Simon & Garfunkel: 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) Meaning

Song Released: 1968

59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) Lyrics

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feeling groovy.

Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feeling Groovy.

Hello lamp-post,
What'cha knowing?
I've come to watch...

1. anonymous

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   Apr 18th 2023 !⃝

   don't overthink this. it's just a happy song about stepping away from the hassle of everyday. That's Eugene Wright (bass) and Joe Morello (drums) from the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
   
2. justsomeguy09

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   Mar 30th 2023 !⃝

   Everybody is saying this is a 70's song, and the post states that it was released in 1968, but this song was released on the 1966 album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme". It's a nice little account of a Paul Simon wake-n-bake. Smoking a morning J and taking a stroll across the bridge between Queens and Manhattan,just grooving and feeling good.
   
3. anonymous

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   Jun 4th 2021 !⃝

   You really need someone to interpret this? The song is more 70's shyte about getting high. You're a moron if you think otherwise.
4. anonymous

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   Nov 21st 2018 !⃝

   The historical facts behind this song are as follows. The police department confiscated large quantities of marijuana in a time when people were still naive to the affects of setting ablaze this amount of weed. It was burned near the 59th st bridge. (Perhaps under a bridge up wind) Thus the song is called 59th street bridge and not “Feeling Groovy”
5. anonymous

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   Mar 31st 2018 !⃝

   Decades ago I heard a Sermon that was written around this song, probably the best sermon I've ever heard, and as far as I'm concerned the best song ever written in the history of time. It generally follows the same message as Matthew 6 even though it isn't a religious song. I'll bet every culture has ah "Feelin Groovy " song to fall back on. This was ours!
6. anonymous

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   Jan 18th 2018 !⃝

   What's the betting they were high as kites when they wrote this? Well, it was the 70's!! Peace out, Man!!
7. anonymous

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   Aug 21st 2015 !⃝

   Jonah Falcon is right. In fact, both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel confirmed this. Anyone from New York City knows this.
8. anonymous

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   Apr 22nd 2014 !⃝

   Life can be "groovy" when you manage to get out of the grove you are stuck in. Its not saying duck out of responsibilities, but if there's nothing you need to or can do right now, choose to do something different. So slow down, look at the flowers, allow yourself to act "out of character", take risks, talk to strangers, even strange objects like lamp-posts.
9. anonymous

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   Jan 7th 2012 !⃝

   This song is about living life to the full and not letting depressing daily routines slow you down. The song implies that people should trust their instincts and follow their ambitions, and have fun while they're doing so, "kicking down the cobble stones, looking for fun and feeling groovy". The song also suggests that people can survive on their own by trusting nature and having a positive attitude, "let the morning time drop all its petals on me, life I love you, all is groovy.
10. anonymous

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    Nov 24th 2011 !⃝

    No long or deep explanation is needed for this song. It is simply and brilliantly about slowing down and enjoying life. Instead of rushing around in a world of "have to," take your time and enjoy life all around you, watch the flowers grow.
11. anonymous

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    Sep 15th 2011 !⃝

    Within the context of the rest of the album this song sounds extremely sarcastic. All the joyful references are disparaging a peaceful utopia that will never exist.
12. anonymous

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    Feb 11th 2011 !⃝

    From 59th st don't you reach Manhattan from Brooklyn, crossing the river? Could the singer be going into NYC for a day of fun? Where are the cobblestones he kicks down on his way?
13. anonymous

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    May 18th 2008 !⃝

    This is also a social commentary on the counter culture movement during the 60's. The wide spread belief was to just enjoy life and not worry. The protagonist is most likely high. This can be seen when he starts talking to the lamp post.
14. anonymous

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    Apr 29th 2008 !⃝

    This song is not about the lack of communication but it simply celebrates and praises life in general- 'life I love you'. a very rejoiceful tone is integrated with the language; one can discern the composer's joy by the way he commends simple inanimate objects and interacts with them- 'hello lampost...'- which reflects the songwriter's sense of composure or psychological tranquility. He celebrates and talks about how nobody is effectively imposing any responsibilities or obligations on us. 'i got no...promises to keep'- another means of expressing his joy.
15. JonahFalcon

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    May 19th 2006 !⃝

    The song, like most Simon & Garfunkel songs, is about lack of communication, this time taking place during a traffic jam on the 59th Street Bridge in Manhattan, which happens frequently during a morning rush hour going to work. During a traffic jam, drivers are trying to drive fast even though it's physically impossible to go anywhere -- and no one communicates during a jam, even though there's nothing going on. The protagonist is begging the listener to enjoy the delay -- essentially, "We're stuck here. Let's talk!", comparing the stolid listenr to a "lamp post". The jam removes all obligations ("I've got no deeds to do, no promises to keep") and even affords a chance to take a snooze. The protagonist is insisting that a traffic jam is to be savored as a gift, not a hindrance.

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