Leaves That Are Green
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"Leaves That Are Green" | |
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Song by Simon and Garfunkel | |
from the album and Sounds of Silence | |
A-side | "Homeward Bound" |
Genre | Folk pop, folk rock[1] |
Length | 2:20 |
Label | Columbia Records |
Songwriter(s) | Paul Simon |
"Leaves That Are Green" is a song written and originally recorded by Paul Simon for his 1965 album The Paul Simon Songbook.[2] It was later re-recorded for the 1966 album with Garfunkel Sounds of Silence, adding an electric harpsichord, rhythm guitar, and bass.[3] It was also the B-side to the hit song "Homeward Bound".
Song meaning and structure
The song presents a number of metaphors for its theme, and its main theme is that all things must end. Simon was already writing about mortality when he was only, as he says in the song, 21 years old. Structurally, and musically, with its harpsichord accompaniment, the song resembles olden-time British ballads.[4]
The opening lines were quoted by Billy Bragg's song "A New England".[5]
References
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/song/leaves-that-are-green-mt0041197519
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-paul-simon-songbook-mw0000050335
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-silence-mw0000195709
- ^ http://paulsimonsongs.blogspot.com/2009/10/leaves-that-are-green.html
- ^ "Simon & Garfunkel: 18 best songs". The Telegraph. July 5, 2017.