So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright

1970 song by Simon & Garfunkel

"So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright"

Song by Simon & Garfunkel
from the album  Bridge over Troubled Water
Released| January 26, 1970 (1970-01-26)
Recorded| October 28, 1969
Genre|

* Baroque pop
* folk rock
* soft rock[1]
* bossa nova

Length| 3:41
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| Paul Simon
Producer(s)|

* Paul Simon
* Art Garfunkel
* Roy Halee

"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.[2] It has also been recorded by the London Pops Orchestra and Joe Chindamo trio.[2] 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.[3] Garfunkel sings lead on the majority of the song while Simon sings on the bridge.

## Background

[edit]

The lyrics of "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" reference the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who died in 1959.[4] Art Garfunkel had studied to become an architect.[4][5][6] While Garfunkel sings the song's fadeout to the words "so long," producer and engineer Roy Halee is heard on the recording calling out "So long already Artie!"[4][5] Other lines in the song refer to the songwriter having "barely learned the tune," and to the nights when an unspecified "we" would "harmonize 'til dawn."[5][6] The author comments that "When I run dry, I'll stop awhile and think of you".[5]

The accompaniment includes congas, strings, a flute uncredited on the liner notes, bass and a classical guitar part played in bossa nova style, primarily using seventh chords.[5][7] The song has a stately melody and the tune incorporates varied rhythms and syncopations.[4][5] The song's key modulates at the end of the first bridge from G-flat major to G major.[5] 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."[8] Author Walter Everett suggests that the repeating note section of the bridge, about one minute into the song, effectively suggests the ordinariness of other architects, and also suggests some of Wright's architectural signatures.[7]

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, "I find that a secretive and unpleasant thing to have done to you."[9] However, he has come to terms with the song, as he states in the liner notes to his 2012 compilation The Singer, in which "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" was included, further stating that he can ignore this subtext, since the song is "just so much fun to sing," and writes about Paul Simon, that "one loves the giver of a beautiful gift."

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Eddy, Chuck (22 March 1997). "Refried Dreams". The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 185\. ISBN 0-306-80741-6.
2. ^ a b So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright by Simon & Garfunkel - Track Info | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-12
3. ^ Cornel Bonca (2014). Paul Simon: An American Tune. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54\. ISBN 9780810884823.
4. ^ a b c d Charlesworth, C (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel. Omnibus Press. p. 50\. ISBN 0-7119-5597-2.
5. ^ a b c d e f g Bennighof, J (2007). The Words and Music of Paul Simon. Greenwood. pp. 41–48\. ISBN 978-0-275-99163-0.41-48&rft.pub=Greenwood&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-0-275-99163-0&rft.au=Bennighof,+J&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:So+Long,+Frank+Lloyd+Wright" class="Z3988">
6. ^ a b Jackson, L (2004). Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography. Citadel Press. p. 130\. ISBN 978-0-8065-2539-6.
7. ^ a b Everett, W (2008). The foundations of rock: from "Blue suede shoes" to "Suite: Judy blue eyes". Oxford University Press. pp. 178, 254. ISBN 978-0-19-531023-8.
8. ^ Rodgers, JP (2000). Rock Troubadours. Hal Leonard. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-1-890490-37-9.
9. ^ Adair, Tom (12 February 2000). "The Bridge too far". The Scotsman.

* v
* t
* e

Simon & Garfunkel

* Paul Simon
* Art Garfunkel

Studio albums|

* Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
* Sounds of Silence
* Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
* Bookends
* Bridge over Troubled Water

Live albums|

* The Concert in Central Park
* Live from New York City, 1967
* Old Friends: Live on Stage
* Live 1969

Compilation albums|

* Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
* The Simon and Garfunkel Collection
* 20 Greatest Hits
* The Definitive Simon and Garfunkel
* The Best of Simon and Garfunkel
* Two Can Dream Alone
* Tales from New York: The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel
* Tom & Jerry
* The Essential Simon & Garfunkel

