Art Garfunkel talks about Paul Simon, reads the poem "The Funeral," May 12, 2019

Art Garfunkel reads from his poem "The Funeral" about his long friendship with Paul Simon, and who will speak at whose funeral. He stops before finishing the poem, transitioning to a story about the next song in the set, which was "Homeward Bound." My apologies, but I only got two thirds of the song--my camera cuts off 4K videos at 5 minutes sharp--but I figured it'd be better to include some of the song rather than none. Recorded at the Uptown Theatre in Napa, California on May 12, 2019 during Garfunkel's Close-Up Tour.
==========================================
Who Will Speak At Whose Funeral?
When I said: "You’ll outlast me, you live more carefully.”
He said: “Write out what you want.”
Okay, it’s hard to say I knew him well,
He was enigmatic to himself.
Which of us was more aware?
Which the elder?
I was born November fifth.
He on October thirteenth - a few weeks premature, you following me?
He was born three weeks before me, my dear,
But he was a premature baby.
Were we both conceived at the same instant?
February 5th 1941, the dead middle of winter,
In the heart of World War Two
Was I born at the right time?
For seventy years his arm has been around my shoulder.
He’s dazzled me with gifts.
I nurtured him in his youth.
He brought me into prominence.
I taught him to sing.
He connected my voice to the world.
I made him tall.
All of our personal belongings are intertwined.
We say it’s exhausting to compete,
But we shine for each other.
It’s still our favorite game.
It goes on, this embrace, whether I speak for him, or he for me.
Love ruled our lives.
It rules the mourners,
And the winner of longevity.
================================
Art Garfunkel Close-Up Tour dates:
January 18, 2019 - Bijou Theater, Knoxville, TN
January 19, 2019 - Walker Theater, Chattanooga, TN
January 20, 2019 - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
February 20, 2019 - Parker Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
February 23, 2019 - Capitol Theater, Clearwater, FL
February 24, 2019 - Plaza Live, Orlando, FL
March 13, 2019 - Community Arts Center, Williamsport, PA
March 15, 2019 - State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
March 16, 2019 - Pfleeger Concert Hall, Glassboro, NJ
April 6, 2019 - New Theatre, Oxford, England
April 7, 2019 - Dome, Brighton, England
April 9, 2019 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge, England
April 11, 2019 - Cliffs Pavilion Southend, England
April 12, 2019 - St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales
April 14, 2019 - Lowry, Salford, England
April 15, 2019 - Philharmonic, Liverpool, England
April 17, 2019 - Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England
April 18, 2019 - Barbican, York, England
April 20, 2019 - Sage, Gateshead, England
April 21, 2019 - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
May 9, 2019 - Saban Theater, Los Angeles, CA
May 11, 2019 - MontBleu Casino & Spa, Lake Tahoe, CA
May 12, 2019 - Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA
May 16, 2019 - Fox Theater, Spokane, WA
May 18, 2019 - Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
May 19, 2019 - Moore Theater, Seattle, WA
May 30, 2019 - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, Ponte Vedra, FL
Jun 1, 2019 - Barbara Mann Hall, Ft. Myers, FL
Jul 24, 2019 - State Theatre Center, Easton, PA
Jul 25, 2019 - Hall For Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD
Jul 26, 2019 - Appell Center For The Arts, York, PA
Aug 10, 2019 - Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
Aug 11, 2019 - Suffolk Theater, Riverhead, NY
Oct 26, 2019 - Stadthalle, Rostock, Germany
Oct 28, 2019 - Laeizhalle, Hamburg, Germany
Oct 29, 2019 - Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
Oct 31, 2019 - Stadthalle, Cottbus, Germany
Nov 2, 2019 - Stadthalle, Chemnitz, Germany
Nov 3, 2019 - Kulturpalast, Dresden, Germany
Nov 5, 2019 - Philharmonie, München, Germany
Typo catcher: Art Garfunkle, Uptown Theater, Upton Theatre

[@TimBracken]

Thanks for watching my video. Here are all the videos I shot at this show: kzbin.info/aero/PLwdc0qZNx0tbECxpc5BQaJsKNuJvN7LFh . You might also enjoy the ones I shot at Paul Simon's concert 3 months later: kzbin.info/aero/PLwdc0qZNx0tYeZtdchjE49LhxdjA_jGdX . Note that most of Simon's songs were played with a 15-piece band, so it's a very different experience from this intimate show by Garfunkel.

