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The iconic American folk duo, Simon and Garfunkel, is one of the most famous partnerships in the history of music. After first meeting at school in Queens, New York, in 1953, they went on to dominate the charts for more than 40 years. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel initially formed a pop duo called Tom and Jerry while at school. They had a chart hit, Hey Schoolgirl, in 1957, which sold 100,000 copies and peaked at Number 49 in the US Billboard Hot 100. On leaving school, they distanced themselves from their early teenybopper style and formed the credible folk group, Kane and Garr. They were spotted playing live at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich, by Tom Wilson, producer of Columbia records, who gave them a record deal under their real names. Hit records Following their first chart hit as Simon and Garfunkel (The Sound of Silence in 1964), they went on to enjoy a long and enduring career as a folk duo, with their most recent hit being the album, The Collection: Simon and Garfunkel, in November 2007. Despite being in the music industry for almost half a century, their popularity never waned. Releasing 24 albums and 26 singles in total, they continued to perform as a duo until 2010. Their most famous hits include The Sound of Silence, which was named the 18th most-performed song of the 20th century by Broadcast Music Inc in 1999. As the duo's first number one, it was ranked number 157 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Later, it was included in the National Recording Registry for long-term preservation in the Library of Congress in March 2013. Another big number one hit was Mrs Robinson in 1968, which was included on the soundtrack of the film, The Graduate, as Mrs Robinson was the name of the leading female character. It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and in 2004, it was voted number six in the American Film Institute's top 100 songs of the past century. Emotive lyrics Much of the appeal of Simon and Garfunkel's songs is the fact that people can personally relate to the lyrics. An early example of their emotive lyrics is The Sound of Silence, which is about feelings of loneliness and that no one is listening to you. Simon wrote the song when he was only 21 years old. He later explained he had written it in the solitude of the bathroom, where he wrote some of his best songs, at a time when he was experiencing "post-adolescent angst". He said its level of truth resonated with millions of people. In a similar way, the duo's 1966 single, A Hazy Shade of Winter, written by Simon, was more about the seasons of life than the weather. However, it was said that he wrote it while staying in England, when the gloomy winter weather may also have affected him! Looking back on life The song was more rock-tinged than some of their folk-influenced sounds and focused on the narrator looking back at what he had done with his life. The lyrics were very poignant, including a lament voiced by many people, wondering where their lives had gone. The narrator says, "Time, see what’s become of me - while I looked around for my possibilities, I was so hard to please." It was described as depicting the sort of reflections you might experience in the run-up to a significant birthday. You might start asking yourself if you had reached where you had hoped to be in life. It reminds people not to "look around" too much (wasting time and not actually doing anything) because one day, you'll realise "the leaves are brown, and the sky is a hazy shade of winter." It is a poignant song in this respect, as the narrator realises you can’t go back and do it all again. This part of your life has gone and for some people, this leads to them wondering, “What’s become of me?” The question can be self-defeating if you constantly beat yourself up about the things you did - or the things you wish you had done. If you keep telling yourself you've been foolish for letting someone you cared about slip through your fingers, or for not taking that special job, you will simply wallow in regret for the rest of your days. It's far better to wait until winter passes and then emerge invigorated in the spring - hence the words, "Look around, the grass is high, the fields are ripe, it's the springtime of my life." Despite its deep and somewhat melancholy overtones, Hazy Shade of Winter was a top 30 chart hit in the UK, the United States and New Zealand. Cover versions were released by The Bangles in 1987 and Gerard Way in January 2019 for the soundtrack of the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy. To date, Simon and Garfunkel have won ten Grammy Awards. Their album, Bridge over Troubled Water, released in 1977, was voted number 51 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 greatest all-time albums. The duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. If you're looking for high-quality, branded garments to brave the weather, MA Griggs has a large selection of winter clothing. Choose from walking boots or shoes and clothing from top brands, such as Hunter and Joules. Located in Cornwall, MA Griggs country store has everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors.