The Only Living Boy in New York

"The Only Living Boy in New York" is a song written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel. It is the eighth track from the duo's fifth and final studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water. The song was also issued as the B-side to the duo's "Cecilia" single.

For the film of the same name, see The Only Living Boy in New York.
"The Only Living Boy in New York"
Single by Simon and Garfunkel
from the album Bridge over Troubled Water
A-side"Cecilia"
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1970
RecordedNovember 1969
GenreFolk rock
Length3:59
LabelColumbia Records
Songwriter(s)Paul Simon
Producer(s)

Background

Simon wrote this as a thinly veiled message to Art Garfunkel, referencing in the first stanza a specific incident where Garfunkel went to Mexico to act in the film Catch-22. Simon was left alone in New York writing songs for Bridge over Troubled Water, hence the lonely feelings of "The Only Living Boy in New York." Simon refers to Garfunkel in the song as "Tom", alluding to their early days when they were called Tom and Jerry, and encourages him to "let your honesty shine . . . like it shines on me".[1] The background vocals feature both Garfunkel and Simon recorded together in an echo chamber, multi-tracked around eight times.[2]

Personnel

Covers

Use in film
  • Everything but the Girl's cover was featured in the 2002 film Tadpole
  • The original recording is featured as part of the soundtrack for the 2004 film Garden State.
  • Used as part of the soundtrack of the 2009 film New York, I Love You.
  • Honda has used sections of this song for their television commercials of the 2011 Accord.
  • The original recording is featured during the final scenes of the second-season finale of Alphas.
  • The original recording is used in the credits of the film Koch
  • The original recording was used in the first-season finale of BBC3's comedy Uncle.
  • Used in the final scene of the HBO film version of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart (2014).
  • Used in the film with the same name: The Only Living Boy in New York (2017).

Use in other media

References
  1. "The Words and Music of Paul Simon", James Bennighof, p. 48, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007, ISBN 0-275-99163-6
  2. Swenson, John. Simon and Garfunkel – A Musical Biography. (1984)
  3. "Official Singles Chart Top 75". Official Charts Company. May 8, 1993. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  4. Charlesworth, C. (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel. Omnibus Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-7119-5597-2.
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