[@frostylunetta]

Art Garfunkel has one of the most beautiful singing voices ever ❤

[@Catmom2004]

I am astonished at how his voice has remained so youthful! It is as though his gift is truly immortal. Thanks for the decades of beauty, Artie!

[@kenton6098]

I admire Art, but his voice is pretty far from youthful.

[@eneedham789]

He actually damaged it from years of smoking

[@johnscialfa7391]

@@eneedham789 it came way back...close your eyes...he sounds great

[@MissyQ12345]

Love him, but his voice is gone. Sad.

[@krollpeter]

@@MissyQ12345 since a long time already, because of smoking

[@nervo6321]

Just beautiful...broke me up when he started singing Homeward Bound...

[@ppumpkin3282]

I met Art Garfunkel once on a stroll in Central Park - just a nice easy going guy. Seemed really soulful.

[@oppothumbs1]

I guess he knows that Paul is slip slidin' away.

[@incognito4825]

Sail on.

[@user-jl7ym4en5b]

Art is underrated, although a critics and radio fave in his day. "Bridge" for example, is true poetry, but Art took it higher, made it soar.

[@kd6836]

He took a road trip around the country back in the nineties and went to a lot of small towns. My father talked with him at a restaurant here. Genuinely nice person

[@debrakish9659]

@@kd6836 what a thrill for your dad, I am sure! Do you remember anything in particular your dad told you about this meeting with Art?

[@sdgakatbk]

A couple months ago I was taking a walk on a bike path near where I live. There were three young men playing guitars and singing. I would guess their ages to be in their late teens to early 20's. I love it when I see musicians doing this kind of thing so I stopped to listen and talk with them. They started playing The Sound of Silence. I started singing with them, thanked them for playing something this 65 year old knew and went on my walk. Hearing Art sing Homeward Bound in this video it strikes me how much the music of Simon and Garfunkel are a part of America. The young men I saw playing on my walk could be the grand children of someone who was a child in the 60s. And they knew The Sound of Silence.

[@baumesindtoll.9408]

That really is a beautiful story. But i think that The sound of silence is a song, which the most people know. (Maybe even without knowing S&G).

[@esdee499]

He still had the voice. Wow...id still pay anything to see him sing.

[@RhythmsandRhymes]

Your "speech", prior to singing, brought tears to my eyes. May you, Paul, and your loved ones be blessed with the love your songs have brought to this world :)

[@steviemac2681]

He didn't finish it. The end is in the description if you didn't know.

[@ginakay2529]

No need to apologize, Tim Bracken. You've done a fantastic job putting these Art Garfunkel vids together. I am so very grateful. A million thanks !!!

[@jam-nc8ut]

Their friendship is so real - not perfection where they always love each other, they have all the ups and downs that life brings. But any relationship that lasts as long as theirs, is to be cherished. I'd love to hear the conversations little Paul and Artie had when they first met.

[@elguapo2737]

I think they hate each other. They haven't spoken for some time.

[@jam-nc8ut]

@@elguapo2737 but haven't they always gone through periods where they don't talk, before getting together again? I know they aren't likely to ever perform together in any way again, but I'm sure they'll enjoy each others company again, at least once more in their respective lifetimes.

[@patriciabarnes7034]

I wish the two of them could be friends again. I understand that they do not speak to each other anymore. 😔

[@finster1968]

Yeah, I don’t mean to be cynical…but I don’t know how real the friendship is. It’s more of a business arrangement now than anything else. That’s not a knock on either one of them. They simply know that performing together warms the heart of others, and makes them some money. So why not?? That doesn’t mean they enjoy each other’s company.

