Wednesday Morning 3 A.M.
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics
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Of the girl that I love
As she lies here beside me
Asleep with the night
And her hair, in a fine mist
Floats on my pillow
Reflecting the glow
Of the winter moonlight
She is soft, she is warm
But my heart remains heavy
And I watch as her breasts
Gently rise, gently fall
For I know with the first light of dawn
I'll be leaving
And tonight will be
All I have left to recall
Oh, what have I done?
Why have I done it?
I've committed a crime
I've broken the law
For twenty-five dollars
And pieces of silver
I held up and robbed
A hard liquor store
My life seems unreal
My crime an illusion
A scene badly written
In which I must play
Yet I know as I gaze
At my young love beside me
The morning is just a few hours away
The lyrics to Simon & Garfunkel's song Wednesday Morning 3 AM depict a young man lying beside his sleeping lover, contemplating the crime he committed in exchange for money. Despite the beauty of the moment with his lover, he is haunted by the fact that he will soon be leaving and the memory of his crime. The stark contrast between the softness and warmth of his lover and the weight of his guilt is striking. He is conflicted between the reality of his actions and his love for her.
The lyrics are a poignant commentary on the human experience of guilt and regret. The singer has made a mistake and he cannot escape the weight of his actions. The juxtaposition of the beautiful, intimate moment with his lover and the weight of his crime creates a sense of tension and unease in the listener. The lyrics are a reminder that our actions have consequences that cannot be undone.
Overall, the lyrics of "Wednesday Morning 3 AM" capture the complexities and contradictions of the human experience. The song is a powerful exploration of love, guilt, and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear the soft breathing
I can hear the faint sound of the girl I love, breathing in a quiet manner
Of the girl that I love
I hear the sound of the girl whom I love
As she lies here beside me
She is lying beside me
Asleep with the night
She is sleeping with the night
And her hair, in a fine mist
Her hair, like a fine mist, is on my pillow
Floats on my pillow
Her hair moves gently, as if floating, on the pillow
Reflecting the glow
Her hair is shining in the light
Of the winter moonlight
Because of the moon, the light resembles that of winter
She is soft, she is warm
She is gentle and has a warm body
But my heart remains heavy
In spite of her being beside me, I am still unhappy and troubled
And I watch as her breasts
I observe the movement of her breasts
Gently rise, gently fall
They rise and fall calmly
For I know with the first light of dawn
I am aware that when dawn comes around, I will need to go
I'll be leaving
I'll need to depart
And tonight will be
This night will be
All I have left to recall
The only thing I'll be able to remember in the future is tonight
Oh, what have I done?
What have I done?
Why have I done it?
Why did I do it?
I've committed a crime
I committed a crime
I've broken the law
I violated the law
For twenty-five dollars
I did it only for twenty-five dollars
And pieces of silver
I received pieces of silver for doing it
I held up and robbed
I robbed and took from someone forcibly
A hard liquor store
It was a shop that sells alcoholic beverages
My life seems unreal
My life feels surreal
My crime an illusion
The crime that I committed feels like an illusion
A scene badly written
It feels like a poorly written scene
In which I must play
However, I have no choice but to be a part of it
Yet I know as I gaze
Despite everything that happened
At my young love beside me
As I look at my young lover who is next to me
The morning is just a few hours away
The morning is only a couple of hours ahead
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beth Bailey
on The Sounds Of Silence
Aragon Courts 1967