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Leaves That Are Green

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"Leaves That Are Green"
Song by Simon and Garfunkel
from the album Sounds of Silence
A-side"Homeward Bound"
GenreFolk pop, folk rock[1]
Length2:20
LabelColumbia 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][3] It was later re-recorded with Garfunkel for the 1966 album Sounds of Silence, adding an electric harpsichord, rhythm guitar, and bass.[4] It was also the B-side to the hit song "Homeward Bound".

Cash Box described the song as a "melodic ballad about the ever-constant aging process."[5] Simon biographer Laura Jackson described the song as "peaceful number" in which Simon uses the changing seasons to illustrate that time goes on, and all things come and go.[6] Simon biographer Cornel Bonca criticizes the "cliched nature imagery" but notes that the "delightful" harpsichord opening "belies the lyrics' winsome gloom."[7]

The opening lines were quoted by Billy Bragg's song "A New England".[8]

Simon had played "Leaves That Are Green" at a live concert at his alma mater Queens College in 1964, where he also played "The Sound of Silence."[3] Simon & Garfunkel performed the song live on their 2004 tour.[3]

Dorris Henderson covered "Leaves That Are Green" as a single in 1965.[9] Ronnie Hawkins covered it in 1971 on his album The Hawk.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Leaves That Are Green - Simon & Garfunkel | Song Info | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ "The Paul Simon Songbook - Paul Simon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ a b c Thompson, Dave (2019). Paul Simon FAQ. Backbeat. pp. 42, 53, 257. ISBN 9781493050758.
  4. ^ "Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 5, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  6. ^ Jackson, Laura. Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography. Kensington. p. 73. ISBN 9780806525396.
  7. ^ Bonca, Cornel (2014). Paul Simon: An American Tune. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 29, 31. ISBN 9780810884823.
  8. ^ "Simon & Garfunkel: 18 best songs". The Daily Telegraph. July 5, 2017.
  9. ^ Unterberger, Richie (2003). Eight Miles High: Folk-rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock. Backbeat. ISBN 9780879307431.
  10. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. March 6, 1971. p. 45. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
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