Tom and Jerry Story
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics


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(Spoken)
(Art:)
Paul and I go back to the sixth grade when we grew up in Queens. They cast the two of us in the elementary school graduation play Alice in Wonderland. I was the Cheshire Cat, and it's been a lot of laughs ever since. With a few interruptions this would be the fiftieth anniversary of this friendship that I deeply cherish.

(Paul:)
We met when we were eleven years old in Alice in Wonderland and I was the White Rabbit – it’s a leading role – and Artie was the Cheshire Cat – it was a supporting role, a very important, very important supporting role. Now, we started to sing together when we were thirteen years old, and we started to argue when we were fourteen years old. So that makes this the forty-seventh anniversary of our arguing.

(Art:)
Now we only argued about one thing if you want to know the truth, from the very beginning, there was only one thing that was the basis of everything else: when we first formed our group I wanted to call us Garfunkel and Simon.





(Paul:)
You should do that. Now we don’t argue any more. Now we say, ...now we say: that’s your opinion and I respect that. We made our first record when we were sixteen years old. They called us Tom & Jerry, and our song was called "Hey School Girl in the Second Row", and it went like this...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Simon & Garfunkel's "Tom And Jerry Story" are a conversation between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, reminiscing about their long-standing friendship that began in the sixth grade. They recall being cast as characters in their elementary school graduation play of "Alice in Wonderland," with Artie playing the supporting role of the Cheshire Cat and Paul playing the leading role of the White Rabbit. They both started singing together at thirteen and argue about one thing - the name of their group. Artie wanted to call it "Garfunkel and Simon," but Paul disagreed, and they eventually settled on "Simon & Garfunkel." However, they no longer argue and now respect each other's opinions.


The lyrics symbolize the deep bond and connection between Paul and Artie that has lasted for fifty years. They have been through many ups and downs, but their friendship has endured. The reference to their childhood play shows that their relationship has been a central part of their lives, a source of laughter and support. Despite their disagreements, they remain committed to each other and their music. The song also serves as a tribute to the enduring power of friendship, encouraging listeners to cherish their own lifelong relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

Paul and I go back to the sixth grade when we grew up in Queens.
Paul and I have been friends since we were in the sixth grade, having grown up together in Queens.


They cast the two of us in the elementary school graduation play Alice in Wonderland.
We were both cast in the school play Alice in Wonderland as kids.


I was the Cheshire Cat, and it's been a lot of laughs ever since.
I played the Cheshire Cat which was a fun role and we’ve had a lot of fun times together since then.


With a few interruptions this would be the fiftieth anniversary of this friendship that I deeply cherish.
Aside from some occasions where we lost touch, this year would be the 50th anniversary of our friendship which I truly value.


We met when we were eleven years old in Alice in Wonderland and I was the White Rabbit – it’s a leading role – and Artie was the Cheshire Cat – it was a supporting role, a very important, very important supporting role.
We first met at age 11 when I played the lead role of the White Rabbit and Artie played the crucial supporting role of the Cheshire Cat.


Now, we started to sing together when we were thirteen years old, and we started to argue when we were fourteen years old.
At age 13, we began singing together and by 14, we had already started arguing.


So that makes this the forty-seventh anniversary of our arguing.
That means this year marks the 47th year of us having arguments since we first started singing together.


Now we only argued about one thing if you want to know the truth, from the very beginning, there was only one thing that was the basis of everything else: when we first formed our group I wanted to call us Garfunkel and Simon.
To be fair, we only ever argued about one thing – when we first started our group, I wanted to call us Garfunkel and Simon.


You should do that. Now we don’t argue any more. Now we say, ...now we say: that’s your opinion and I respect that.
You know, maybe we should have gone with that name but in any case, we don't argue anymore. We just acknowledge that we have different opinions and respect each other’s choices.


We made our first record when we were sixteen years old. They called us Tom & Jerry, and our song was called "Hey School Girl in the Second Row", and it went like this...
We released our first record at age 16 under the name Tom & Jerry. Our song was called Hey School Girl in the Second Row.




Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Beth Bailey


on The Sounds Of Silence

Aragon Courts 1967

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