I am a rock
Simon And Garfunkel (The Definitive Simon And Garfunkel) Lyrics

A winter's day
The setting of the song is in winter

In a deep and dark
The mood of the song is dark and gloomy

December
The time of year is the last month of the year

I am alone
The singer is all by himself, with no company

Gazing from my window to the streets below
The singer stares out his window looking down at the deserted streets

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow
The singer notices the silent snowfall outside

I am a rock
The singer has isolated himself from the world around him and is emotionally hardened

I am an island
The singer wants to be completely self-sufficient and avoid all contact with others

I've built walls
The singer has put up barriers to protect himself

A fortress deep and mighty
The walls that the singer has built are substantial and nearly impossible to penetrate

That none may penetrate
The singer is completely closed off from others and will not allow anyone in

I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain
The singer believes that friendships are unnecessary and cause emotional hurt

It's laughter and it's loving I disdain
The singer dislikes any form of joyful or affectionate behavior

Don't talk of love
The singer does not want to hear about love or any other emotional connection

But I've heard the words before
The singer has heard about love in the past but chooses to ignore it

It's sleeping in my memory
The idea of love is still present in the singer's mind, but he has suppressed it

I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died
The singer will not awaken any feelings that have already died or gone dormant

If I never loved I never would have cried
The singer would rather have never experienced love than go through the pain of heartbreak

I have my books
The singer finds comfort in reading and learning

And my poetry to protect me
The singer's poetry is a shield from the outside world and its emotions

I am shielded in my armor
The singer is protected from the world by his emotional armor

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
The singer is hiding from the world and feels safe alone in his room

I touch no one and no one touches me
The singer has cut all emotional ties with others and is not touched by anyone, nor does he touch anyone else

And a rock feels no pain
The singer is comparing himself to a rock, which cannot feel emotional or physical pain

And an island never cries
The singer is comparing himself to an island, which does not show emotions and cannot cry