Box sets|

* Collected Works
* Old Friends
* The Columbia Studio Recordings (1964–1970)
* The Collection: Simon & Garfunkel
* Simon & Garfunkel: The Complete Albums Collection

Soundtrack albums|

* The Graduate

Videos|

* The Concert in Central Park
* Old Friends: Live on Stage

Discographies|

* Simon & Garfunkel
* Art Garfunkel
* Paul Simon

Other|

* Songs recorded
* Paul Simon solo albums
* Paul Simon songs
* Art Garfunkel solo albums
* Bridge over Troubled Water (Paul Desmond album)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Simon & Garfunkel singles

* Discography
* List of songs recorded

Sounds of Silence|

* "The Sound of Silence" / "We've Got a Groovey Thing Goin'"
* "I Am a Rock" / "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall"

Parsley, Sage,
Rosemary and Thyme|

* "Homeward Bound" / "Leaves That Are Green"
* "The Dangling Conversation" / "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine"
* "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" / "April Come She Will"

Bookends|

* "A Hazy Shade of Winter" / "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her"
* "At the Zoo" / "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
* "Fakin' It" / "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies"
* "Mrs. Robinson" / "Old Friends" / "Bookends"

Bridge over
Troubled Water|

* "The Boxer" / "Baby Driver"
* "Bridge over Troubled Water" / "Keep the Customer Satisfied"
* "Cecilia" / "The Only Living Boy in New York"
* "El Cóndor Pasa (If I Could)" / "Why Don't You Write Me"

Other singles|

* "America"
* "My Little Town"
* "Wake Up Little Susie"

Other songs|

* "Richard Cory"
* "Patterns"
* "A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)"
* "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night"
* "Save the Life of My Child"
* "Overs"
* "Punky's Dilemma"
* "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright"
* "Voices of Old People"

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Frank Lloyd Wright

List of works

Personal homes|

* Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
* Taliesin
* Taliesin West

Private houses|

* Adams, M.
* Adams, W. and J.
* Adelman
* Affleck
* Allen–Lambe
* Alsop
* Arnold
* Bach
* Bachman–Wilson
* Baird
* Baker
* Balch
* Baldwin
* Barton
* Bazett
* Beachy
* Becker
* Blair
* Blossom
* Bogk
* Boulter
* Boynton
* Bradley
* Brandes
* Broad Margin
* Brown
* Buehler
* Bulbulian
* Charnley–Norwood
* Charnley–Persky
* Cheney
* Christie
* Cooke
* Coonley
* Copeland
* Crimson Beech
* Dana–Thomas
* Davidson
* Davis
* DeRhodes
* Dobkins
* Ennis
* Fabyan
* Fallingwater
* Fawcett
* Forest
* Foster
* Fountainhead
* Freeman
* Fredrick
* Fricke
* Friedman
* Fukuhara
* G. Furbeck
* R. Furbeck
* Gale, L.
* Gale, T.
* Gale, W.
* Gerts
* Gilmore
* Gillin
* Glasner
* Goetsch–Winckler
* Gordon
* Grant
* Graycliff
* Gridley
* Hanna–Honeycomb
* Hardy
* Haynes
* Heath
* Heller
* Henderson
* Heurtley
* Hickox
* Hills
* Hoffman
* Hollyhock
* Jacobs I
* Jacobs II
* Johnson
* Jones
* Kalil
* Keland
* Kentuck Knob
* Keys
* Kinney
* Kraus
* Lamberson
* Lamp
* Laurent
* Levin
* Lewis, G.
* Lewis, L.
* Lykes
* Manson
* Marden
* D. D. Martin
* W. E. Martin
* May
* McBean
* McCarthy
* Millard
* Miller
* Millard, G.
* Moore
* Mosher
* Mossberg
* Murphy
* Neils
* Olfelt
* Palmer
* Pappas
* Parker
* Pauson
* Penfield
* Peterson Cottage
* Pew
* Pope–Leighey
* Rayward
* Rebhuhn
* Reisley
* Richardson
* Roberts
* Robie
* Roloson
* Rosenbaum
* Rudin
* Samara
* Sander
* Schaberg
* Schwartz
* Serlin
* Shavin
* Smith, G. W.
* Smith, M.
* Smith, R.
* Sondem
* Spencer
* Staley
* Stockman
* Storer
* Stromquist
* Sturges
* Sullivan
* Sunday
* Sutton
* Sweeton
* Tan-Y-Deri
* Thaxton
* Thomas
* Tomek
* Tonkens
* Tracy
* Trier
* Turkel
* Wall
* Walker
* Walser
* Walter
* Westcott
* Westhope
* Weltzheimer
* Willey
* Williams
* Willits
* Wingspread
* Winslow
* Woolley
* Wright, D. and G.
* Wright, D. and J.
* Wright, R.
* Wynant
* Yamamura
* Young
* Zeigler
* Zimmerman

