He met his future singing partner, Paul Simon, in the sixth grade. Between 1956 and 1962, the two had performed together as Tom & Jerry. Garfunkel ("Tom Graph") chose his nickname because he liked to track, or "graph" hits, on the pop charts. Garfunkel attended Columbia University in the early sixties, where he sang with the Kingsmen, an all-male a cappella group. While at Columbia, he was also a Brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. In 1962 Garfunkel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in art history, followed eventually by a Master's degree in mathematics.
In 1963 he and Simon reformed the duo under their own names as Simon and Garfunkel and released their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. on Columbia Records in October 1964. It was not a critical success, and the duo effectively split again after recording. The next year their producer Tom Wilson lifted the song "The Sound of Silence" from the record, redubbed an electric backing onto it, and released it as a single, which eventually went to #1 on the Billboard pop charts. They reunited and went on to become two of the most popular artists of the 1960s, releasing a total of five studio albums. However, citing personal differences and divergence in career interests, they split following the release of their most critically acclaimed album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, in 1970.
Solo career
In the 1970s, Garfunkel released a few solo albums, and although he did not reach the heights that Simon and Garfunkel had reached, he still scored hits with "I Only Have Eyes For You" (a 1934 song originally written by Harry Warren [1]) and "Bright Eyes" (both British #1 hit singles), and "All I Know" (#9 in the United States). A version of "Bright Eyes" also appeared in the movie Watership Down. He briefly reunited with Paul Simon in the 1975 hit "My Little Town".
Art Garfunkel (centre) with his band after the show at Liseberg fairground on June 4 1998
Enlarge
Art Garfunkel (centre) with his band after the show at Liseberg fairground on June 4 1998
In between, he also acted in a few movies, including Catch-22 and Carnal Knowledge (1971) with Jack Nicholson, Candice Bergen, and Ann-Margret.
Following disappointing sales of his 1981 album Scissors Cut, Garfunkel reunited with Paul Simon for the famous concert in Central Park. The subsequent world tour went well musically, but they had disagreements during the tour, with the disappointment for Art Garfunkel that Paul Simon excluded Art's voice from the new album that was announced as a S&G album and came out as a new Paul Simon solo album Hearts and Bones. The reason for that was that Paul Simon's songs were very personal. After this, Garfunkel left the music scene for several years, but returned in 1988 with the album Lefty. None of these projects garnered much critical success, and Garfunkel did not release another album until 1993's Up 'til Now. Perhaps his most noteworthy recent release is his live 1996 concert Across America, recorded live at the registry hall on Ellis Island. The concert features several musical guests, including James Taylor, Garfunkel's wife, Kim, and his son James Arthur.
Garfunkel also performed the theme song for the 1991 television series, "Brooklyn Bridge", and in 1998 Garfunkel sang "The Ballad of Buster Baxter" for an episode of the PBS Kids cartoon Arthur.
Recent events
In 2003, Garfunkel made his debut as a songwriter on his well-received Everything Waits to Be Noticed album. Teaming up with singer-songwriters Maia Sharp and Buddy Mondlock, the album represented some of Garfunkel's strongest solo performances to date, and contained several songs whose origins were poems penned by Garfunkel. Everything Waits to Be Noticed is recognized as his first true effort at songwriting, save his teenage years with Paul Simon in Tom and Jerry.
In 2003, Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon reunited one more time and buried their disagreements once and for all. The world tour in 2003 and 2004 that followed was this time very joyful and was a big success. After the tour, they went their own ways.
Garfunkel made news in early 2004 when he was arrested for possession of cannabis.
The only new recording on the collection The Art Garfunkel Album (1984), the song "Sometimes When I'm Dreaming" (written by Mike Batt), was re-recorded in 2005 by ex ABBA singer Agnetha Fältskog on her comeback album My Colouring Book.
In August 2005, Garfunkel received his second cannabis possession charge after a state police trooper found a joint in the ashtray of his car while in New York State. [2]
In 2006, Garfunkel signed with Rhino Records (revived Atco Records,) and his first Rhino/Atco album Some Enchanted Evening was released in America on January 30, 2007. [3] In late February 2007 during a German television interview to promote his new album Some Enchanted Evening, Garfunkel expressed interest in reuniting with Paul Simon on a new album.
Break Away
Art Garfunkel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Disappear into the evening sky
Oh you know I'm with you on your journey
Never could say goodbye
It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come for you
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come
For you to awaken in another country
Greet the morning under foreign skies
Leaving me to face another Monday
It's not easy to get by
It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakaway)
Time has come for you
Break away (breakaway)
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakaway)
Time has come for you
The first stanza of the song speaks of the departure of a loved one. The singer watches as the distant lights of the runway disappear into the evening sky, indicating that the traveler's journey has begun. The singer assures the traveler that they are with them on their journey and they will never say goodbye. The second stanza suggests that the traveler is not searching for the sun but something else on their mind. They need some space and time to break away. The singer understands that the traveler is going through a phase, and although they won't stop them, they don't want them to leave.
In the third stanza, the singer imagines the traveler waking up in another country, under foreign skies, while they are left to face another Monday. It conveys the idea that the traveler is looking for a change, trying to find themselves, and experience something new. The repeated chorus emphasizes the need for the traveler to break away, fly across the ocean, and awaken to a new beginning.
Overall, the song Break Away tells a story of a traveler seeking a new adventure, a new world. The singer understands this need but also fears being left behind. It is a beautifully written ballad that touches upon universal themes such as the need for change, self-discovery, and the fear of being left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch the distant lights on the runway
I am watching you take off into the distance.
