Listening to an old Simon and Garfunkel tape (you remember those?) I heard the phrase "We walked on frosted fields of juniper and lamplight."
Now I know what juniper is, it's an evergreen. In my mind, all evergreens are pines or cedars. Juiper is a cedar. But what is lamplight? Is it a flower? I can't find it and google is no help.
There's also a phrase "Pressed in organdy; Clothed in crinoline of smoky Burgundy."
I had to look for "organdy" and "crinoline". Impressive. (look for it yourself)
I've heard the song many times before, but never looked for the words. Now I'm even more impressed. What a neat song. Those guys could write some good love songs. Not too sappy. But deep. Oh the song title is "For Emily, whenever I may find her".
7 comments:
It's a personal point of pride for me that during my grade school years I made my parents sick of their own Simon & Garfunkel record. I still keep one of their greatest hits CD's on my iPod and listen to it frequently.
Hilarious! I bet it was The 55th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) that put them over the edge. Neat song, but after a few playings makes you want to reject whatever you had for breakfast..
I think it was "Mrs. Robinson" that did it, but I agree with you're feelings on the 59th Street Bridge song. I didn't just listen to one song over and over again though, I was too intimidated to move the needle around.
And if you kept playing the same song over and over, you'd have driven the needle through the record...
Reminds me when I was young (before you). When a record would start sticking and playing the same thing, the same thing, the same thing, we'd put a quarter on the needle to weight it down (they were cheap records)..
Lamplight is just what it is, the light from a streetlamp. S&G were at heart city kids and even referenced streetlamps in Sounds of Silence. The vision they are probably trying to portray is maybe a lonely road on like a Central Park setting that is lined with Junipers and lit form above with streetlights, it is actually quite an ethereal setting!
Anon,
Thanks for the comments. I'm glad you found this old post. Hopefully you'll see my follow-up.
Your comment makes sense, a nice park with tall junipers and streetlamps. The talk about a frosty field seems a little strange, but I guess it makes sense. And as you said, "quite an etheral setting." Fits very well with the song.
Paulie, the soul of an internally tormented artist, had an anguished "dream" once as a younger man. Now, those dreams were useful in the days of one's analysis in New York City, if one could afford it. Anyway, walking past Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf-Goodman, etc. late at night when the streets were less congested, his reverie begins. A non-Catholic boy, he still knows where the cathedrals were by the sound of their echoing bells, which tell him it is late. Now the women's evening gowns occupying the bigger-than-life lit up shop displays included some of the sheer but appropriately dark burgundy fabrics fashionably covering the idealized models' pale, lithe bodies. Suddenly, a vision -- she -- appears before him. She runs to his open arms. They embrace? Sure they do. And, where to escape the harsh city street on this winter evening, but the lovely Central Park? The distinct scent of Junipers is a soul-restoring, refreshing counterpoint to the Big Apple's otherwise confusing array of municipal aromas that they gladly leave behind. They walked together, but seemed rather to float hand-in-hand over the frosted fields partially illuminated by the foggy beams from the street lamps. No words can describe what comes next. Because. Because, Paulie, along the way, fell asleep. This is a clue in the analysis. But, never mind, he is awakening now, alongside his vision of feminine perfection. Perfection. Love. Tears. Honey hair? Paulie is definitely drawn to dark hair, but another clue perhaps. He is grateful to his perfect companion for her perfect presence. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. But, yes, too perfect. He is not worthy. She is unattainable. The guitar strings say it all; the love can never be. Oh so sad. So sad. But, now the time is up. See you on Wednesday. Goodbye, doctor. Another $120.00 today, …and, still crazy, after all these years. Anyway, just a thought.
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