Added: 3 years ago
From: 2dannyc89
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  • I just don't know what to say...

  • the chemistry between these two is just out of this world!!! :)

  • Time it was and what a time it was...

  • Wondeful ♥ ♥ ♥

  • A personal favourite of mine,I think I heard it when it first came out.The line "How terribly strange to be seventy" made me laugh and look at me now 73 and I aint laughing now,just feeling nostalgic sitting here all alone,my old friends all passed on.

  • This song always makes me cry

  • Love love love!

  • I love the way they keep kind of glancing at each other as if to sing the lyrics to each other's friend.

  • I honestly dont think anyone on this planet could ever write a song this powerful ever again. 

  • Ohh, my heart gets hurt... this song is so intense!

  • Today is Art's birthday, now they are both 70.

  • @tramsay1027 How terribly strange to be 70...

  • Immensely great

  • this song goes beyond what is truly expected of music. it floats into your ears and heart. and flows out of the eyes...

  • How timely, to happen on this in mid-October 2011.

    "Can you imagine us years from today ... how terribly strange to be 70 ", and Paul Simon was 70 a couple of days ago, Art Garfunkel will reach that milestone in a few weeks time.

    Thanks to both these legends, for having been in my lifetime of joy, tears, music and memories - poignant, sweet and exquisitely sad (I am doing my impersonation of I Am A Rock, I Am An Island now ... )

  • Best song eveeeerrrr

  • "500 Days of Summer" brought me here. I'm embarrassed that I didn't try to find this song earlier.

  • This song is beautiful until 1:47. Then it is sublime.

  • To be as brief as it is, Bookends is one of the most evocative and poignant songs ever written and no one else can do it justice except S&G.

  • I know it's not the happiest song ever but all these comments about death really drag it down =(

  • I used to listen to this with my best friend over 30 years ago. I wish she was here now......

  • Unbelievably poignant and real. Hard to believe I'll be celebrating my 57 th birthday soon. LIfe is like a summer vacation, goes by so quickly.

    Beautiful song.

  • I think of My dad and his truly best friend, how they care so much for each other and will alway be there for the other. some day i will play this song for them.

  • I came upon this song and the comments here expecting nothing. I am now utterly astonished at the outpouring of emotion here-- so many deeply felt experiences of love, loss, joy, and overwhelming human emotion that words can only limit...

  • This two old friends...

  • Easily one of the most beautiful performances I've ever seen. I'm 17 now but I won't be for long. Where shall I be when I am 70? I suppose time will tell. Hopefully I'll have my old friend.

  • I lost my best friend of over twenty years, nearly three years ago now but I still miss her every single day.

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  • A beautiful testament to the stark reality of aging.

  • "Long ago it must be..I have a photograph.."..How.I miss those New York park benches. Bless their and my city forever. No one except George Gershwin could evoke New York as magically as they did. And when they gave their concert in Central Park, it was as if they were home, at least for a while.

  • One of my all time favorites but I did not get the meaning fully until I lost my sister who was also my best friend in 2004, we'll never be old friends sitting on that park bench. But I will keep her in my heart always. Someimes life is just too hard for someone to endure, she committed suicide and she is gone but she left me with far more than photographs, she left me beautiful memories of our time together.

  • @caargoqueen so sorry to hear of your loss, your comment was very touching cherish your memories, I'm sure there is comfort here

  • @caargoqueen i'm so sorry to hear about that. these are empty words but whilst listening to perhaps the most nostalgic and beautiful S&G song, this couldn't help but make me a bit teary . hope you are okay

  • @caargoqueen just read your message, I lost my sister to suicide also and now miss the chance to grow old with her. It's very lonely here, just thought I'd let you know, you are not alone...my sisters name was Joyce

  • @caargoqueen a shame my friend, a real shame. 

  • One of my all time favorites but I did not get the meaning fully until I lost my sister who was also my best friend in 2004, we'll never be old friends sitting on that park bench. But I will keep her in my heart always.

  • So beautiful

  • Yeah I have to agree with idavisje1.. .. it really is beautiful..

  • How terribly strange to be 70.......

  • To be honest i got here trough (500) Days of Summer and Girl, Interrupted... but it's still one of the greatest old songs i know

  • Thumbs up if your here cos of @lukekook

    Classic tune !

  • Time it was and what a time it was it was,

    A time of innocence a time of confidences.

    Long ago it must be, I have a photograph

    Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you

    ---

    So beautiful

  • Heard this song when I was 17, now I'm 55 and soon will be sitting on that park bench. I blinked and life pasted by, so fast, too fast.

