Leaves That Are Green

Last updated
"Leaves That Are Green"
Song by Simon and Garfunkel
from the album Sounds of Silence
A-side "Homeward Bound"
Genre Folk pop, folk rock [1]
Length2:20
Label Columbia Records
Songwriter(s) Paul Simon

"Leaves That Are Green" is a song written and originally recorded by Paul Simon for his 1965 album The Paul Simon Songbook . [2] [3] It was later re-recorded with Art Garfunkel for the 1966 album Sounds of Silence , adding an electric harpsichord, rhythm guitar, and bass. [4] It was also the B-side to the hit song "Homeward Bound".

Contents

Reception

Cash Box described the song as a "melodic ballad about the ever-constant aging process." [5] Allmusic critic Matthew Greenwald described the music as having a "sprightly folk-pop tempo and feel" with "inventive percussion and harpsichord," and described the lyrics as using "changing seasons to convey the feelings at the disintegration of a romance." [6] Simon biographer Laura Jackson described the song as "peaceful number" in which Simon uses the changing seasons to illustrate that time goes on, and all things come and go. [7] Simon biographer Cornel Bonca criticizes the "cliched nature imagery" but notes that the "delightful" harpsichord opening "belies the lyrics' winsome gloom." [8] On the other hand, music critic Paul Williams used a line from "Leaves That Are Green" to demonstrate Simon's skill as a phrasemaker with a gift for words: "She faded in the night like a poem I meant to write...and the leaves that are green turn to brown." [9]

Music journalist David Browne considered the theme of the song to be "premature nostalgia." [10] Music journalist Chris Charlesworth considers "Leaves That Are Green" to be Simon's first and possibly prettiest of many of Simon's songs that deal with the passage of time. [11] Charlesworth praised the "intricate guitar picking" but criticizes a "failure of the imagination" in the 3rd verse, where the lyrics just say hello and goodbye. [11]

Performances

Simon played "Leaves That Are Green" at a live concert at his alma mater Queens College in 1964, where he also played "The Sound of Silence." [3] Simon & Garfunkel performed the song live on their 2004 tour. [3]

Influence and covers

The opening lines were quoted by Billy Bragg's song "A New England". [12]

Dorris Henderson covered "Leaves That Are Green" as a single in 1965. [13] Ronnie Hawkins covered it in 1971 on his album The Hawk. [14] J.D. Crowe covered it on his 1973 album Bluegrass Evolution . [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon & Garfunkel</span> American folk music duo

Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and songs including "The Sound of Silence" (1965), "Mrs. Robinson" (1968), "The Boxer" (1969) and "Bridge over Troubled Water" (1970) reached number one on singles charts worldwide.

<i>Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.</i> 1964 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. is the debut studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Following their early incarnation as rock 'n' roll duo Tom and Jerry, Columbia Records signed the pair in late 1963. It was produced by Tom Wilson and engineered by Roy Halee. The cover and the label include the subtitle exciting new sounds in the folk tradition. Recorded in March 1964, the album was released on October 19.

<i>Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme</i> 1966 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is the third studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Produced by Bob Johnston, the album was released on October 24, 1966, in the United States by Columbia Records. Following the success of the re-release of their debut single "The Sound of Silence", Simon & Garfunkel regrouped after a time apart while Columbia issued their second album, a rushed collection titled Sounds of Silence. For their third album, the duo spent almost three months in the studio working on instrumentation and production.

<i>The Paul Simon Songbook</i> 1965 studio album by Paul Simon

The Paul Simon Songbook is the debut solo studio album by Paul Simon. It was released in the UK in 1965. It was made available in the US as part of the LP box set Paul Simon: Collected Works (1981). The album was produced by Reginald Warburton and Stanley West as Columbia/CBS Records LP BPG 62579 in the UK; remastered CD Columbia/Legacy/SME CK 90281.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sound of Silence</span> Song by Simon & Garfunkel

"The Sound of Silence" is a song by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon. The duo's studio audition of the song led to a record deal with Columbia Records, and the original acoustic version was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia's 7th Avenue Recording Studios in New York City for their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., released that October to disappointing sales. An overdubbed electric remix was released the following year and went to number one on the Billboard singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am a Rock</span> 1965 song written by Paul Simon

"I Am a Rock" is a song written by Paul Simon. It was first performed by Simon as the opening track on his album The Paul Simon Songbook which he originally recorded and released in August 1965, only in the United Kingdom. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, as the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, re-recorded it on December 14, 1965, and included as the final track on their album Sounds of Silence, which they released on January 17, 1966. It was released as a single in 1966, and subsequently included as the B-side of the 1971 A-side reissue of "The 59th Street Bridge Song ".

<i>Paul Simons Concert in the Park</i> 1991 live album by Paul Simon

Paul Simon's Concert in the Park is a live album and concert film recorded by Paul Simon as part of his 1991-92 "Born at the Right Time" Tour, with an extensive live backing band comprising top studio and touring musicians as well as a guest appearance at the start by the Brazilian percussion group Olodum. The concert took place in New York City’s Central Park on August 15, 1991, and was broadcast live on the HBO television network as well as being recorded for audio and video release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mrs. Robinson</span> 1968 single by Simon & Garfunkel

"Mrs. Robinson" is a song by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fourth studio album, Bookends (1968). The writing of the song was begun before the 1967 film The Graduate, which contained only fragments of it. The full song was released as a single on April 5, 1968, by Columbia Records. Produced by Simon & Garfunkel and Roy Halee, the song was written by Paul Simon, who offered parts of it to movie director Mike Nichols alongside Art Garfunkel after Nichols rejected two other songs intended for the film. The Graduate's soundtrack album uses two short versions of "Mrs. Robinson". The song was additionally released on the Mrs. Robinson EP in 1968, which also includes three other songs from the film: "April Come She Will", "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", and "The Sound of Silence".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up from the Skies</span> 1968 single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

"Up from the Skies" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix. Recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967, it was released on their second album Axis: Bold as Love. The lyrics reflect Hendrix's interest in science fiction and relate an extraterrestrial visitor's curiosity about life on Earth. Musically, it incorporates elements of jazz, particularly in drummer Mitch Mitchell's use of brushes.

