Couple in the next room bound to win a prize
They've been going at it all night long
Well, I'm tryin' to get some sleep
But these motel walls are cheap
Lincoln Duncan is my name
And here's my song, here's my song

My father was a fisherman
My mama was a fisherman's friend
And I was born in the boredom and the chowder
So when I reached my prime
I left my home in the Maritimes
Headed down the turnpike for New England, sweet New England

Holes in my confidence
Holes in the knees of my jeans
I was left without a penny in my pocket
Ooh-oowee, I was about as destituted as a kid could be
And I wished I wore a ring so I could hock it
I'd like to hock it

A young girl in a parkin' lot
Was preaching to a crowd
Singing sacred songs and reading from the Bible
Well, I told her I was lost
And she told all about the Pentecost
And I seen that girl as the road to my survival

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

Just later on the very same night
When I crept to her tent with a flashlight
And my long years of innocence ended
Well, she took me to the woods
Sayin' "Here comes something, and it feels so good!"
And just like a dog I was befriended, I was befriended

Oh, oh, what a night
Oh, what a garden of delight
Even now that sweet memory lingers
I was playing my guitar
Lyin' underneath the stars
Just thankin' the Lord
For my fingers
For my fingers

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know


Lyrics submitted by geologist_nightmare

Duncan Lyrics as written by Paul Simon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Duncan song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This is one of those songs I feel a real closeness to. Theme song or whatever. A coming of age tale that somehow fits with how my life spread itself out. Oh, music!

    The lines about wanting a ring to hock reminds me of those relationships you have that, while not solidified by marriage or anything, when they fall apart, you wish you had a wedding ring you could hock just to make a statement that you're ready to move on.

    As for the last verse, yum. One of my favorite in any song. The bit about thanking god for his fingers, I love that. How clever!! Thankful both for his talent with the guitar as an escape, and for providing some great memories of playing something else...heh. :P

    Also, it's amusing to me that this song was submitted on my birthday.

    delialon March 12, 2007   Link

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