And when I awoke and felt you warm and near/
I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears.
Simon & Garfunkel’s “For Emily Wherever I May Find Her” tells a great story of the narrator’s crazy, wonderful dream. We know it is a dream–Simon tells us in the first line. In the dream the narrator walks down empty streets and alleys with closed shops. The scene is picturesque. He hears cathedral bells in the distance. What is going on?
The streets turn into a frosty field an in it he sees his love, Emily. She is beautiful. She runs to him; they embrace, then hold hands as they walk through the fields. He has never been happier. But then he awakes!
He sits up and turns in bed. He sees Emily is sleeping beside him. His real life is better than his dream–as the woman he loves is sleeping next to him. A tear runs down his cheek as he gives her a kiss and tells Emily that he loves her.
It is amazing how dream-like Simon’s guitar intro sounds. The intro transports us into his dream. We walk the endless streets and see Emily. As he awakes the pace of the guitar quickens to the reveal. All of this is accomplished with just an acoustic guitar. In this live version it is astonishing how much sound can be produced with just Simon’s acoustic guitar and Garfunkel’s voice.
Garfunkel’s vocals are spectacular. They are dynamic. They capture the sensitive dream-like state at the beginning of the song and erupt into the euphoria upon the reveal. Garfunkel has one of the best male voices. For Emily Wherever I May Find Her is one of the best and most underrated love songs. This is Simon & Garfunkel at their best.
For Emily Wherever I May Find Her Lyrics
What I dream I had
Pressed in organdy.
Clothed in crinoline
Of smoky Burgundy,
Softer than the rain.
I wandered empty streets down,
past the shop displays.
I heard cathedral bells
Tripping down the alley ways.
As I walked on…
And when you ran to me
Your cheeks flushed with the night.
We walked on frosted fields
of juniper and lamplight.
I held your hand.
And when I awoke,
And felt you warm and near.
I kissed your honey hair
With my grateful tears.
Oh I love you girl.
Oh I love you!
written by Paul Simon