The Dangling Conversation
Simon and Garfunkel/Paul Simon Lyrics
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Of a now-late afternoon
As the sun shines through the curtain lace
And shadows wash the room
And we sit and drink our coffee
Couched in our indifference, like shells upon the shore
You can hear the ocean roar
In the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs
The borders of our lives
And you read your Emily Dickinson
And I my Robert Frost
And we note our place with book markers
That measure what we've lost
Like a poem poorly written
We are verses out of rhythm
Couplets out of rhyme
In syncopated time (in syncopated time)
And the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs
Are the borders of our lives
Yes, we speak of things that matter
With words that must be said
"Can analysis be worthwhile?"
"Is the theater really dead?"
And how the room is softly faded
And I only kiss your shadow, I cannot feel your hand
You're a stranger now unto me
Lost in the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs
In the borders of our lives
The Dangling Conversation by Simon and Garfunkel/Paul Simon is a song that explores the theme of communication in a strained or fraying relationship. The title of the song refers to conversations that are left unresolved, or hanging. The opening lines set the scene for a still life watercolor painting and describe a late afternoon, where the sun is shining through the curtain lace, casting shadows into the room. The couple sits together, drinking their coffee and lost in their own individual thoughts. Although they are together, they are distant, and their indifference is compared to “shells upon the shore.” It is evident that they are disconnected, and their relationship has hit a rough patch.
The song mentions how the couple reads their respective poets, with the book markers serving to note the passage of time and perhaps allude to the loss of a connection that the couple might have once had. The metaphor of a poorly written poem, where the verses are out of rhythm and the couplets are out of rhyme, directly represents the couple’s dysfunctional relationship. The dangling conversations and superficial sighs have become the status quo in their lives, and the couple is only able to speak about matters that don't hold much meaning. The song ends with Simon describing the room in shades of blue, and how he only kisses his partner's shadow, signifying that their relationship has faded away and both of them have suddenly become strangers.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a still life watercolor
Describing the scene, that is calm and unchanging, like a painting
Of a now-late afternoon
Depicting the time of day, as day turns into evening
As the sun shines through the curtain lace
Illustrating the sun shining through the curtains, casting shadows on the walls
And shadows wash the room
Describing how the shadows are cast on the walls and floor, giving an impression of motion
And we sit and drink our coffee
Two people sitting together, sharing an experience
Couched in our indifference, like shells upon the shore
Implying that they are distant or apathetic towards each other
You can hear the ocean roar
A metaphor for their lack of communication - overflowing with noise but no real meaning
In the dangling conversation
The conversation is directionless, not leading to anything important
And the superficial sighs
Demonstrating that the sounds they make are not genuine; rather than speaking their minds, they sigh insincerely
The borders of our lives
The limitations they place around themselves are preventing them from having a fulfilling or deep connection
And you read your Emily Dickinson
One person is reading a poet that they appreciate while the other person is doing something else that does not interest the first person
And I my Robert Frost
The other person is reading a different poet for their own enjoyment
And we note our place with book markers
Although they're not communicating with each other, they're cherishing things they enjoy on their own
That measure what we've lost
They're mourning things they've let go and comparing it to what they have in the present
Like a poem poorly written
They don't have any sense of direction, purpose, or even how to express themselves
We are verses out of rhythm
They're not in sync with one another - they are separate, like individual verses of a poem that don't flow nicely alongside one another
Couplets out of rhyme
Similar to the above, the two of them just aren't quite working together - like rhyming couplets that seem off and discordant
In syncopated time (in syncopated time)
They're trying to work together, but it's a failed effort - it's out of sync with itself and the other individual
And the dangling conversation
The conversation never really goes anywhere, it's always uncertain and in flux
And the superficial sighs
Both of them are just going through the motions, sighing and releasing air without any tension or true desire
Are the borders of our lives
They're limiting themselves without even realizing it; their boundaries are set by their own lack of attempt to communicate and interact in a way that would benefit their connection
Yes, we speak of things that matter
They believe they're talking about what's important to them
With words that must be said
They feel that they have something to express but aren't quite sure how to go about it
"Can analysis be worthwhile?"
Suggesting that they're exploring something deeper, possibly the meaning behind their relationship?
"Is the theater really dead?"
Reflecting on social changes or artistic trends that give rise to bigger questions, but they're not really discussing it with one another
And how the room is softly faded
A continuation of describing the setting, the fading sunlight slowly blending into the shadows, building toward darkness
And I only kiss your shadow, I cannot feel your hand
A statement about their disconnection - even though they're sitting close and could be intimate, they're physically and emotionally distant
You're a stranger now unto me
They've become so disconnected that even when they're physically together, they feel like strangers because they don't know how to reach out to each other anymore
Lost in the dangling conversation
They are lost in their own little worlds, that are not linked with each other in any significant way (just like the misplaced conversation)
And the superficial sighs
Not capable of initiating a deeper, meaningful conversation, both of them are stuck sighing superficially
In the borders of our lives
Just as boundaries on maps limit where we can go, the limits they've set for themselves have prevented them from taking their relationship in any new or deeper directions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@issy7023
Lyrics:
It's a still life watercolor
Of a now-late afternoon
As the sun shines through the curtain lace
And shadows wash the room
And we sit and drink our coffee
Couched in our indifference, like shells upon the shore
You can hear the ocean roar
In the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs
The borders of our lives
And you read your Emily Dickinson
And I my Robert Frost
And we note our place with book markers
That measure what we've lost
Like a poem poorly written
We are verses out of rhythm
Couplets out of rhyme
In syncopated time (in syncopated time)
And the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs
Are the borders of our lives
Yes, we speak of things that matter
With words that must be said
"Can analysis be worthwhile?"
"Is the theater really dead?"
And how the room is softly faded
And I only kiss your shadow, I cannot feel your hand
You're a stranger now unto me
Lost in the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs
In the borders of our lives
@bobx2x2
It's a still life water color,
Of a now late afternoon,
As the sun shines through the curtained lae
And shadows wash the room.
And we sit and drink our coffee
Couched in our indifference,
Like shells upon the shore
You can hear the ocean roar
In the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs,
The borders of our lives.
And you read your Emily Dickinson,
And I my Robert Frost,
And we note our place with bookmarkers
That measure what we've lost.
Like a poem poorly written
We are verses out of rhythm,
Couplets out of rhyme,
In syncopated time
And the dangled conversation
And the superficial sighs,
Are the borders of our lives.
Yes, we speak of things that matter,
With words that must be said,
"Can analysis be worthwhile?"
"Is the theater really dead?"
And how the room is softly faded
And I only kiss your shadow,
I cannot feel your hand,
You're a stranger now unto me
Lost in the dangling conversation.
And the superficial sighs,
In the borders of our lives.
@normanrumack297
Maybe I'm amongst a small number, but I feel this is one of the most beautifully written songs ever, in both its lyrical and musical composition ! I find it as compelling to listen to now, at age 65, as I did when it was first released !
@AmbientBeat99
I agree wholeheartedly with you.
@philipgermani1616
I completely agree.
@davidlium9338
I totally agree!!!
@keoni927
I agree Norman.
@bridgetgrimes7524
True
@kensartspage5073
i am still convinced, this is the best song Simon & Garfunkel ever sang to our souls...
@kinky_Z
Ever sung to our souls and I agree!
@zombieheadpopper800
One of the toughest and best song ever
@jimmurphy4703
And yet Paul said he considered it his worst?