[@kalmia01]

..I would love as well so much to hear their old conversations as burning, highly intelligent, dinamic, curious kids in love with music, when they first met and started one of the most astonishing union, almost a fusion, in music 'n life❤

[@peterd788]

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel weren't even in the same country when Homeward Bound was written. Simon was living in England at the time and wrote it while waiting for a train to take him to his next gig.

[@musiccollector]

WOW! Even at his age, one of the greatest voices on the planet is so pristine! How many artists can match that?

[@bjl1000]

I saw Simon and Garfunkel perform at , Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster PA in 1968.

[@jmer9126]

Time it was And what a time it was, it was A time of innocence A time of confidences Long ago, it must be I have a photograph Preserve your memories They’re all that’s left you

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Old friends

[@michelleryan4712]

@@gbwildlifeuk8269 Simon and gar had awful bad feelings for each other at one stage, personally I think art was jealous of Paul's genius in writing, anyway apparently during this time art supposedly said to Simon, "well I'll always be taller than you" is that not the most ridiculous statement to ever come out of a grown man's mouth? Jealous or what.

[@ralphficker167]

@@michelleryan4712 How can you know? Depends on the context. Yes they were seriously on the outs for a long time, but Art's remark (if he even made it) could have been nothing but a good-natured barb. We can't know.

[@FBAV]

Beautiful of course, but I can get why Paul Simon would be terribly annoyed by this.... Nevermind we love you Arthur

[@caheddr]

Even though he said in an interview that he’s had to adjust his singing voice because of the changes, he still sounds amazing and I’d still go see a concert.😊

[@helpfulj7655]

He's one of the ones I want to be sitting with at the end around a camp fire. I love everything that is his voice.

[@coffeehigh420]

damn, his singing voice is still there. really amazing man this soul is!

[@ellepennell3706]

Art Garfunkel has such a golden voice. He ages so well. I have loved him since the first album came out. Never ever stoped.Still here listening every day. You keep singing and i will keep listening.

[@macintosh46]

Simon and Garfunkel have known each other since they were 10 years old!!

[@proveritate9312]

Forever special. I was sent to a hostel far away from home. I was 13. It was my first weekend away from home. I was so homesick and felt so alone ! It was 17 January 1970, mid morning. I turned my small radio on, and El Condor Pasa was announced. The melody is etched in my mind ! And i fell in love with Simon & Garfunkel. Whenever i hear the song, my mind vividly see myself standing alone in my room. Listening to the beautiful music that i did not want to stop. Because it took my sadness and loneliness away ! And my soul could experience their singing and appreciate it ! Arts voice soothes the mind and heart-strings ! His voice is soul food !! I bow my head for the privilege that i have to listen to their music and appreciate it !Shalom

[@philipgardiner2003]

Oh my God…his voice is even more beautiful and combined with the breadth of his humanity, wisdom and experience, it just seems to go deeper. ❤

[@urbanrider5406]

Friendship goes back years to memories only you and those friends will remember

[@forrestkim4828]

Gorgeous !!! Amazing ! Voice is not old yet ... wishing you stay as now ........

[@Colsoloact-po9wv]

I certainly hope they sing together again before one or the other leaves this earth! Artie sounding great...

[@DJ-bj8ku]

I love Art. He is what it means to be human.

[@justmadeit2]

The Art of Garfunkel and the Rhymin of Simon,the legendary duo, sure got good timing !

[@mailbox4820]

Still an amazing voice!

[@phylvalen9991]

Simon and Garfunkel have been my favourite musicians since I was twelve. I know every lyric of all your greatest hits albums and when I feel like a sing song even now at age 63...and for a bit I'll sing Paul's part and then swap over to yours Art. Your music will always be evergreen to us older folk. The youngsters will forever miss out. It's great seeing you still looking so good. And the same great voice. Thanks that I can still enjoy it. Forever a fan, Fil

[@tiagolacerda77]

What a voice!

[@shagilmanbedingfield1990]

Your voice makes me feel love, good, peace ❣

[@dbadagna]

Thank you for capturing this moment.

