The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" is a song by folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon and originally released on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.[4] Its title derives from the 59th Street Bridge (formally known then as the Queensboro Bridge, later renamed the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge), which is a bridge of New York City that was completed in 1909.[5] Cash Box called it a "sparkling, spirited lid."[6]

"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
1971 single release, where "The 59th Street Bridge Song" was given the A-side
Single by Simon and Garfunkel
from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Recorded16 August 1966 (1966-08-16)
GenreFolk rock
Length1:43[1]/1:53 (later fade out)[2][3]
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Paul Simon
Producer(s)Bob Johnston
Simon and Garfunkel singles chronology
"El Condor Pasa (If I Could)"
(1970)		 "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
(1967)		 "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her (Live)"
(1972)

The studio version features Dave Brubeck Quartet members Joe Morello (drums) and Eugene Wright (double bass). Footage of Simon and Garfunkel performing the song at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is featured in the film Monterey Pop. During his 2018 farewell tour, Simon "penalized" himself for wrongly performing the lyrics to another song by singing this song, which he confesses to hating.[7]

The song's original released length is 1:43, but subsequent remasters, included on later reissues of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Tyme and such compilations as Old Friends,[8] Tales from New York: The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel,[9] and The Essential Simon & Garfunkel,[10] have a longer fade-out at 1:53.

The theme song to the American children's television program H.R. Pufnstuf, originally composed by Sid and Marty Krofft, was found to closely mimic "The 59th Street Bridge Song" after Simon sued for plagiarism; his writing credit was subsequently added to the theme for H.R. Pufnstuf.[11][12]

59th Street Bridge, seen from Manhattan, in 2010

Covers and performances
  • The cover version of the 1969 album Switched-On Rock by the Electronic group "The Moog Machine" was used as the theme for Dr. Chapatín, a character created by Chespirito.[15]
  • In 1991, Harpers Bizarre's cover of the song was featured in an episode of The Wonder Years (season 5, episode 10), "Pfeiffer's Choice".[16]
  • The song was used in a 2003 series of Gap commercials featuring R&B/soul singers Angie Stone and Mýa.[17]
  • The song was used in the first season of US TV series Desperate Housewives, during a scene where Lynette Scavo hallucinates her own suicide.
  • In an episode of The Simpsons (season 6, episode 25) titled "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)", Mr. Burns alludes to the song, saying, "Hello lamppost, whatcha knowin'? I've come to watch your power flowin'."[18]
  • The song was used in the trailer for Hal Ashby's 1975 comedy-drama Shampoo for which Paul Simon composed the original score.
  • The song was used in the season 3 premiere of The Leftovers (season 3, episode 1) called "The Book of Kevin". Protagonist Kevin Garvey asphyxiates himself with plastic wrap and duct tape in his room as the song plays.[19]
  • A variant of the song was performed by Paul Simon and Stephen Colbert as the opening segment for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 25, 2017.[20]
  • In a season 1 episode of Animaniacs entitled "The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special", during an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show the song is parodied as "Make a Gookie", in which Wakko encourages the general public to be humorous and make silly faces.

References
  1. "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - Simon & Garfunkel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  2. "Tales from New York - the Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel". Spotify. 28 March 2000.
  3. "The Essential Simon & Garfunkel". Spotify. 14 October 2003.
  4. "Simon & Garfunkel - The 59Th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy): Comentarios de canciones". AlohaCriticón (in European Spanish). 27 October 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) - 59th Street Bridge, New York". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  6. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 4 March 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. "Paul Simon wraps up farewell tour back home". CBC News. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  8. "Simn & Garfunkel - Old Friends | Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. "Simon & Garfunkel - The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel: Tales from New York | Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. "Simon & Garfunkel - The Essential Simon & Garfunkel | Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. PUFNSTUF (1970, U.S.) Archived January 17, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "H.R. Pufnstuf (1969–1970): Trivia", IMDB.com. Accessed Sept. 16, 2017.
  13. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 111.
  14. Tori Amos Song Summary
  15. Rojas, Anita (20 June 2017). "La música de Chespirito". La Rata (in Spanish). p. larata.cl. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  16. "S5E10: Pfeiffer's Choice - The Wonder Years Soundtrack". Tunefind. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  17. Mack, Ann M. (28 February 2003). "Laird's Gap Is 'Groovy' for Spring". AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  18. Mark Pentleton (2 May 2015). "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)". Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  19. Cook-Wilson, Winston (17 April 2017). "In season 3 of the Leftovers, everyone is waiting around to die". Spin. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  20. "Paul Simon And Stephen Colbert Are 'Feelin' Groovy'". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
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