Album: Sounds of Silence (1966)

License This Song 

• They say that Richard Cory
  Owns one half of this whole town
  With political connections
  To spread his wealth around
  Born into society, a banker's only child
  He had everything a man could want
  Power, grace, and style
  
  But I work in his factory
  And I curse the life I'm living
  And I curse my poverty
  And I wish that I could be
  Oh, I wish that I could be
  Oh, I wish that I could be
  Richard Cory
  
  The papers print his picture
  Almost everywhere he goes
  Richard Cory at the opera
  Richard Cory at a show
  And the rumor of his parties
  And the orgies on his yacht
  Oh, he surely must be happy
  With everything he's got
  
  But I, I work in his factory
  And I curse the life I'm living
  And I curse my poverty
  And I wish that I could be
  Oh, I wish that I could be
  Oh, I wish that I could be
  Richard Cory
  
  He freely gave to charity
  He had the common touch
  And they were grateful for his patronage
  And they thanked him very much
  So my mind was filled with wonder
  When the evening headlines read
  "Richard Cory went home last night
  And put a bullet through his head"
  
  But I, I work in his factory
  And I curse the life I'm living
  And I curse my poverty
  And I wish that I could be
  Oh, I wish that I could be
  Oh, I wish that I could be
  Richard Cory Writer/s: Paul Simon
  Publisher: O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

• Cory Richards from Here's To You, Mr. Robinson"Richard Cory"
  BY EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON
  
  Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
  We people on the pavement looked at him:
  He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
  Clean favored, and imperially slim.
  
  And he was always quietly arrayed,
  And he was always human when he talked;
  But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
  "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.
  
  And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
  And admirably schooled in every grace:
  In fine, we thought that he was everything
  To make us wish that we were in his place.
  So on we worked, and waited for the light,
  And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
  And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
  Went home and put a bullet through his head.
• Ani from UkBased on a poem about a man called Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cory
• David from Lawrence, MaCorrection to the post by Alan, Valdosta, GA. Paul McCartney does not sing Richard Cory on Wings Over America. Denny Laine (former lead singer of the Moody Blues prior to Days of Future Passed) sings it.
• Breanna from Henderson, NvAwesome song, one of Simon and Garfunkel's best, like at first you think it's a cheery song, then you get to the part where he put a bullet through his head! Great song.
• Drew from B'ham, AlDon't forget another distinction: Richard Cory was a fairly generous friend to man & the "most peculiar man" was entirely unfriendly.
• Jay from Brooklyn, NyThe line "And my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines said/ "Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head" makes me think of the Post.
• Jay from Brooklyn, NyOn the "Sounds of Silence" album, Richard Cory is followed immidiately by A Most Peculiar Man, another song about suicide. The "most peculiar man" is almost the exact opposite of Richard Cory - he is anonymous and unimportant. His death didn't make headlines. The world will soon forget him. It is an interesting juxtaposition to hear these songs back to back.
• Alan from Valdosta, GaPaul McCartney and Wings did a cover of this song on their Wings Over America concert triple-album. In this cover version McCartney sings "Oh, I wish that I could be, oh I wish that I could be, Oh I wish that I could be .... John Denver!"
• Guy from Woodinville, WaThis song made me think about "what is happiness" and how you're responsicle for your own happiness when I was 12 years old. Thank you, Tom & Jeff!

More Songfacts:

Eternal FlameBangles

The Bangles song "Eternal Flame" was inspired by a display at Graceland that honored Elvis Presley.

StayLisa Loeb

"Stay" by Lisa Loeb was the first #1 hit by an unsigned artist. It got a boost from Ethan Hawke, who got it into a movie he starred in called Reality Bites.

I Walk The LineJohnny Cash

In "I Walk The Line," Johnny Cash hums before each verse. He did this to get his pitch, as the song changes key several times.

Livin' La Vida LocaRicky Martin

"Livin' La Vida Loca" is a Latin pop landmark, but "la vida loca" are the only Spanish words in the lyric - "mocha" is English.

MachineheadBush

An Allen Ginsberg line from his poem Howl inspired "Machinehead" by Bush: "Machine says I saw the best minds of my generation."

Money For NothingDire Straits

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler got the idea for "Money For Nothing" after overhearing delivery men in a New York department store complain about their jobs while watching MTV.

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?