    Old friends are to be held close. Memories of happy times, smiles and tears.

  • @numbnuts55

    How well you put it. Life goes by so fast! You think you can go on forever as you have, but eventually you must acknowledge that you're not as quick or strong as you were. (You're lucky if you can retire then.) We're fortunate to have S&G's songs to refresh us. I still sing them and play them on the piano -- what a treat!

  • @numbnuts55 I always pictured those old folks sitting on a park bench in the meridian of upper Broadway. Now I've left Manhattan and it's much boskier up here in Nyack. The old folks ramble the three miles around Rockland Lake; only the homeless hang out in the central square in Nyack. But the big difference is that the old folks communicate with the young folks. We end up exchanging news and taking yoga classes together.

  • @numbnuts55 Thats beautiful. :)

  • @numbnuts55 I first heard the sng when I was 16, I'm now 58, and I had that same realisation recently when I was listening to it. I'm nearly there. And S&G have been a soundtrack to my life!

  • @rachelgeegee Couldnd't agree more. They sang the soundtrack for our lives and held up the mirror for us to see ourselves more plainly.

  • @numbnuts55 i was just sitting here thinking the same thing, my best friend and i have spent nearly 35 years as best friends. and i clearly see a mental image of the two of us sitting on that park bench. and i wonder, where did the time go

  • You said it, numbnuts.

  • @numbnuts55 I am 50...I'll meet ya on the bench soon!

  • @numbnuts55 I am 22 now and I fear I'll be on that park bench before I know it

  • @numbnuts55 a beautiful comment and observation.

  • 2 people don 't have old friends

  • It 's difficult to not cry. It 's so beautiful <3

  • Oh, so beautiful. This song takes my mind to another place, another time.

    "A time it was,and what a time it was, it was..."

  • so so good but HAHAHAHAH at the line at the end

  • I'm 16 and Simon and Garfunkel >>> Justin Bieber (easily).

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  • lol horrible ending

  • For me ufgatorpaw, it was 1984, she was 23 and I was 19....she had a 7 mo old daughter and a drunk driver hit and killed her....My sister....my friend.....now 26 yrs later and as it has been for all the years in between...."time it was and what a time it was, a time of innocence a time of confidences.....long ago it must be...i have a photograph, preserve your memories, they're all thats left you".. this song will always be for me a reminder of her..memories keep them here with us for always.

  • perfect pitch and timing.

  • i didn't want that to stop...

  • "Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph... preserve your memories, they're all that's left you." She was 13, I was 12... it was 1964 as we sat on a wooden bench, under an old oak tree near the old high school football field. We were in the 8th grade, sharing our secret fears and talking about the future. How would it be? Where would we be? She was one of my dearest lifelong friends. She passed away the day after my birthday in 2004. This song makes me miss her all the more.

  • Who are the two monkeys who dislike this ? And I think that monkeys can love it... It must be a mistake...

  • They should have cut the end.

    Who is that? Chales Grodin?

    That part kinda ruined it for me.

  • How can you dislike this!!!!

  • thanks for sharing this. i just bought an lp with bookends on it and was looking for a video of them playing it. i did not know old friends, such a touching song... thanks again. it's funny how music comes into your life, i randomly came across kings of convenience, and have been a fan for a couple years, they list S&G as a main influence of course, and bookends is featured in 500 days of summer, which is my favorite film of all time. here's to timeless music.

  • They are so poetic in all their music. It touches you right in your soul... it's absolute bliss.

  • how old were they here?

  • The song is sad. As are our responses. S&G are a part of my life. Thank God.

  • I'll never forget you Stephanee.  I have a photograph and memories. They're all that's left me.

  • I am feeling old.For it is Christmas and now must waite for invites,ride to see the lights.This year they waite til just before I will be brought home.Glad I still can see for at leaste I can see it once.But wish I could on times less stressing.Who thinks any way?But we get there once.Merry Christmas to all.

  • "boys, that is a song that deserves a great intro."

  • Beautiful poetry and beautiful instrument playing <3 Comforting that this wasnt destroyed. If I had to live in this world with nothing but todays music, I would commit suicide.

  • I like the last line of bookends. Nice little double meaning that I always found particularly touching.

  • I like the last line of Bookends. Nice little double meaning, at least to me.

  • In October 2011, Simon & Garfunkel will find out "How terribly strange to be 70"

  • I can't believe it will be me next year

  • Who was THAT GUY that hit "dislike" quite obviously by mistake. That's ok, we can forgive you, surely it was a mistake.