<i>Sounds of Silence</i> 1966 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Sounds of Silence is the second studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on January 17, 1966. The album's title is a slight modification of the title of the duo's first major hit, "The Sound of Silence", which originally was released as "The Sounds of Silence". The song had earlier been released in an acoustic version on the album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., and later on the soundtrack to the movie The Graduate. Without the knowledge of Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel, electric guitars, bass and drums were overdubbed under the direction of Columbia Records staff producer Tom Wilson on June 15, 1965. This new version was released as a single in September 1965, and opens the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Hazy Shade of Winter</span> 1966 single by Simon & Garfunkel

"A Hazy Shade of Winter" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on October 22, 1966, initially as a stand-alone single, but subsequently included on the duo's album Bookends (1968). It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" is a 1966 song by Paul Simon released on Simon & Garfunkel's album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, and as a B-side of "The Dangling Conversation", which charted at number 25 on Billboard's Hot 100. It is a commentary on advertising.

<i>Bridge over Troubled Water</i> 1970 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Bridge over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on January 26, 1970, by Columbia Records. Following the duo's soundtrack for The Graduate, Art Garfunkel took an acting role in the film Catch-22, while Paul Simon worked on the songs, writing all tracks except Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's "Bye Bye Love".

"April Come She Will" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their second studio album, Sounds of Silence (1966). It originally appeared on the solo album The Paul Simon Songbook. It is the B-side to the hit single "Scarborough Fair/Canticle". It is included on The Graduate soundtrack album and was additionally released on the "Mrs. Robinson" EP in 1968, together with three other songs from The Graduate film: "Mrs. Robinson", "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", and "The Sound of Silence".

"So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" is a song written by Paul Simon that was originally released on Simon & Garfunkel's 1970 album Bridge over Troubled Water. It has since been released on several Simon & Garfunkel compilation albums. It has also been recorded by the London Pops Orchestra and Joe Chindamo trio. Art Garfunkel, who had studied architecture, requested that Simon write a song about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Simon knew little about Wright, so just used his name as a substitute and instead wrote a nostalgic song about Garfunkel. Garfunkel sings lead on the majority of the song while Simon sings on the bridge.

"Overs" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fourth studio album, Bookends (1968).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sit Yourself Down</span> 1971 single by Stephen Stills

"Sit Yourself Down" is a song written by Stephen Stills that was released on his 1970 solo debut album Stephen Stills. It was also released as the second single from the album, following the Top 20 hit "Love the One You're With." and reached the Top 40, peaking at #37.

"Kathy's Song" is a song originally by Paul Simon from his 1965 debut album The Paul Simon Songbook. It was re-recorded for Simon & Garfunkel's second album Sounds of Silence, released in 1966. It has been described as one of Simon's most personal songs; it is dedicated to Kathy Chitty, Simon's girlfriend and muse during his mid-1960s sojourn in England. It has also been included on most compilation albums of the duo, such as Tales from New York: The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel, The Essential Simon and Garfunkel and Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ro Ro Rosey</span> 1967 single by Van Morrison

"Ro Ro Rosey" is a song written by Van Morrison that was written and recorded for Bang Records owner and producer Bert Berns and released on his 1967 album Blowin' Your Mind!. It was also released as the follow-up single to "Brown Eyed Girl."

"Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall" is a song by the American musician Paul Simon, later re-recorded by Simon & Garfunkel for their third studio album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.

References

  1. ↑ "Leaves That Are Green - Simon & Garfunkel | Song Info | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ↑ "The Paul Simon Songbook - Paul Simon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Thompson, Dave (2019). Paul Simon FAQ. Backbeat. pp. 42, 53, 257. ISBN   9781493050758.
  4. ↑ "Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 5, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  6. ↑ Greenwald, Matthew. "Leaves That Are Green". Allmusic. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Laura (April 2004). Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography. Kensington. p. 73. ISBN   9780806525396.
  8. ↑ Bonca, Cornel (2014). Paul Simon: An American Tune. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 29, 31. ISBN   9780810884823.
  9. ↑ Williams, Paul (2002). The Crawdaddy! Book: Writings (and Images) from the Magazine of Rock. Hal Leonard. p. 12. ISBN   9780634029585.
  10. ↑ Browne, David (2012). Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970. Hachette. ISBN   9780306822131.
  11. 1 2 Charlesworth, Chris (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel. Omnibus Press. p. 19. ISBN   0711955972.
  12. ↑ "Simon & Garfunkel: 18 best songs". The Daily Telegraph . July 5, 2017.
  13. ↑ Unterberger, Richie (2003). Eight Miles High: Folk-rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock. Backbeat. ISBN   9780879307431.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. March 6, 1971. p. 45. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  15. ↑ Hage, Erik. "Bluegrass Evolution". Allmusic. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.