[@mikemaddox7339]

I love Homeward Bound. I have not heard you try this one in awhile! Love ❤️

[@user-fc6ci8dh3m]

He’s aged. I know he’s got to be mid seventies but I’m a little surprised. Pretty incredible that the song was only his sixth, “Homeward Bound”.

[@ritahall6628]

Love this you two were just meant to be for all of us

[@dibber43]

One of THE greatest voices to EVER sing into a microphone...BAR NONE!!!

[@petemee2876]

Fantastic memoirs. Voice remains, fantastic tones taking me back to my youth. My go to music in the 70s.

[@tammykay6981]

Love his voice! Makes me cry nearly every time I listen, and that is often!

[@akbar41]

What a pleasant surprise. Thought it was just going to be reminiscences, but then.

[@justinherbert9146]

Artie is a compelling performer - he still has it - aged like a fine wine.

[@davidmiles533]

Thanks for sharing. It’s so nice to hear former associates in music speak so highly of each other these days.

[@debrakish9659]

Art always did say more positive things about Paul's talent than Paul said about Art's. I think that's what really bothered him. They both needed to hear compliments from each other and they never gave enough. It didn't matter as much how much their fans loved them. They needed reassurance from each other but both still weren't able to say enough about each other. So sad.

[@johnscialfa7391]

Art your amazing voice is back..God bless

[@maviccabreraballeza8597]

Artie, your voice is golden! I hope you’d sing more!

[@snowysnowyriver]

Wow....he's still got it!

[@thomasweeks7992]

Met him in Fort Worth Texas great guy very humble and kind.

[@mphochaigneau]

He still got it!!!

[@maryhealy7409]

Wow , jus tfound this web page. Thankyou Tim.

[@paulettemaximun2505]

Thank you for sharing. . .

[@sallysigler727]

Thanks, Tim! It is so comforting to see them especially at this time! I wonder if they have any idea how much we adore them!

[@ElvarMasson]

All there's missing is Paul Simon

[@jennypiper377]

FN EPIC KEEP ON KEEPING ON BECAUSE THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE WITH BOTH OF YOU IN IT.xoxo

[@alcindaaccordi5787]

Incrível, incrível ver tanto talento intacto, brilhando sempre. .

[@suzannewhite3492]

God Bless em.....Peace

[@wymanspace4173]

Memories ... great but some hurts.

[@sonitavillaroman2]

Amazing voice.. still beautiful...

[@NHWilderness]

Wish I could have seen you guys in concert!!

[@andrewmoore1579]

Brilliant ❤️

[@edwardanthony7283]

Oldie but goodie!

[@Jotinko]

So Heartwarming. I hope him and Paul patch things up. Art still has his Iconic voice. If you've EVER heard Bridge Over Troubled Waters, than you know Art Garfunkel is just as musically gifted as Paul Simon!!!!!!!!!

[@SoulSurvivors86]

Are you aware that Paul wrote Bridge Over Troubled Water and Art sang it? Art has a beautiful voice but Paul is a much more gifted songwriter.

[@boborrahood]

Convicted Ahes, For the record though, Art was indifferent to Bridge Over Troubled Water when Paul was so thrilled to have written it. So Paul was understandably a bit disappointed when Art didn't seem that interested, saying maybe Paul should sing it instead.

[@debrakish9659]

@@SoulSurvivors86 as a songwriter, you are correct, but I think the comment was made referring to them as singers here.

[@debrakish9659]

@@boborrahood according to several interviews I've seen and read, Art said he liked the song upon first hearing Paul sing it to him because of Paul's falsetto and thought he should sing it to showcase his upper range but Paul refused so then Art agreed to do it. I don't think it's anything more than that. Art liked how Paul sounded in the demo and told him so. He was being honest about it. That's all it was. Art even said later that the papers made a much bigger deal about how he ended up singing it than it really was. He was giving Paul an honest compliment when he first "refused" it.

