“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.”
Paul Simon, “Bookends” (text grouping by KPM)
There are only a handful of song lyrics that read as poetry, but I’ve always had an affinity for this one. Some of the affinity is personal – this was one of my father’s favorite songs, a song I once was summoned to the office to sing for him. From a poetic sense, the theme is familiar and the homily obvious. But the conversational simplicity of the writing and the unexpected balancing of ‘innocence” and ‘confidences’ are full of aching nostalgia.
Recent Comments