Save the Life of My Child
Simon & Garfunkel
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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."
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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.
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Musical StyleThe 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.
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Deviation from the NormWhile 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.
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Reinterpreted Previous SongThe 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."
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Lyric InspirationThe 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.
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Additional VoicesThe inclusion of several additional voices, including police and crowd voices, adds a layer of narrative urgency and drama to the song.
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Cinematic FeelSimon & 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.
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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.
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ReceptionWhile “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.
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Cultural ReferencesAs 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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Citation
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"Save the Life of My Child Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/829645/Simon+%26+Garfunkel/Save+the+Life+of+My+Child>.
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