So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
Encyclopedia
"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
has stated that the origin of the song came from his request that Paul Simon write a song about the famous architect
Frank Lloyd Wright
. Simon has stated that he wrote the song despite not knowing who Frank Lloyd Wright was.
The lyrics of "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" have multiple meanings. On one level, the song praises the famous architect, who died in 1959. However, the lyrics also refer to the upcoming breakup of the Simon and Garfunkel duo. Art Garfunkel had studied to become an architect, so on this level the lyrics can be taken as a farewell from Paul Simon to his friend and partner Garfunkel like another song on Bridge Over Troubled Water, "The Only Living Boy in New York.
" While Garfunkel sings the song's fadeout to the words "so long," producer Roy Hallee is heard on the recording calling out "So long already Artie!" Other lyrics of the song refer to the creative process, such as referring to the singer not having learned the tune and to the nights when the singer and Frank Lloyd Wright would "harmonize 'til dawn." The lyrics also refer to the singer thinking of Wright when looking for inspiration.
The accompaniment includes conga
s, strings, a flute and a guitar part played in bossa nova
style, primarily using seventh chords. The song has a stately melody and the tune incorporates varied rhythm
s and syncopation
s. The song's key
alternates between G-flat major and G major
. Paul Simon has recalled that he had been listening to Brazilian music, probably Antônio Carlos Jobim
, when he wrote the tune for "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright." Author Walter Everett suggests that the repeating note section of the bridge
about one minute into the song effectively suggests the ordinariness other architects, and also suggests some of Wright's architectural signatures.
Garfunkel did not realise that Simon had intended the song to refer to their partnership until many years after the album had been released. In an interview he remarked that Simon "never let me in on that" secret. He added that "I find that a secretive and unpleasant thing to have done to you."
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
that was originally released on Simon & Garfunkel's 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water
Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
. It has since been released on several Simon & Garfunkel compilation albums. It has also been recorded by the London Pops Orchestra and Joe Chindamo
Joe Chindamo
Joe Chindamo is an Australian pianist and composer residing in Melbourne. In 2009, "Something Will Come to Light" , written by Chindamo, won the 'Jazz Work of the Year' at the Australasian Performing Right Association Awards, his "Moments and Eternities" was also nominated.His music has been used...
trio. Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
has stated that the origin of the song came from his request that Paul Simon write a song about the famous architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. Simon has stated that he wrote the song despite not knowing who Frank Lloyd Wright was.
The lyrics of "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" have multiple meanings. On one level, the song praises the famous architect, who died in 1959. However, the lyrics also refer to the upcoming breakup of the Simon and Garfunkel duo. Art Garfunkel had studied to become an architect, so on this level the lyrics can be taken as a farewell from Paul Simon to his friend and partner Garfunkel like another song on Bridge Over Troubled Water, "The Only Living Boy in New York.
The Only Living Boy In New York
"The Only Living Boy in New York" is a song written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon and Garfunkel. It is the eighth track from the American pop duo's fifth and final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water...
" While Garfunkel sings the song's fadeout to the words "so long," producer Roy Hallee is heard on the recording calling out "So long already Artie!" Other lyrics of the song refer to the creative process, such as referring to the singer not having learned the tune and to the nights when the singer and Frank Lloyd Wright would "harmonize 'til dawn." The lyrics also refer to the singer thinking of Wright when looking for inspiration.
The accompaniment includes conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s, strings, a flute and a guitar part played in bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
style, primarily using seventh chords. The song has a stately melody and the tune incorporates varied rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
s and syncopation
Syncopation
In music, syncopation includes a variety of rhythms which are in some way unexpected in that they deviate from the strict succession of regularly spaced strong and weak but also powerful beats in a meter . These include a stress on a normally unstressed beat or a rest where one would normally be...
s. The song's key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
alternates between G-flat major and G major
G major
G major is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp, F; in treble-clef key signatures, the sharp-symbol for F is usually placed on the first line from the top, though in some Baroque music it is placed on the first space from the bottom...
. Paul Simon has recalled that he had been listening to Brazilian music, probably Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
, when he wrote the tune for "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright." Author Walter Everett suggests that the repeating note section of the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
about one minute into the song effectively suggests the ordinariness other architects, and also suggests some of Wright's architectural signatures.
Garfunkel did not realise that Simon had intended the song to refer to their partnership until many years after the album had been released. In an interview he remarked that Simon "never let me in on that" secret. He added that "I find that a secretive and unpleasant thing to have done to you."