Cloudy
Simon and Garfunkel/Paul Simon Lyrics
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The sky is gray and white and cloudy,
Sometimes I think it's hanging down on me
And it's a hitchhike a hundred miles
I'm a rag-a-muffin child
Pointed finger-painted smile
I left my shadow waiting down the road for me a while
My thoughts are scattered and they're cloudy,
They have no borders, no boundaries
They echo and they swell
From Tolstoy to Tinker Bell
Down from Berkeley to Carmel
Got some pictures in my pocket and a lot of time to kill
Hey sunshine
I haven't seen you in a long time
Why don't you show your face and bend my mind?
These clouds stick to the sky
Like floating questions, why?
And they linger there to die
They don't know where they are going, and, my friend, neither do I
Cloudy
Cloudy
Cloudy
Cloudy
The Simon and Garfunkel/Paul Simon song Cloudy is a contemplative piece that touches on themes of uncertainty and aimlessness. The first verse introduces us to the singer's feeling of being weighed down by the sky, which he sees as gray, white, and cloudy. He compares himself to a hitchhiker, and describes himself as a "rag-a-muffin child," highlighting his sense of being lost and directionless. The use of the pointed finger-painted smile paints a picture of a childlike innocence and yet, an ominous tone is present through the image of his shadow waiting down the road for him, hinting towards a dark, unknown future.
The second verse talks of the singer's thoughts being scattered and uncertain. There are no borders or boundaries to his thoughts, suggesting that he is unable to compartmentalize his feelings and get a clear picture of his situation. His thoughts echo and swell, covering a vast range, from Tolstoy to Tinker Bell, an unlikely pairing, which emphasizes the singer's range of interests and the confusion he might be experiencing. He also talks about having pictures in his pocket and a lot of time to kill, further highlighting his sense of aimlessness.
The chorus emphasizes the overarching theme of uncertainty, as the singer speaks to the sunshine, a symbol of positivity and clarity. The clouds, which he sees as floating questions, linger and die without knowing where they're going, adding to the sense of confusion and aimlessness. The repetition of the word "cloudy" at the end of each chorus is like a mantra that reinforces the sense of uncertainty that runs throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is gray and white and cloudy,
The sky is dull and dismal, with a mix of shades of gray and white that resembles clouds.
Sometimes I think it's hanging down on me
At times, it feels like the sky is pressing down on me and overwhelming me.
And it's a hitchhike a hundred miles
The weight of the cloudy sky feels like a long, tiring journey of a hundred miles.
I'm a rag-a-muffin child
I feel like a scruffy, unkempt child amid the dullness and gloominess of the weather.
Pointed finger-painted smile
I try to put on a fake smile or façade to conceal my true emotions and feelings.
I left my shadow waiting down the road for me a while
I abandoned my past, symbolized by my shadow, and moved on to a new path, uncertain of what may lie ahead.
My thoughts are scattered and they're cloudy,
My mind is filled with confused and unclear thoughts that have no distinct shape or form.
They have no borders, no boundaries
My thoughts have no limits or structure, and they merge with each other, making them difficult to understand.
They echo and they swell
My thoughts resonate and amplify within my mind, making them hard to ignore.
From Tolstoy to Tinker Bell
My thoughts range from serious and profound matters to trivial and imaginative ones.
Down from Berkeley to Carmel
My thoughts travel from one place to another in my mind, much like traveling from one physical location to another.
Got some pictures in my pocket and a lot of time to kill
I have some memories and experiences with me, but with nothing to do and nowhere to go, I'm left with a lot of spare time on my hands.
Hey sunshine
A metaphorical expression for someone who brings light and happiness into one's life.
I haven't seen you in a long time
I haven't felt true happiness for a long time, and I miss it dearly.
Why don't you show your face and bend my mind?
I long for a happy and positive influence in my life that can lift my spirits and give me hope.
These clouds stick to the sky
The clouds seem persistent, never fading or disappearing, much like my negative thoughts and emotions.
Like floating questions, why?
Like questions floating in the air, my thoughts and doubts are unresolved, making me unsure of my path in life.
And they linger there to die
My thoughts and doubts remain within me, never quite leaving, but eventually fading away with time.
They don't know where they are going, and, my friend, neither do I
Just like the clouds in the sky, I don't know where my life is headed and what my ultimate purpose is, leaving me feeling lost and uncertain.
Cloudy
Repeating the title of the song to emphasize the recurrent feeling of bleakness and uncertainty.
Cloudy
Repeating the title of the song to emphasize the recurrent feeling of bleakness and uncertainty.
Cloudy
Repeating the title of the song to emphasize the recurrent feeling of bleakness and uncertainty.
Cloudy
Repeating the title of the song to emphasize the recurrent feeling of bleakness and uncertainty.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN EDWARD GORRIE, HAMISH STUART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurylie Polito
"Cloudy"
Cloudy
The sky is gray and white and cloudy,
Sometimes I think it's hanging down on me.
And it's a hitchhike a hundred miles.
I'm a rag-a-muffin child.
Pointed finger-painted smile.
I left my shadow waiting down the road for me a while.
Cloudy
My thoughts are scattered and they're cloudy,
They have no borders, no boundaries.
They echo and they swell
From Tolstoy to Tinker Bell.
Down from Berkeley to Carmel.
Got some pictures in my pocket and a lot of time to kill.
Hey sunshine
I haven't seen you in a long time.
Why don't you show your face and bend my mind?
These clouds stick to the sky
Like floating questions, why?
And they linger there to die.
They don't know where they are going, and, my friend, neither do I.
Cloudy,
Cloudy.
John Mcgrath
As a kid, my mom would play this cassette in the station wagon and thought it was depressing then. Now that all my family is gone it's bittersweet. Can't explain it, but it's emotional enough to cry, yet play it over And over
Eileen Smith
Not one of their biggest commercial hits, but I really like this song. Holds such memories from that time in my life.
henry perry
You've never seen "The Graduate?"
henry perry
"Where have you gone Mrs Robinson jolting joe has gone away..."
Trinidad Apodaca
this is a hitch hiking song heard it lot after college when i use to hitch hike this and hey jude
Chairman Meow
It's a great song!
Jessica Frizell
Oh me too 💕
C.O. Jones
The intricacies of the chord progressions are simply sublime
Alberto Heras
No concuerdan con mi época pero para mi es el grupo más grandioso de todos los tiempos. Gracias a ellos me estoy esmerando a aprender Inglés.
UncleSpencer77
Plans4Nobody - Nice job with the video. It is now in my favorites! This is one of my favorite songs by Simon and Garfunkel. Great arrangement and harmonies in this song. Thanks for your work with this!