Bleecker Street
Simon Garfunkel Lyrics


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Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
Like a shroud it covers Bleeker Street
Fills the alleys where men sleep
Hides the shepherd from the sheep

Voices leaking from a sad cafe
Smiling faces try to understand
I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand
On Bleeker Street

A poet reads his crooked rhyme
Holy, holy is his sacrament
Thirty dollars pays your rent
On Bleeker Street

I head a church bell softly chime
In a melody sustainin'
It's a long road to Caanan




On Bleeker Street
Bleeker Street

Overall Meaning

is a song by the American music duo Simon and Garfunkel that was released in 1964. The lyrics of the song are quite poetic and rich with symbolism. The song paints a vivid picture of the fog rolling in from the East River bank, covering Bleeker Street like a shroud. The fog fills the alleys where men sleep and hides the shepherd from the sheep, which symbolizes the confusion in the world where people are lost, confused and unable to find their way. The song also talks about the voices leaking from a sad cafe, where smiling faces try to understand. The ambiguity of the scene symbolizes the struggle to find meaning and understanding in the world.


The line "I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand" is one of the most intriguing lines in the song. This line is rich with symbolism and can be interpreted in many ways. It could refer to a romantic encounter, a fleeting moment of contact between two people who are afraid to express their feelings. It could also refer to the act of reaching out to something intangible, like an idea or a dream that is just out of reach.


The line "Thirty dollars pays your rent on Bleeker Street" is a poignant reminder of the economic struggles of many people living in the city. The song talks about the hardships that people face in trying to make ends meet and pay their rent.


Overall, "Bleeker Street" is a song that is full of symbolism and captures the essence of life in the city. The song is a reminder that life can be difficult, but it is also full of beauty and mystery.


Line by Line Meaning

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
The fog is moving in from the river bank to cover the street


Like a shroud it covers Bleeker Street
The fog is covering the street like a shroud


Fills the alleys where men sleep
The fog fills the alleys where homeless men sleep


Hides the shepherd from the sheep
The fog hides the shepherd from his followers or congregation


Voices leaking from a sad cafe
There are sounds coming out of a melancholic cafe


Smiling faces try to understand
People are making an effort to comprehend something despite their happiness


I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand
A silhouette of one hand touched another hand


On Bleeker Street
All this is happening on Bleeker Street


A poet reads his crooked rhyme
A poet is reading his unconventional verses


Holy, holy is his sacrament
The poet finds his work sacred and holy


Thirty dollars pays your rent
You can pay your rent for $30


On Bleeker Street
This is all happening on Bleeker Street


I head a church bell softly chime
I heard a church bell ringing softly


In a melody sustainin'
The bell was playing a continuous melodic tune


It's a long road to Caanan
The journey is long and tiring


On Bleeker Street
All this is happening on Bleeker Street




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: PAUL SIMON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@dunhillmax8134

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank

Like a shroud it covers Bleecker Street

Fills the alleys where men sleep

Hides the shepherd from the sheep



Voices leaking from a sad cafe

Smiling faces try to understand

I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand

On Bleecker Street



A poet reads his crooked rhyme

Holy, holy is his sacrament

Thirty dollars pays your rent

On Bleecker Street



I heard a church bell softly chime

In a melody sustaining

It's a long road to Canaan

On Bleecker Street









Le brouillard roule au large de la rive de l'East River

Comme un linceul, il recouvre la rue Bleecker

Remplit les ruelles où dorment les hommes

Cache le berger des brebis



Des voix s'échappant d'un café triste

Les visages souriants essaient de comprendre

J'ai vu une ombre toucher la main d'une ombre

Sur la rue Bleecker



Un poète lit sa rime tordue

Saint, saint est son sacrement

Trente dollars paie votre loyer

Sur la rue Bleecker



J'ai entendu une cloche d'église sonner doucement

Dans une mélodie soutenant

C'est un long chemin vers Canaan

Sur la rue Bleecker



@SvZ26

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
Like a shroud it covers Bleeker Street
Fills the alleys where men sleep
Hides the shepherd from the sheep

Voices leaking from a sad cafe
Smiling faces try to understand
I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand
On Bleeker Street

A poet reads his crooked rhyme
Holy, holy is his sacrament
Thirty dollars pays your rent
On Bleeker Street

I head a church bell softly chime
In a melody sustainin'
It's a long road to Caanan
On Bleeker Street



All comments from YouTube:

@markrotar9955

Somehow mad men has the perfect song to end every episode

@lakshyaanand6509

Mark Rotar ikr. John hamm plus the direction. That show’s gold.

@williamthompson5190

The cinematography too. How they allow the audience a peek into the character's feelings by a camera shot.

@Maria-wm9qp

Yes, yes, yes!!

@collnss

I’m watching Mad Men for the first time. This year of Corona

@williamthompson5190

@@collnss All shows in comparison are garbage.

11 More Replies...

@Jules-916

This song is so timeless that the only thing that ages it is "thirty dollars pays your rent."

@neilwalker6955

Unless it's thirty dollars a day!

@PaulLevinson

@@neilwalker6955 well said!

@henrikpersson4698

hah esp on lower east side

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