The Only Living Boy in New York

"The Only Living Boy in New York" is a song written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel. It is the eighth track from the duo's fifth and final studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water. The song was also issued as the B-side to the duo's "Cecilia" single. Background Simon wrote the song as a thinly veiled message to Art Garfunkel, referencing in the first stanza a specific incident where Garfunkel went to Mexico to act in the film Catch-22. Simon was left alone in New York writing songs for Bridge over Troubled Water, hence the very lonely feelings of "The Only Living Boy in New York." Simon refers to Garfunkel in the song as "Tom", alluding to their early days when they were called Tom and Jerry, and encourages him to "let your honesty shine . . . like it shines on me". The background vocals feature both Garfunkel and Simon recorded together in an echo chamber, multi-tracked around eight times. Personnel Paul Simon — lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar Art Garfunkel — backup and harmony vocals Joe Osborn — bass guitar Larry Knechtel — Hammond organ Fred Carter Jr. — acoustic guitar Hal Blaine — drums, triangle Covers The reggae hit "Weather Report", by the Tennors, was adapted from this song. This song was covered by the Coolies on their 1986 album dig..?, along with eight other tongue-in-cheek covers of Simon & Garfunkel classics. In 1992, British indie band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine parodied the title of the song for their biggest-selling single, "The Only Living Boy In New Cross". (New Cross is an area of south-east London.) A cover of the song was recorded by English musical duo Everything but the Girl for their greatest hits album Home Movies.