For Emily Whenever I May Find Her
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What I dream I had
Pressed in organdy
Clothed in crinoline of smoky Burgundy
Softer than the rain

I wandered empty streets
past the shop displays down
I heard cathedral bells
Tripping down the alley ways
As I walked on

And when you ran to me
Your cheeks flushed with the night
We walked on frosted fields
of juniper and lamplight
I held your hand

And when I awoke and felt you warm and near
I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears




Oh I love you girl
Oh I love you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Simon & Garfunkel's song "For Emily Whenever I May Find Her" tell a sweet and romantic story that is open to interpretation. The first verse describes a dream the singer had where he sees someone he loves dressed in fine clothing, softer than rain. The second verse describes a walk through town, hearing cathedral bells in the distance. Then, the bridge of the song talks about the moment when the singer and the person he loves reunite, walking "on frosted fields of juniper and lamplight" and holding hands. Finally, the last verse talks about waking up from the dream and being "grateful" to be with the person he loves.


The interpretation of these lyrics is a matter of opinion, but many see it as a song about longing for love and reminiscing about past romantic experiences. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a beautiful dream and a romantic moment of reunion. The music that accompanies the lyrics is gentle and soothing, emphasizing the emotional weight of the words.


Line by Line Meaning

What I dream I had
The singer is talking about a dream he had.


Pressed in organdy
In his dream the girl he loves was wearing a white, delicate and finely woven fabric.


Clothed in crinoline of smoky Burgundy
The girl he loves was also wearing a deep reddish-purple and puffy layered skirt in his dream.


Softer than the rain
The texture of her clothing seemed to him lighter and softer than the rain outside.


I wandered empty streets
The singer describe the environment he was in the dream.


past the shop displays down
He walked through the streets, looking at the shop windows.


I heard cathedral bells
While he was walking, he could hear the ringing of the church bells.


Tripping down the alley ways
The sound of the chimes echoed and bounced around the alleys.


As I walked on
He continued to walk and listen to the sound of the bells.


And when you ran to me
In the dream, the girl he loves sees him and runs towards him.


Your cheeks flushed with the night
Her cheeks were rosy, probably from the cold temperature of the night.


We walked on frosted fields
They walked together on a field covered in frost.


of juniper and lamplight
The field was filled with tall evergreens and the area around them was illuminated by the light of the streetlamps.


I held your hand
The singer was holding her hand while they walked.


And when I awoke and felt you warm and near
The singer woke up from his dream and felt comforted by the thought of having the girl he loves close to him.


I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears
He may have cried when he woke up from the dream because he feels fortunate he had the opportunity to be with her.


Oh I love you girl
The song ends with a repetition of how much he loves the girl he is singing about.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on The Sounds Of Silence

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