I'll be presenting all of Simon's original compositions, and I'll start with a song that is of particular interest to us. Bleecker Street is an early indication of Paul's poetic lyrics, an oblique snapshot of a street in New York. The second verse went like this:
"Voices leaking from a sad caféSmiling faces trying to understandI saw a shadow touch a shadow's handOn Bleecker Street"
This was interpreted by many, and especially by many gay people at the time, as referring to a gay meeting place. It was never officially confirmed or denied, but the song was "adopted" by the gay community.
For a long time, there was the impression that Simon & Garfunkel were gay, or at least bisexual. This was especially prevalent within the gay community in the 70s and early 80s. Perhaps it was the acrimonious nature of their breakup, which implied a bond that went way beyond professional concerns. I remember an American friend visiting in 1979; he introduced me to the Spartacus Gay Guide. He was also wearing a T-shirt that listed all the famous gay people throughout the ages. Among Alexander the Great, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Constantine Cavafy, there were also Simon & Garfunkel. I was pleasantly surprised, because they were already one of my favorite acts. When I asked for verification, he replied with an unwavering "of course they are". Those were the pre-Internet days.