  • @raindelayshowfan1 LOL! one dislike. must be a jls fan.

  • i cannot physically stop listening to this, gives me chills every time <3 xx

  • @LupinLoverGuitarist It tears me up. So Beautiful

  • such a great song!!

  • Perfection

  • I can't help but see the pain and sadness in their gazes towards one another. In my opinion, Simon and Garfunkel's poor relationship is one of the greatest tragedies in the history of music.

  • @Fiverrdrums Not so sad......I really think this song is them....they really do love each other.....I mean...heck....they have been doing this for like 50 years? If that ain't love....what is?

  • @grotius106 It's been more than 50 years since they've first played together... however, the number of years that they've played together is less than half of that number.

  • @grotius106

    Actually, I've read for years that they actually don't like each other.

  • @BloodstormGMA They were best friends from the time they were children in elementary school. They've just had a few splits.

  • To Chris Lupetti, one of my oldest and best friends, and to Kevin Wall, an even older friend, and one who introduced me, and all of Bogota High School, to this piece.

  • wonderful song

    full of emotion

  • oh, i love ths song and the vid to it. like they're alone, just trying it out. i love it.

  • Hopefully one day, many many days from today, My friends and I will sit on a park bench and be old friends.... days, please take your time

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  • great song

  • I AM 50..20 more short years till I will fulfill the lyrics of this song.....I do not want it..but it will come.

  • This is not a song but an anthem. God, it touches our souls.

  • These songs make my eyes fill with tears.. My cup runneth over. No other ballads compare..

  • They made some of the most beautiful and unforgettable music ever. Paul Simon is a brilliant lyricist and composer and a very under-rated guitarist. Art Has a haunting voice. I miss music....

  • who is that doushe who says "BOYF DAT A ZONG DAT DARZERV GEWD INTRO LOL"

  • It is soothing. yes.

  • It is absolutely astonishing that the Bookends album was written by someone in his twenties! The social and human commentary of the songs display a depth of understanding usually associated with much older age and life long experiences. For me this album, as well as his other works distinguish Paul Simon as one of the greatest poets of our time.

  • There are many haunting themes in their music, questions of society, poverty, loneliness, are all common themes. I wished I had done my undergrad project on their music, but would love to do an MA on their music. That would be awesome.

  • Amazing!

  • I don't see a lot of videos on Youtube where they perform together while looking at each other. Nice to know there are some exceptions to the rule!!

  • Lonliness and yet companionship.

    So very touching

  • What the heck was this from? An old TV show?

    There has never been anyone like these two fellows. I love them.

  • gotta love the end. "boys, that is a song that deserves a great intro"

  • True class never ages.

  • *sigh* old friends/bookends is one of the best songs ever- beautiful

  • *sigh* now thats art

  • Alone, they're both very talented. Together they really are adorable.

  • it is not that time moves on .... humans move on ... time steps aside and watches humanity plow ever on to a destiny or a determination inherent while the old chap with the beard and i watch, look and see the many paths and streams flooded or never trod. so much to be aware of.

  • now both are soon seventy.

    "Time hurries on. And the leaves..."

  • zoundz good all drunk o

  • just so you know, they're not dead. and they're actually still performing..so need to "miss" them.

  • and still sounding pretty good after all these years

  • This is just 'perfection' It could not possibly have been any better. Probably my favourite video on youtube ever. Think of all our friends family who didn't even make it to 70. Tears in my eyes.

  • perfection indeed, save for the last five seconds. wtf is up with beard dude? that aside, fucking gorgeous.

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  • Time it was and what a time it was it was,

    A time of innocence a time of confidences.

    Long ago it must be, I have a photograph

    Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you.

  • We only live on in the memory of others.

  • Classic S&F, as all their other songs are.

  • Still after all these years, sorry im dutch cant find the right words in english...not even in dutch... i miss them.

  • @Addepat

    That's why there is English, I Think. Mooi nummer he?

  • everyone has the urge to sing along when they know the lyrics, in every song you come across.

    but in this, it seems criminal to sing over Garfunkel's voice, so your mouth closes, and you sit silent, close your eyes and consider vocal + lyrical genius at work.

    it's priceless, if you ask me.

  • MiK3i, the best comment ever on you tube.

    I found myself doing the very same thing.

  • i think the generation after us will do the same, too.

  • @MiK3i i do my best to resist singing but it reminds of my best friend who died 10 years back so i can't help but sing about it.

