Reimagining a Classic: The Hidden Depths of Simon & Garfunkel’s “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright”
Among the lesser-highlighted gems from Simon & Garfunkel’s iconic 1970 album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, the track “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright” stands out for its intricate blend of Latin jazz influences and poetic lyricism. The song’s sultry rhythms and sophisticated harmonies draw heavily from the bossa nova style, with Paul Simon’s nylon-string guitar work serving as a compelling centerpiece. During a 1993 interview, Simon revealed that his inspiration for the song was sparked by his fascination with Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim, whose work he had been exploring around the time he penned the piece.
Decoding the Lyrics and Artistic Inspiration
The song’s lyrical narrative was initially inspired by Art Garfunkel’s interest in architecture, specifically the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Garfunkel, who had studied structural design at Columbia University, suggested the idea of writing a song about the renowned architect. However, the final lyrics seem to have evolved through a collaborative process between the duo, reflecting their shared musical chemistry-often described as “harmonizing until dawn”-rather than a direct homage solely to Wright himself.
Mastering the Guitar: Techniques and Transcriptions
The guitar segment, meticulously transcribed by Adam Perlmutter, is both challenging and rewarding to learn. It features complex chord voicings and unconventional changes that evoke the jazz-inflected style of bossa nova. Simon’s approach involves fingerpicking with multiple fingers, allowing for clarity and separation of individual notes-a hallmark of the genre. The piece is rooted in standard tuning, tuned down a half step, which adds to its tonal richness.
In the studio recording, Simon begins with E major chord shapes, which sound as E-flat due to the tuning adjustment. Midway through, the song modulates upward by a half step to accommodate a flute solo, the final verse, and the outro. During live performances, such as the legendary 1969 Carnegie Hall concert, Simon performed the piece without a capo, navigating the key change through open-string fingerings, making the piece more accessible for live renditions.
Performance Tips and Interpretations
To authentically capture the song’s essence, it’s recommended to adopt a fingerstyle technique, plucking individual strings with different fingers to articulate the intricate voicings. This approach mirrors the pianistic clarity characteristic of bossa nova, allowing each note and harmony to resonate distinctly. For additional inspiration, listeners and players alike can explore Madison Cunningham’s captivating solo rendition on her EP For the Sake of the Rhyme, which offers a fresh perspective on this classic piece.
Additional Resources and Notation
Due to copyright restrictions, detailed notation or tablature cannot be shared here. However, those with access to the July-August 2025 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine can find the complete sheet music and detailed instructions on page 51, providing a comprehensive guide for enthusiasts eager to master this piece.
This article was originally featured in the July/August 2025 edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
About the Author
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar, is a distinguished songwriter and author, recognized as a winner of the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. His publications include The Total Singer-Songwriter and Previous Strumming, among others. Beyond his editorial work, Rodgers conducts live workshops for guitarists and songwriters, offering video tutorials, song charts, and tablature through his Patreon platform, continuously inspiring musicians worldwide.
