Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Sound of Silence

"The Sound of Silence" was orginally titled "The Sounds of Silence", as the title appears on the album released in 1964, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." The song was written by Paul Simon. As the album "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." was a commercial failure, the duo of Simon and Garfunkel broke up.

However, "The Sounds of Silence" began gradually to build in popularity until it climbed to the number one position on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart on January 1, 1966. Simon and Garfunkel quickly reunited and recorded a second album--"Sounds of Silence"--at the end of the month.

The rest is history.

Answer: Homeward Bound

"Homeward Bound" appears on Simon and Garfunkel's THIRD studio album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme", released in 1966. However, it is included among the tracks recorded for the UK release of the SECOND studio album "The Sounds of Silence". Thus, the song became famous before the release of their third studio album as the song was released in the United Kingdom as a single and became their second hit, following "The Sounds of Silence" (which was their first). This is all rather confusing, I'm sure.

Paul Simon began writing the song while truly sitting in a "railway station". He was living in England at the time, and, while waiting on an early morning train to London in the Widnes Railway Station, he began thinking of the woman--Kathy Chitty--with whom he'd fallen in love and desiring to return "home" to her. There is a plaque in Widnes Station commemorating the site as the origin of Simon's song.

Answer: 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

"59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" is a song written by Paul Simon and appearing on Simon and Garfunkel's third studio album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme", released in 1966. The title refers to the Queensboro Bridge in New York City, which is commonly referred to by the city's natives as the "59th Street Bridge".

The song has been covered a number of times, including in 1967 by three different groups: The Seekers, Harpers Bizzare, and The Free Design. In the past, Jimmy Page would sometimes play parts of the song during the guitar solo of Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker" while the band was performing live.

Answer: Mrs. Robinson

The song "Mrs. Robinson", written by Paul Simon, appears on Simon and Garfunkel's fourth studio album "Bookends", released in 1968. It became the duo's second number one single, topping the "Billboard" Top 100 in 1968. Furthermore, "Mrs. Robinson" became the first "rock song" to win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1969. However, it is most famous as playing a prominent role in the soundtrack of Mike Nichols' successful film "The Graduate", released in 1967 and starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katharine Ross.

Joe DiMaggio once asked Simon why Simon asks in the song where DiMaggio has gone. This seemed to bother DiMaggio. However, after Simon explained that the song is really asking where all the heroes have gone and is using DiMaggio as a symbol of heroic individuals, DiMaggio was flattered and happy. Simon sang the song as a tribute to DiMaggio in Yankee Stadium after DiMaggio died.

Answer: America

"America", composed by Paul Simon, first appeared on Simon and Garfunkel's fourth studio album, 1968's "Bookends". However, it was also released as a single in 1972 to increase sales of "Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" compilation. Simon's inspiration for the song came from a 1964 five-day roadtrip he took with Kathy Chitty with whom he'd fallen in love during his stay in England. Simon had been asked to return home to the States to finalize versions of songs that were to be used to create Simon and Garfunkel's first studio album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." He didn't want to leave Chitty, so he convinced her to come to America with him by promising to take a road trip in America first before going to work on the album. Chitty's name--Kathy--appears as part of the lyrics in this song, but "Homeward Bound" and "Kathy's Song" are also written about his feelings for Chitty.

Answer: Cecilia

"Cecilia" appears on Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water" album from 1970. Paul Simon wrote the song following a late-night party attended by him, Garfunkel, and other friends. Several of them were banging out rhythms on a piano bench when the particular one for this song came together. Later, Simon worked out the lyrics and guitar part.

The title and name are meant to be a reference to St. Cecilia, the Catholic patron saint of music, while the lyrics refer to an untrustworthy woman. Perhaps, the song is meant to be a metaphorical one about a songwriter's relationship with music--a constant pursuit of songs whose words and music won't come.

Answer: The Only Living Boy in New York

Paul Simon wrote "The Only Living Boy in New York" about his own feelings and thoughts after being left alone in New York City to write songs for Simon and Garfunkel's fifth and final studio album "Bridge over Troubled Water", which was released in 1970.

The use of the name "Tom" is a reference to Art Garfunkel and alludes to their earlier career together when their duo was named "Tom and Jerry". Garfunkel had gone to Mexico to perform in a role he had in the film version of "Catch-22".

Answer: For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her

Although "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" was written by Paul Simon, it was sung entirely by Art Garfunkel and is regarded as one of the best showcases of his gifted voice. The song appears on the 1966 Simon and Garfunkel album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme".

Some have speculated that the "Emily" of the title is about Emily Dickinson, particularly since another song on the album--"The Dangling Conversation"--refers to Dickinson. Some believe "Emily" is truly Kathy Chitty, who was the inspiration behind the composition of the song "Homeward Bound", also appearing on the album.

However, Simon himself claims that "Emily" is more of a personification of an idea or a belief and not really a real person at all. He further adds that the song "Overs" from the "Bookends" album is the companion piece to the song "For Emily" because it is about the loss of that belief.

Answer: I Am a Rock

"I Am a Rock" appears on Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence" album released in 1966. However, Paul Simon had written the song, recorded it, and released it on his 1965 album "The Paul Simon Songbook". This solo album was released only in the United Kingdom and was meant to satisfy his English fans who were hungry for a less rock and roll and more folk sound.

The cover of this difficult-to-find album shows Simon and Kathy Chitty sitting on a wet cobblestone street. For a long time, Simon wished the album would disappear.

Answer: The Boxer

"The Boxer", which is credited to both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, was primarily written by Simon, and it appears on their final studio album "Bridge over Troubled Water". The song required over one hundred hours to record, making it Simon and Garfunkel's most heavily produced song ever.

The song also famously does not truly have a chorus as, during the part of the song where the chorus should be, Simon simply chants "lie-la-lie". He has explained that this was originally meant to be only a filler until he could think of appropriate words for a chorus to such a song as "The Boxer".

He asserts that his intention was never at any time for people to interpret the sound of "lie" to be literally the word "lie".