Housing systems|

* American System-Built Homes
* Erdman Prefab Houses
* Fireproof House for $5000
* Galesburg Country Homes
* Ravine Bluffs Development
* Suntop Homes
* Usonia Homes
* Textile block house

Other|

* Anderton Court Shops
* Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
* Arizona Biltmore Hotel
* Auldbrass Plantation
* Banff National Park Pavilion
* Beth Sholom Synagogue
* Child of the Sun at Florida Southern College
* Community Christian Church
* Como Orchard Summer Colony
* Coonley School Playhouse
* E-Z Polish Factory
* Eddie's House
* Fasbender Medical Clinic
* German Warehouse
* Guggenheim Museum
* Hillside Home School I
* Hillside Home School II
* Hoffman Auto Showroom
* Horse Show Fountain
* Humphreys Theater
* Imperial Hotel
* Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School
* Johnson Wax Headquarters
* Kundert Medical Clinic
* Lake Mendota Boathouse
* Lamp Cottage
* Larkin Administration Building
* Lawrence Memorial Library (Springfield, Illinois)
* Lindholm Service Station
* Lockridge Medical Clinic
* Marin County Civic Center
* Midway Barn
* Midway Gardens
* Riverview Terrace Restaurant
* Roberts Stable
* Rookery Building
* Romeo and Juliet Windmill
* Park Inn Hotel
* Pettit Chapel
* Pilgrim Congregational Church
* Price Tower
* Frank L. Smith Bank
* Teater Studio
* Unitarian Society Meeting House
* Unity Chapel
* Unity Temple
* V. C. Morris Gift Shop
* Waller Apartments
* Wyoming Valley School

Posthumous|

* Blue Sky Mausoleum
* Gammage Memorial Auditorium
* King Kamehameha Golf Course Clubhouse
* Massaro House
* Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
* Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center

Unbuilt|

* Broadacre City
* Crystal Heights
* Gordon Strong Automobile Objective
* The Illinois
* Plan for Greater Baghdad
* Point Park Civic Center

Related|

* Taliesin Associated Architects
* Wasmuth Portfolio
* Prairie School
* Wright Building Conservancy
* Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District
* UNESCO World Heritage Site
* Usonia

People|

* Olgivanna Lloyd Wright (3rd wife)
* Lloyd Wright (son)
* John Lloyd Wright (son)
* Anne Baxter (granddaughter)
* Eric Lloyd Wright (grandson)
* Maginel Wright Enright (sister)
* Richard Bock (associate)
* Mamah Borthwick (client and lover)
* Marion Griffin (associate)
* Walter Burley Griffin (associate)
* George Mann Niedecken
* Jaroslav Josef Polívka (associate)

Popular culture|

* The Last Wright: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Park Inn Hotel
* Shining Brow
* Loving Frank
* "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright"
* Work Song: Three Views of Frank Lloyd Wright
* The Women
* The Wright 3

* Commons
* Wikinews
* Wikiquote

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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