[@MSYNGWIE12]

Thank you so much! I had just heard Paul saying to a reporter he hadn't spoken to Art in 7 yrs- that was in 2018, I think, so I decided to poke around and found this, funny, and warm and seems very sincere, so I guess I continue to love the music they make and be grateful for their union? however it works! I loathe being old but growing up and old ( not quite their age!) in the 60's DAMN FINE MUSIC,AND SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM, SO MANY GENRES AND ARTISTS, yeah, as we used to say, "groovy and far out"- not together of course. Namaste friend no matter your age, thanks again, Z

[@bodomalo]

You know he is refering to a birthday party around 15 years back?

[@mikailstacy8245]

You can hear that beautiful voice that matched Paul’s perfectly, just add Paul and you can hear the perfect blend. I just noticed a lot of the vocals I was drawn to especially Scarborough fair was arts..I would find myself singing arts part when it came on

[@jokojack1]

this is my fav song

[@Madmen604]

Aw, you were best friends in school, love it.

[@cinnamongirl7877]

The funniest story of their youth is Paul talking about Artie going into a candy store. They were 10 years old. Paul said “Artie was just very unusual even at 10 years old.” This interview was between Paul and David Letterman.....it was so funny!!!

[@BaruaDiganta]

If there is a time when I manage to visit New York, the one person I would try my best to meet would be Art Garfunkel. I listen to his music almost every single day.

[@ninaresacedullo784]

God bless you Art Garfunkel may God add more fruitful years to your life..you are a legend indeed! thank you Art!

[@ninaresacedullo784]

i am hoping that art could also read our comments.. that will make us very happy..thank you so much tim

[@esdee499]

His voice sounds younger than he looks

[@handypandy490]

Many years ago in England, a driver picks up a hitch hiker who is heading for Scotland. After a while on the motorway, they stop at the services for a drink and bite to eat in the self service cafeteria. At the checkout, the hitch hiker says, " I'll get this " and hands the cashier his credit card. The driver is gobsmacked that the card reads.... Mr A Garfunkel.

[@mysoncrumphaseveryinjury3853]

Imagine just riding on some random deserted road,halting a car into a stop and meeting Art Garfunkel.

[@debrakish9659]

There's another story where he was hitchhiking and he told the couple that picked him up that he'll leave two complimentary tickets on reserve for them for his S&G show later that night. They didn't believe him and never saw the concert. I'd hate to be them now if they ever learned the truth of who they picked up that day.

[@josieblanco4587]

Art your voice super lovely nothing changes Thanks for this channel to see Art again in yutube singing

[@genevievehine3763]

Quelle voix superbe ! Merciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@mikesmith-pj7xz]

Amid the awful there is also this. Thank you both.

[@webwhisper2701]

An incredible song... poignant today for me, having grown up in a small paper mill town where everyone knew each other. Beautiful scenery and forests (of course) and I moved to a another country in my 20s, to the USA, when hired to work here and did not move back home... yet.

[@davidtuer5825]

I know what you mean.

[@Yrksman]

The spoken intro is for Sound of Silence, i've heard him tell it. He has a memory lapse here. Homeward Bound was written in England in 1965 after the 12 songs on the Paul Simon Songbook plus Bleeker Street, Sparrow and Wednesday Morning 3am.

[@D1GG3R08]

At Widnes North Station I believe?

[@yellolab09]

Memory is a funny thing: Science tells us that Every time we access the past event ...Memory Changes Something Its Only Natural

[@carolynrose753]

It comes to us all if we live long

[@UglyChileanDoorman]

Sounds likely. After all, Homeward Bound didn't appear till three albums in. When Art forgot a line there, he probably should have skipped to the next one, so he wouldn't have had his music waiting silently because what does that mean?

[@edstimator1]

Hey there Art! I was just hitting up our mutual friend Paul and low and behold here you are! So happy to see the both of you. As I was telling Paul..I grew up with and am now growing old with two of my favorite musicians on the planet. What a joy you have brought to the world and I just never grow tired of hearing about your personal relationship with Paul. Perhaps it's just the pandemic that has influenced me to speak to old friends and tell them that I love them , Never more so than you and Paul but just as well that some good comes of all this. God bless you Art, and yes ...I do love you my friend.