Disappear into the evening sky
You fade away into the vastness of the night sky.
Oh you know I'm with you on your journey
You are not alone in your new venture.
Never could say goodbye
I cannot fully part ways as I care about you.
It's not the sun you're trying to find
You are not searching for physical warmth and light.
Something else is on your mind
Your thoughts go beyond a geographical destination.
You need a little space and time
You require some distance and duration to sort out your priorities.
It's not the place you're going to
Your final destination is not the main focal point.
It's just a phase you're going through
This is a temporary chapter in your journey.
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to
I won't hinder your progress, but I still care about your well-being.
Break away
Go on and seek what you need.
Fly across your ocean
Explore the vastness of possibilities.
Time has come for you
This is the time for you to depart.
For you to awaken in another country
You shall wake up in a foreign land.
Greet the morning under foreign skies
Welcome the sunrise amidst an unfamiliar environment.
Leaving me to face another Monday
I am left to face the mundane routine without you.
It's not easy to get by
It is difficult to cope with your absence.
Break away
Move on to your next chapter.
Fly across your ocean
Spread your wings and explore new opportunities.
Time has come for you
It is time for you to embark on this new adventure.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1976 {February 15th} "Breakaway" by Art Garfunkel peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Easy Listening chart...
"Break Away" reached #39 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1973 and 2002 the Queens, NY native had sixteen records on the Easy Listening/Adult Contemporary chart, nine* made the Top 10 with five reaching #1, "All I Know" for four weeks in September of 1973, "I Only Have Eyes For You" for one week October of 1975, the above "My Little Town" {with Paul Simon} for one week in November of 1975, the above "Breakaway", and "Wonderful World" {with Paul Simon and James Taylor} for five weeks in February of 1978...
Besides his five #1 records, his other four Top 10 records were "I Shall Sing" {#4 in 1973}, "Second Avenue" {#6 in 1974}, "Since I Don't Have You" {#5 in 1979}, and "A Heart In New York" {#10 in 1981}...
Arthur Ira Garfunkel celebrated his 79th birthday three months ago on November 5th, 2020...
* He just missed having a tenth Top 10 record when his covered version of "So Much In Love" peaked at #11 in 1988...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Easy Listening Top 10 on February 15th, 1976:
At #2. "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon
#3. "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" by Captain & Tennille
#4. "Tracks of My Tears" by Linda Ronstadt
#5. "Take It To The Limit" by The Eagles
#6. "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen
#7. "Theme from 'S.W.A.T.'" by Rhythm Heritage
#8. "Paloma Blanca" by The George Baker Selection
#9. "Deep Purple" by Donny & Marie Osmond
#10. "Breakin' Up Is Hard To Do" by Neil Sedaka
Note: The following week Art's former partner would replace him at #1 with "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"...
@jinglezmom
+Joe Archuleta
Artist Credit
Stephen Bishop Vocals
Jay Clayton Vocals
David Crosby Vocals
Art Garfunkel Vocals
Andrew Gold Vocals
John Jarvis Vocals
Jan Joyce Vocals
Graham Nash Vocals
Paul Simon Vocals
Toni Tennille Vocals
@idw9159
Breakaway B. Gallagher & G. Lyle
I watch the distant lights on the runway
Disappear into the evening sky
Oh you know I'm with you on your journey
Never could say goodbye
It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come for you
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come
For you to awaken in another country
Greet the morning under foreign skies
Leaving me to face another Monday
It's not easy to get by
It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakaway)
Time has come for you
Break away (breakaway)
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakaway)
Time has come for you
@tropicwave1
Break Away
Art Garfunkel
Track 3 on Breakaway
Dec. 1975
[Verse 1]
I watch the distant lights on the runway
Disappear into the evening sky
Oh, you know I'm with you on your journey
Never could say goodbye
[Pre-Chorus]
It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you, I don't want you to
[Chorus]
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come for you
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come
[Verse 2]
For you to awaken in another country
Greet the morning under foreign skies
Leaving me to face another Monday
It's not easy to get by
[Pre-Chorus]
It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you, I don't want you to
[Chorus]
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakin' away, break away)
Time has come for you
Break away (breakin' away, break away)
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakin' away, break away)
Time has come for you
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakin' away, break away)
Time has come for you
@malyndacornell8166
I remember this song when I was 15 years old and sitting with my father at breakfast singing this song together. Rip dad.
@q98rt710
Great memory.
@kevinhanson6106
Your comment brought tears to my eyes; may the memory be a cherished one.
@Mike-mo7nk
You might call it fate.. I heard this song for the first time in late 2012 or early2013. I was in a long distance relationship with a girl in Chicago.. I moved to Beijing to be an English teacher. So many of these lyrics, it was like it was describing our situation. Let's just say it was a hard time in my life and this song made the challenge of a LDR much more bearable. Awesome track. Garfunkel's voice and the music/ lyrics of songwriters Gallagher and Lyle.. They all have a lot to be proud of.
@Sondog600
Another underrated, underplayed song. I remember it... so enchanting.
@jonirving5606
Right on.
@russhinkle5799
I worked for CBS RECORDS in Pitman N.J. in 1975 and Art Garfunkel signed a BREAKAWAY album for me . I have it hanging in my computer room. Great songs.
@aimeelove8548
he gets me
@rainydaze9318
This was one of my favorite songs when I was 15. Still love it decades later
@RaineyParker
cool name😃