Simon & Garfunkel, the iconic folk-rock duo, captivated the world with their harmonious melodies and poignant lyrics throughout the 1960s. Hits like “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” cemented their place in music history. However, at the peak of their success, the duo abruptly parted ways in 1970, leaving fans and the music industry in shock. Decades later, the question remains:
Recent insights from Paul Simon himself, featured in the MGM+ documentary series In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, shed light on the underlying tensions that led to the dissolution of this legendary partnership. According to Simon, a combination of creative imbalances and Art Garfunkel’s burgeoning acting aspirations created an unsustainable dynamic, ultimately fracturing their friendship and musical collaboration.
From Childhood Friends to Musical Partners
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s journey began in elementary school in Queens, New York City. Their shared passion for music blossomed into a performing duo by their teens, initially under the name Tom & Jerry. They navigated the early music industry together, experiencing initial setbacks before achieving breakthrough success in the mid-1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. Their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., released in 1964, initially struggled but later gained traction, setting the stage for their meteoric rise.
Art Garfunkel (left) and Paul Simon in 2003
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited in 2003, reflecting on their complex history as a duo.
Simon reflects in the documentary that their bond was strongest during the creation of Bridge Over Troubled Water, their fifth and final studio album, released in 1970. “We were really best friends up until Bridge over Troubled Water,” Simon recounts. However, the immense pressure and underlying issues that had been simmering beneath the surface began to boil over during and after this period. The “harmony of the friendship,” as Simon poignantly describes it, was irrevocably broken.
Creative Control and Unequal Footing
One of the fundamental fractures in the Simon & Garfunkel partnership stemmed from the imbalance in creative input. Paul Simon was the primary songwriter, crafting the lyrics and melodies that defined their signature sound. He also took the lead in studio sessions, directing the instrumental arrangements and overall musical direction.
As Simon explains, “We had an uneven partnership because I was writing all of the songs and basically running the sessions because I would say, ‘This is how it goes, and this is the guitar part, and you should be playing that on drums, and the bass should be doing this’.”
While Art Garfunkel’s contributions were vital in terms of his distinctive vocals and harmonies, the dynamic was inherently skewed. Garfunkel’s role was largely interpretive, bringing Simon’s vision to life through his vocal performance. This uneven distribution of creative power, while perhaps functional for a time, inevitably contributed to underlying tensions and resentment.
The Hollywood Detour: ‘Catch-22’ and the Breaking Point
The strain on their relationship intensified when Art Garfunkel decided to pursue an acting career. After their successful contribution to the soundtrack of Mike Nichols’s iconic film The Graduate in 1967, Garfunkel accepted a role in Mike Nichols’s next project, the film adaptation of Joseph Heller’s satirical war novel Catch-22.
Initially, the filming schedule was projected to be brief, around six weeks. However, the production encountered delays and extended far beyond the initial timeframe. This prolonged absence created significant disruption for Simon & Garfunkel’s musical plans.
Simon recalls Garfunkel’s proposition: “‘Yeah, the way it’s going to be is that I will do movies for six months, then I’ll come back, you’ll have written the songs, and we will do the album.'” For Simon, this proposition was unacceptable. He felt undermined and unwilling to put his creative life on hold indefinitely to accommodate Garfunkel’s acting ambitions.
The extended filming of Catch-22 became a major catalyst in their breakup. Simon felt abandoned and disregarded, while Garfunkel’s focus shifted, at least temporarily, away from their shared musical project. The geographical distance and diverging priorities further eroded their once-strong bond.
As Simon poignantly summarizes, the situation became “a recipe for the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel.” The clash of creative control, coupled with Garfunkel’s career detour, created irreparable fissures in their partnership.
The Lingering Impact of the Split
The documentary episode concludes with Simon expressing sadness over the disintegration of their friendship and musical partnership. “That was a good friendship,” Simon reflects. “That was a real first friendship of somebody that got it. For me, to turn into a person that I hope I never see again – that’s a long way.”
While Simon & Garfunkel have reunited for occasional performances over the years, the deep wounds from their breakup have never fully healed. Their story serves as a cautionary tale of how even the most successful and seemingly harmonious partnerships can crumble under the weight of creative differences, shifting priorities, and unresolved tensions. The legacy of Simon & Garfunkel’s music remains timeless, but the question of why Simon & Garfunkel broke up continues to resonate, reminding us of the complex dynamics that underpin even the most celebrated artistic collaborations.
