Save the Life of My Child

Simon & Garfunkel

About Save the Life of My Child

"Save the Life of My Child" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fourth studio album, Bookends (1968).


Year:
1981
2:58
343 
#11

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"Good God!  Don't jump!"
A boy sat on the ledge.
An old man who had fainted was revived.
And everyone agreed it would be a miracle indeed
If the boy survived.

"Save the life of my child!"
Cried the desperate mother.

The woman from the supermarket
Ran to call the cops.
"He must be high on something," someone said.
Though it never made The New York Times.
In The Daily News, the caption read,
"Save the life of my child!"
Cried the desperate mother.

A patrol car passing by
Halted to a stop.
Said officer MacDougal in dismay:
"The force can't do a decent job
'Cause the kids got no respect
For the law today (and blah blah blah)."

"Save the life of my child!"
Cried the desperate mother.
"What's becoming of the children?"
People asking each other.

When darkness fell, excitement kissed the crowd
And made them wild
In an atmosphere of freaky holiday.
When the spotlight hit the boy,
The crowd began to cheer,
He flew away.

"Oh, my Grace, I got no hiding place."

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Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel were an American music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the hit single "The Sound of Silence". Their music was featured in the landmark film The Graduate (1967), propelling them further into the public consciousness. more »

40 fans

Written by: PAUL SIMON

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Release
"Save the Life of My Child" is the opening track on Simon & Garfunkel's fourth studio album, "Bookends," released in April 1968.
Musical Style
The song stands out for incorporating elements of electronic music and sound effects, which was quite innovative for its time. It features a Moog synthesizer, one of the earliest types of synthesizers, played by Paul Beaver.
Deviation from the Norm
While Simon & Garfunkel were typically known for their folk rock sound, “Save the Life of My Child” deviated from this style, showcasing the duo's willingness to experiment with different soundscapes and narrative techniques.
Reinterpreted Previous Song
The song interestingly includes a short reprise from their previous hit "Sounds of Silence," with a twist in lyrics from "Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again” to “Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to sit with you again."
Lyric Inspiration
The lyrics were inspired by a news story that Paul Simon had read about a young boy who was on the ledge of a building, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
Additional Voices
The inclusion of several additional voices, including police and crowd voices, adds a layer of narrative urgency and drama to the song.
Cinematic Feel
Simon & Garfunkel's experimental sound and narrative techniques combined to create a cinematic feel within the song, something that both musicians were interested in accomplishing with their music.
The Theme of the Album
"Save the Life of My Child" sets the stage for the larger themes of the album "Bookends," which deals with issues of aging, loss, and existential angst amid the rapid social changes of the 1960s.
Reception
While “Save the Life of My Child” was not released as a single and did not have the same commercial success as other tracks on the album, it has been recognized for its thematic depth and musical complexity.
Cultural References
As part of the cultural artifacts of the '60s, the song is often interpreted as a biting social commentary on the voyeuristic tendencies of society, the gulf between generations, and the confusing and turbulent times of its context.

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