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Leaves That Are Green Lyrics

I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song.
I'm twenty-two now but I won't be for long
Time hurries on.
And the leaves that are green turn to brown,
And they wither with the wind,
And they crumble in your hand.

Once my heart was filled with the love of a girl.
I held her close, but she faded in the night
Like a poem I meant to write.
And the leaves that are green turn to brown,
And they wither with the wind,
And they crumble in your hand.

I threw a pebble in a brook
And watched the ripples run away
And they never made a sound.
And the leaves that are green turned to brown,
And they wither with the wind,
And they crumble in your hand.

Hello, Hello, Hello, Good-bye,
Good-bye, Good-bye, Good-bye,
That's all there is.
And the leaves that are green turned to brown,
And they wither with the wind,
And they crumble in your hand.
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Submitted by
kevin On May 21, 2001
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Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Everything that is alive must die..hello hello, goodbye

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Passage of time, a lost love, and young turns to old.

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

:-)

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

I love how ironic this song is, like most of Simon and Garfunkels songs. They sound so bright and cheery, yet they're so depressing. The first stanza says that I'm 21, but I'll just be 22 & life will go quickly then you'll die. Second, how he loved someone, then they left & now his life is "crumbled."Third, how life is "rippling". 4th, how that the end is here... yeah good song

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

I only found out recently that Billy Bragg had nicked the first 2 lines from Paul Simon. An admirer of Mr Bragg as I am, I think these lyrics belong in this song far more than they do in "A New England". The only criticism I would give is that the music is a little too "happy" for the lyrics, and doesn't give much sense of the mood, which I think should be, at best, melancholy. After all, getting old is pretty depressing! "Hazy Shade Of Winter" perfectly describes the life process and its music sets the exact scene whereas the music and lyrics seem to contradict themselves in this song.

I agree somewhat. Many times, Simon's melodies don't seem to match his lyrics. I think the point of this is to create an ironic juxtaposition. I actually think that the irony works with this song, although it distracts from the lyrics of others (i.e., Save the Life of My Child). A Hazy Shade of Winter is a separate case, because Simon does not attempt irony in pairing the music with the lyrics.

Not Valid

I think the original Paul Simon solo version has that 'less happy' arrangement and works much better

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

This is one of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs. I love the line, "I threw a pebble in a brook and watched the ripples run away and they never made a sound." It just shows how something that causes a stir can be barely noticed in the grand scheme of things.

I may stand alone, but I don't think this song sounds too cheery. I think it sounds more bittersweet, which definately fits the lyrics. Even though it's sad to lose a love and grow old, it's just a part of life and there are a lot of good things that happen along the way. Wow, I'm starting to get all emotional now. I should change the song.

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel alone has proven that such a delivery of terribly sad lyrics is extremely effective, perhaps more so than if it were sung in a sad tone. It kills me.

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

The tone and meaning have nothing to do with eachother, Simon proves time and time again that it doesn't have to be

Cover art for Leaves That Are Green lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Hello Hello Hello, Good Bye Good Bye Good Bye. That's all there is. EPIC . So simple yet a masterpiece. I can listen to it a million times and not get tired of it. Its all about the passage of time, the many ups and downs in life and it's logical end. The nostalgia is so soothing to deal with at times. Thoughts, feelings and reminiscence of the past are sometimes worth a billion dollars and finally the end itself is so very predictable.

  • Kaleidoscope :)