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
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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.
Long Way Home
Art Garfunkel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you think you understand
With the lights still off
Our clothes still on the floor
And your head in your hands
You say she's holding you back
You're all out of reasons to stick around
It's time to think of yourself
In spite of her tears
And break your vow of so many years
Well don't get me wrong
I like what I hear
And even if it's true
I have to ask
'Cause I wanna be absolutely clear
Just what am I to you
Oh I'm your light in the dark
Your breath of fresh air
The love of your life
The answer to all your prayers
No, I am just your long way home
I know it, you'll know it soon
I am just your long way home
You're welcome
That morning the day had finally come
For somebody to lose
You kissed me hard and walked out of my door
To give her the bad news
But I followed you there
Like the sick fuck I am
To see what she'd do when you said goodbye again
She opened the door
She opened her arms
And you fell into them like a baby
And there from my car
I became your long way home
I knew it, you know it now
I was just your long way home
I knew it, she knows it now
I was just your long way home
You're welcome
The lyrics to the song Long Way Home by Art Garfunkel delve into the theme of infidelity in a relationship. The singer in the song has been involved with someone who is already in a committed relationship with another person. In the first verse, the singer describes the moment when the person finally decides to end things with their significant other. However, the singer also acknowledges that they themselves are not the primary love interest, but rather just the “long way home” after the person leaves their partner. The singer feels used and unimportant but still goes along with it.
The second verse encapsulates the moment of truth when the person goes to break things off with their significant other. The singer follows them to see what would happen and observes that the affair was not a substantial relationship for the other person. The person falls right back into the arms of their significant other, and the singer is left to realize that their connection to the other person was a fling and not a true romance.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of heartbreak and betrayal as the singer realizes that they were never the primary love interest. The person had used them as a way to get away from their committed relationship, ultimately leading to a dead-end for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
The answer took some searching for
Despite the effort involved, you feel as if you have finally found the answer to your problem.
But you think you understand
You believe that you have a grasp on the situation at hand, despite any potential uncertainty.
With the lights still off
This situation is shrouded in darkness and mystery, with no clear answers or solutions.
Our clothes still on the floor
Despite the intimacy of the situation, there is still a lingering sense of detachment or emptiness.
And your head in your hands
You are feeling overwhelmed and distressed by the events that have transpired.
You say she's holding you back
You attribute your struggle to the actions of another person, thereby relinquishing your personal responsibility.
And bringing you down
This situation is having a noticeable negative impact on your overall well-being and happiness.
You're all out of reasons to stick around
You feel as if you have exhausted all possibilities and cannot see any hope for the future of this relationship.
It's time to think of yourself
You realize that you must prioritize your own self-interest and well-being above that of any other person.
In spite of her tears
Despite the emotional turmoil that this decision may cause for another person, you must put yourself first.
And break your vow of so many years
You must abandon your commitment to a long-standing promise or agreement for the sake of your own happiness and well-being.
Well don't get me wrong
Do not misunderstand or misinterpret my perspective on the situation.
I like what I hear
I am pleased with the message or words that you are conveying to me.
And even if it's true
Despite the possibility that this statement may be factual or accurate, I still have a question to ask.
I have to ask
I feel compelled to inquire further about the details of this situation to gain a better understanding.
'Cause I wanna be absolutely clear
I am making an effort to ensure that there is no confusion or ambiguity regarding my understanding of the situation.
Just what am I to you
I am seeking clarification regarding the nature of our relationship or the role that I play in your life.
Oh I'm your light in the dark
I serve as a beacon of hope or comfort during times of uncertainty or difficulty.
Your breath of fresh air
I provide a sense of relief or rejuvenation to you, mentally or emotionally.
The love of your life
You view me as the most important and valued person in your romantic relationships.
The answer to all your prayers
I fulfill all of your deepest desires or wishes, serving as the solution to your problems or needs.
No, I am just your long way home
Contrary to your prior assumptions, I am not your ultimate destination or source of happiness or fulfillment.
I know it, you'll know it soon
I have come to the realization that you will eventually recognize our relationship for what it truly is.
I am just your long way home
I serve as a pathway or route towards the eventual realization of your true desires or aspirations.
You're welcome
I offer my assistance or guidance with a sense of generosity or goodwill towards you.
That morning the day had finally come
The resolution to a long-standing problem or issue has arrived.
For somebody to lose
In order for a situation to reach its conclusion, one party must ultimately be defeated or disappointed.
You kissed me hard and walked out of my door
You showed appreciative emotions before departing from the situation, potentially indicating that our relationship may not continue.
To give her the bad news
You are taking action to inform another person of an unpleasant outcome or result.
But I followed you there
I have taken steps to acquire more information about the situation or to involve myself in its resolution.
Like the sick fuck I am
I feel a level of guilt or shame about my actions, as they may be perceived as invasive or inappropriate.
To see what she'd do when you said goodbye again
I am curious about the reaction or response that the other person will give to your message or decision.
She opened the door
The other person welcomed your return or arrival, indicating that they may be accepting of your decision.
She opened her arms
The other person demonstrated their emotional vulnerability or openness through a physical gesture.
And you fell into them like a baby
You allowed yourself to be comforted or supported by the other person in a vulnerable, childlike manner.
And there from my car
I observed these events from an emotionally detached, removed perspective.
I became your long way home
I was the intermediary or stepping stone towards your ultimate destination or resolution.
I knew it, you know it now
I had already come to the realization that our relationship would not continue, but now you too have acknowledged this fact.
I was just your long way home
Despite any prior perceptions or idealizations, I was never meant to be the final or ultimate destination for you.
I knew it, she knows it now
Even the other person in the situation has now realized the true nature of our relationship.
You're welcome
I continue to offer any assistance or guidance with a sense of generosity or goodwill towards you.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MAIA SHARP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind