Homeward Bound by Simon and Garfunkel

Every New Zealand #1 single…

Simon and Garfunkel

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel started their recording career as Tom & Jerry in 1957, making teen-oriented Everly Brothers-style pop. After a temporary split, they re-branded as Simon & Garfunkel, an earnest folk duo. Their debut album, 1964’s Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., was unsuccessful, and a frustrated Simon relocated to London.

A Simon-penned track from Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., ‘The Sound of Silence’, became popular among college students. Producer Tom Wilson overdubbed guitar, bass, and drums and released it as a single. Simon and Garfunkel were suddenly atop the US singles chart and hastily reconvened, rush-releasing a second album to capitalise on their sudden popularity.

Homeward Bound

Simon wrote ‘Homeward Bound’ during his sojourn in London. He worked as a folk singer, playing at clubs throughout England. He met Kathy Chitty – he wrote ‘Homeward Bound’ about missing her while he was touring. A plaque in Widnes Station claims that Simon wrote it there. But in a 2016 interview, Simon said he wrote it in a railway station near Liverpool.

Simon also mentions Chitty in ‘Kathy’s Song’ and ‘America’.

“Kathy, I’m lost”, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why

Paul Simon, America

Simon and Garfunkel recorded ‘Homeward Bound’ during the sessions for Sounds of Silence. It was their second single, but was included on their third album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.

‘Homeward Bound’ was successful, although it only topped the charts in New Zealand. It reached #5 in the US, and #9 in the UK.

My verdict

‘Homeward Bound’ is only my tenth favourite Simon and Garfunkel song, but it’s a classic anyway. It benefits from the tension between the mournful verses and the joyful chorus.

My parents owned a lot of music, but most of it was classical music (that they never actually listened to) or bagpipes. My mum owned a cassette of Simon and Garfunkel’s Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. Simon & Garfunkel aren’t cool, except when the alternatives are Charley Pride and Nana Mouskouri.

When I became interested in music at around 12 years old, I commandeered Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, making it my first album.

The Aftermath

Simon and Garfunkel became an iconic duo, with albums like 1968’s Bookends and 1970’s Bridge Over Troubled Water. They fractured in 1970 over tensions fuelled by Garfunkel filming Catch-22 in Mexico while Simon was recording Bridge. Simon continued to a successful solo career, with albums like Graceland and There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.

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