[@paulettemaximun2505]

Home is heaven. . .

[@redcoat4ever323]

Wow! Wish they had sung that together though! S&G: Still the greatest after all these years!

[@HHh-qe2ch]

What do you mean.

[@debrakish9659]

@@HHh-qe2ch they meant that they'd rather hear S&G sing it together than Art alone. At least we have videos of them from tv and concert footage where we can enjoy hearing them sing together.

[@jonathanwebb3024]

This was fucking awesome.

[@georgemurphy2579]

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

[@alexandras.3782]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jeffreysebastian8015]

Legend 2021

[@shanehamilton6708]

I cannot believe how good he sounds at that age. I so wish I would have went and seen them. It’s one of my regrets

[@nolavout3025]

Just love the guy and his beautiful voice. I know Paul was the brains behind their success but it was Art who had the soul and charisma and Paul knew that, always been jealous tho i cant understand why as he was the more successful artist

[@solarasol289]

Saudades da dupla💚 Brasil

[@Iamsleepytired]

❤❤😭😭

[@AsadAli-jc5tg]

Why's this guy always talking trash about Paul Simon? 🤔

[@nolavout3025]

Cos paul talks trash about art, its all banter

[@fryavanbosh3563]

❤️❤️❤️

[@lddonovan]

Vibe!

[@tangobango9653]

I luv how overly ‘dramatic’ Artie is with his words & actions about Paul.

[@debrakish9659]

I agree but that's just how the way he talks. It's not just in his written words. Even in interviews, he speaks his words in fluid poetry. I've never noticed this in such a degree with anyone else in interviews.

[@noeldsouza412]

Art Garfunkel...the most humble human...saw him perform at Glastonbury 2016...was right in front singing along with him🎶☮♥️🇮🇳

[@jrpipik]

Of course that's not how Paul remembers it...

[@GeorgeFlippin]

Art could have easily done stand up comedy as a side gig.

[@exgren]

For a split second i thought the description was wrong, i thought it was gary glitter , blimey art does look old in this. Just goes to show how long its been since he was on the tv

[@arlindomartins6569]

A VOZ E A MESMA, MAS O TEMPO PASSA PRA TODOS.

[@TheHuriah1]

Nos, na nossa mente achamos que os artistas não envelhecem, não nos acostumamos a vê-los todos os dias, acho que é por isso, não acredite que era o Art.

[@syourke3]

What’s Garfunkel’s problem? He should be eternally grateful to Paul Simon. Without Simon, no one would even know who he is. Simon wrote all their songs!

[@howardchambers9679]

I think you might have missed the point

[@Catari777]

Yeah you have REALLY missed the POINT!

[@lane7901]

im lovin' the eyeliner on ya' artie. hehehe

[@markywellsboy2182]

Afraid that I can't agree with people here. A legend. Yes. Produced some of the greatest songs and vocals ever. Yes. But time has had its say. It's over now, unfortunately. Saw him for the first and only time at Glastonbury a couple of years ago and unfortunately I was too late.

[@savvageorge]

I think he was a better singer when he was younger but still an awesome performance.

[@AngelMartinez-tr7ju]

Really? You are clever. If you don't have nothing to say sfu

[@koshersalaami]

The trajectory of Garfunkel’s career is very different than Simon’s. Art is a wonderful singer, always was and still is in his late seventies. But he’s mainly known for a partnership that ended decades ago. Not Paul, because he kept writing, and his writing remained great, his lyrics remain some of the best in the English language. So Paul moved on, though the truth is that he would never sound as good vocally as with Art because the combination was just too damned good.

[@philomath67]

I think Paul's best songs were done during the S&G period.

[@debbielittlejohn7060]

Well said!

[@nilswestman4013]

Oops I thought Paul was dead.

[@virgilioalegrevegara4790]

Simon and Garfunkel . Greatest The concert in central park my favourite concert. From Spain to you Only LOVE.

[@4dukesnideer4]

Home is 1965. I remember, these two brothers. Oh, but to go home again!

[@wenchetollefsen8417]

brothers?