Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel

Album: Bookends

The lyrics show the current situation of public figures in America in the 60’s, and how they were perceived by the public. They portray the way in which the media treats celebrities when they are big: their personal life gets invaded, resulting in them having to hide for society not to judge them. The last verse illustrates the image of a citizen watching a presidential debate as if it was a talk show, with candidates as celebrities, being there for their entertainment.

The song was written before it was chosen as part of the soundtrack to The Graduate, and it was supposed to be called Ms. Roosevelt. The references to this character and to Joe DiMaggio in the chorus section show a yearning for celebrities and political figures of the past, and how they acted towards the fame they had. These public figures, who from the start, kept their private lives, quietly making big contributions in their respective fields. The loss of people like this in the context of one of the most important and tumultuous decades in American history is what is at the core of this track.

The vocal harmonies are the highlights throughout the song, with the two vocalists perfectly synchronized to create the atmosphere they need in each section. While in the chorus they display a celebratory melody, in the verses, the tone gets darker and more private, as if they were trying to tell a secret to the listener.

The instruments follow the vocal melodies: they play a very catchy tune in the chorus that goes along with the chanting of the two lead singers. Then, when the chorus stops, the percussion and the bass become more prominent, the guitars have a very intimate feel to them. These sections sound as if the players were improvising the melody, and they flow spontaneously, especially in the outro of the song. It is a very well-crafted song, a classic folk rock track very representative of the sounds popular in the 60’s.