Bookends Theme Lyrics
This is one of those timeless songs that hits one deeply emotionally. It's all about how the past seems to always be better in retrospect than the present. In the end, it's only your memories that define who you were and who you are.
I find it absolutely amazing that so much can be said in only 4 lines.
I think the last line is interesting
"Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you"
What does "they're all that's left you" mean? It's not "they're all that's left OF you" or "they're all that's left, you see". What has left you? I've always wondered this.
@archard "They're all that's left you" means pretty much the same thing as "They're all that's left to you." That is, they're all you have left. (A hardcore grammar geek would go on to explain exactly why "all that's left you" either is or isn't grammatically correct, and if it is, what the grammatical function of "left" is in the lyric. Alas, I am only a softcore grammar geek. I think it's grammatically correct, but I have no clue what part of speech "left" is.)
@archard "They're all that's left you" means pretty much the same thing as "They're all that's left to you." That is, they're all you have left. (A hardcore grammar geek would go on to explain exactly why "all that's left you" either is or isn't grammatically correct, and if it is, what the grammatical function of "left" is in the lyric. Alas, I am only a softcore grammar geek. I think it's grammatically correct, but I have no clue what part of speech "left" is.)
archard: I've always heard this song conjoined with Old Friends and so I think when they say "preserve your memories, they're all that's left you" it means your memories may have been forgotten in old age, but your friends are still there for you.
They're both very sweet songs, I like to imagine myself listening to this in 50 years' time and feeling the full effect, but the bewilderment I feel when I hear it is similar to how Paul Simon felt when writing it, and that's also a beautifully serene feeling.
From working in an assisted living home I see what this song represents every day. Paul Simon, in his own words, describes what it is to become old. Memories leave you at your old age, what we call dimentia, and it affects a lot of older people. That's why you must preserve your memories. While the actual experiences of you living those memories will never die, your remembering of those memories unfortunately will.
@bwisner33 As our population ages, more and more people will have to deal with parents (and other loved ones) who are losing their memories. I've always loved this song and found it incredibly simple yet profound .... only more so as time goes on.
@bwisner33 As our population ages, more and more people will have to deal with parents (and other loved ones) who are losing their memories. I've always loved this song and found it incredibly simple yet profound .... only more so as time goes on.
The title of the song (and album) "Bookends" (play on words: book ends) is brilliant. As another poster mentioned, there is so much conveyed in very few lines.
The title of the song (and album) "Bookends" (play on words: book ends) is brilliant. As another poster mentioned, there is so much conveyed in very few lines.
My absolute favorite. Short and absolutely beautiful. All of Simon and Garfunkel's lyrics are just... jaw-dropping. I'm a young Simon and Garfunkel song, I'm only 15, I became hooked when I was watching one of my favorite movies, Girl, Interrupted and this song was played. So, I found out who it was by and discovered my mom's Simon and Garfunkel album and I've been obsessive ever since.
Am I the only one who thinks they use this in any 60's movie whenever they convey a loss of innocence? Well anyways, it may be a short tune, but it's pretty damn good. :)
I love the beginning of Girl, Interrupted when they play this song. For me, this song sums up everything about being innocent and not wanting to lose it. Great song.
yeah i agree. Girl, Interrupted is how i know of this song. and i just feel like it completely describes how you feel when you grow up and know things are changing. the mood is amazing and i wish it was longer :(
yeah i agree. Girl, Interrupted is how i know of this song. and i just feel like it completely describes how you feel when you grow up and know things are changing. the mood is amazing and i wish it was longer :(
amazing, i've always been a huge paul simon fan since i was a kid, i grew up listening to him from my mom, and i always liked this song, then i had a death of a good friend recently and this song along with the lyrics from the other bookends song really hit me, "can you imagine us years from today, sharing a park bench quietly", and he was my best friend and i could imagine that, then when this part of the song starts its like the feeling of the harsh reality that its not going to happen now, because memories are all that i have of them now. very moving song for me
This song was the first song I learned to play on the guitar, heh. Anyway, listening to the lyrics, they remind me of my nephew who passed away not even a year ago. It's one of my favourite songs.