song’ was written in 1965 when Paul Simon was walking on the Queensboro Bridge in New York. Simon said that it was a beautiful, crisp, bright, sunny morning when he was on his walk.
An article written by Jill Dennison highlighted that Simon recalled writing the song, stating, “I remember coming home in the morning about 6 o’clock over the 59th Street Bridge in New York, and it was such a groovy day really, a good one, and it was one of those times when you know you won’t be tired for about an hour, a sort of a good hanging time, so I started to write a song that later became the 59th Street Bridge Song or Feelin’ Groovy.”
The song was originally recorded in 1966 with Joe Morello and Eugene Wright, jazz musicians, and later recorded by Simon and Garfunkel. Even though the song was and is one of Simon and Garfunkel’s most well-known songs, it was not considered a hit for them. In fact, Harper’s Bizarre later recorded a pop version of the song in 1967 which reached #13 on charts in the U.S.
In addition, despite Simon and Garfunkel’s original version of the song being popular and a place of solace for so many listeners, many sources highlight that Paul Simon actually deeply disliked this song. Simon apparently rarely played it at his shows and claimed it was a song he hated, even saying he would play it as a punishment to himself if he messed up on another song. He stated at his concert in Portland in 2018, after he forgot the lyrics of a previous song that he would play ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)’ to “penalize myself.”
Despite the fact that Simon may have disliked the song, or even just preferred some of his and Garfunkel’s other great hits like ‘Mrs. Robinson,’ ‘The Boxer,’ or ‘The Sound of Silence,’ there is no doubt that the song does not capture a unique and distinctive feeling that many New Yorkers may feel. This feeling typically comes with the first warm day after a cold and dark winter, the first day that the sun shines, and you remember how Groovy New York City really is.
The melodic, upbeat, and groovy rhythm and sound of the song take its audience to this sunny morning when Simon first had the idea for it. Without the lyrics even needing to blatantly state it, the song feels like a beautiful sunny and bright morning in spring or summer in New York.
The lyrics also hold a deeper message and lesson for the audience, as they remind listeners to “Slow down, you move too fast,” an issue that many New Yorkers deal with as they run from place to place throughout the busy city, without even taking a moment to look around. The lyrics further reiterate the need for listeners to change their pace, singing, “You got to make the morning last,” something that seems to contradict the need for most individuals to just quickly get the day over with.
The song also manages to capture the small details of New York City pointing out the physical details that most individuals miss as the lyrics sing “Just kicking down the cobblestones,” and “Hello lamppost, what’cha knowing.” Highlighting the small beauties of the city around us.
Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)’ reminds listeners of something so valuable, the need to look around, slow down, and embrace the feeling of “Feelin’ Groovy.” The song was not only important when it was first written and recorded, but it becomes more and more important each day, as the world seems to just keep moving faster and as individuals forget to embrace their grooviness.
‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)’ Lyrics
Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy
Hello lamppost, what’cha knowing
I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’
Ain’t you got no rhymes for me?
Doo-ait-n-doo-doo, feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy
I got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all its petals on me
Life, I love you, all is groovy
Comments are closed.