  • @Dordracnor hey sing away! and i'l sing along in consideration of your friend for you.

  • @MiK3i u must be really young!!! nobody has to shut one s mouth especially bwith this song!

  • @maellen1 i am young. but not too young to appreciate such raw talent. i'm 21. i love singing over songs, but i hate ruining the sound of this by singing over it.

  • @MiK3i True

  • @MiK3i so true!!! you just *can't * sing over them.

  • @MiK3i ok we ll obey daddy.

  • @MiK3i God you explained what happens to me when I hear this song with PERFECT eloquence. Almost immediately the protective "skins" we build up to deny some of the both melancholic AND beautiful and loving feelings many of us feel but RARELY express. This song expresses SO much for SO many...

  • @cgargiulutube you speak to me on the same level as this song sings to me. the perfect truth and precise agreement. thanks for defining how i feel right now as i'm listening.

  • @MiK3i I agree with you!

  • @MiK3i True

  • @MiK3i a great tenor indeed, but I must say that I am partial to Paul's voice...it just takes me places, ya know?

  • I wish Bookends lasted longer, but then again it defeats the whole purpose of the song... Amazing..

  • just listen to the way art sings that long "eee" at the end of the word "quietly" there - absolute perfection. :)

  • so tragic this song..

  • i've always liked Simon and Garfunkel...and this song in particular means more and more to me as i get into my mid-40s, and with my dad about to hit the "terribly strange" (as S&G put it) 70 year mark in a couple of weeks.

  • every time I hear this song tears come to my eyes....... So beautiful

  • @MAWWesome so if you play this song 99 times in a row u will cry for that extended amount of time??

  • @mikehawke34 You certainly will...100 times... My parents understand this song, and I as well.... It means so..oooo much... Peace to '69....

  • @ArreWBe69 So if you have it on repeat for three straight hours, you will cry 3 hours straight?

  • @MAWWesome Me too my friend... me too... ='[

  • whats up with the douche at the end?

  • can you imagine us years from today......

  • our finest musicians

  • Beautiful

  • amazing.

  • 20 000th view.

    Beaauttiful song.

  • part of the song's message is how fleeting time is. The two friends blink their eyes and all of a sudden they're old. " how terribly strange to be seventy". I got to 40 pretty fast. it is scary

  • Saw them last weekend...They sat and sang this song at the start of the set...I feel very lucky to have been able to see them together again.

  • great post!!

  • What magical lyrics spoken.. and then to sing this beautiful tune with the voices of Simon and Garfunkel attached to it ...... Nothing better can be done. .

  • What is "magical" about growing old & spending time in a relaxing way?

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  • Right. This is the dream realized. Even dreams have a pragmatic side. By the time you're old, you're dying. Still, better that than being cut off young, in the opinions of most.

  • Take your pessimism and steriotypes elsewhere.

    I live my life in a practical manner. I listen to music to escape things like practicality. That is, to dream.

  • and we sat in the park as young as young can be where are we now? high school kids to kiss the world as gentle as we could . sitting in the park alone but never alone.and now where are we? lord knows. getting old but forever young. and we loved so much tha'ts all we had

  • really one of the greatest song ever written

  • Beautiful version of one of my favorites! Reminds me of my college days.

  • This song(s) is now very intensly present in my college days. And I can't help feeling it will have new meanings as time goes on. Truth, Light

    Thanks

  • The song speaks of two men sitting on a bench at age 70.

    How is that like "college days?"

    The bench part does make me think of an old girlfriend I had and think about now & then. We sat on a park bench for a while, one day, and I think of her when I pass that bench.

  • "We sat on a park bench for a while, one day, and I think of her when I pass that bench."

    I, too, recall an old girlfriend when I pass a certain bench.

  • Interesting.

    Is it just us guys that recall such things.... ?

    I often suspect that guys are merely a flash in the pan for most females..... and passing by such a bench doesn't cause them to recall us at all.

    While the women always speak of seeking "trut love"..... its the men I always hear speaking of memories.... and rarely the women. They shop for boyfriends like they shop for clothing.... and then move on to the newest trend.

  • you have no. idea.

  • I have plenty of ideas.... but I'm not sure what you are saying :)

  • Interesting. Not true though. I know. I'm female. How come it's always women who have to argue in favor of marriage, and endure some fight lasting for years sometimes before the men relent? How come women deal with being the faithful spouse while the husband is off spending family funds on a lady she never met? Anyway, we have recollections at the sight of a bench. We're too tired and fed up to remember anything fondly, that's all.