This track was included on their 1968 LP "Bookends", but not released as a single until August 1972. Although not one of their more successful numbers (highest ranking #25 in the UK, and only #53 in the US), it was still a masterpiece of wry, thoughtful and humourous lyric writing ("Laughing on the bus, Playing games with the faces, She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy, I said 'Be careful his bowtie is really a camera'").
Accompanied by some gentle folk-inspired instrumental backing (I can hear evidence here where an early David Bowie, for one, would have been influenced by Paul Simon's acoustic guitar stringwork), and all wrapped up neatly using high production values, it's my personal favourite from all their work.
S&G; did so many songs that have a lyric/sound conjunction that does the neck hair thing for me. This, 'The Boxer' & 'Bridge' of course. There should be science to explain this.
7 Comments (since 23 Jul 2012)
leejohnson
This track was included on their 1968 LP "Bookends", but not released as a single until August 1972. Although not one of their more successful numbers (highest ranking #25 in the UK, and only #53 in the US), it was still a masterpiece of wry, thoughtful and humourous lyric writing ("Laughing on the bus, Playing games with the faces, She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy, I said 'Be careful his bowtie is really a camera'").
leejohnson
Accompanied by some gentle folk-inspired instrumental backing (I can hear evidence here where an early David Bowie, for one, would have been influenced by Paul Simon's acoustic guitar stringwork), and all wrapped up neatly using high production values, it's my personal favourite from all their work.
pez
@leejohnson Mine too.
adrian4acn
S&G; did so many songs that have a lyric/sound conjunction that does the neck hair thing for me. This, 'The Boxer' & 'Bridge' of course. There should be science to explain this.
robbfritz
@adrian4acn Agreed about the neck hair thing with S&G.; But I sincerely hope science never explains it.
reded_produce
Beautiful
_ben_
I don't always go for S&G;, but this song is undeniable. So good.