A person can choose to build a fortress where he can be safe from attack, safe from pain, and hence never need shed any tears. Mike from Granum, AbA great song, sadly I have lived it.You can almost hear the truth seeping through at the end of the song, when the music and backing vocal fade into a single, solo voice, "and an island never cries." This is like the man who appears tough, mean, invincible, who is really the opposit. I am a rock was what he told the world, almost convincing himself. Dayton from Memphis, TnI have always thought that this song was a declaration of a man who was not a rock, but needed people, and had been hurt.Hannah from Charlottetown, PeI love this song.And ever since some classmates did a presentation on how this song could be about Holden Caulfield, I can't help but think of him when I hear this song.Then I was reminded of this song, glad others thought like me. I originally considered it my f-you to John Donne. Hillary from Houston, TxFunny others mentioned Donne.Jeffrey from Taipei, TaiwanA very sad song, but best of all times!.Sitting in my room, listening to this song on my tiny transistor radio, I finally found my voice. A maladjusted teenager myself at the time, I identified with this song, heart & soul, and loved it to death. But I think it's the perfect embodiment of teenage isolation, and perfectly in keeping with the theme of the 2 hits that preceded it, "Sounds of Silence" & "Homeward Bound," both of which were predicated on loneliness & alienation. Matthew from Toronto, OnPaul Simon seems embarrassed by this song today, and virtually disowns it.Now he pretends that he does not care, that he is too strong and too hard to care, but he is terribly hurt. She either turned him down, or she accepted one date with him. It took him an enormous amount of courage to do this. He has become infatuated with a girl who goes to his school. John from Wilmington, DeI see the narrator of this song as a painfully shy, extremely introverted, intellectual adolescent boy from 15 to 17 years old.Tom from Perth, AustraliaThe ultimate ode to the lyrical cynic!.If you like this you should like "most peculiar man,"which is perhaps even sadder & deserves its own discussion on here. I prefer the solo version on "songbook" it should be a song sung solo. Roy from SloughThis song means more to me than any other Paul Simon song for personal reasons.I also like the intro and the ending, basically the same, with the ending closing with a nice fade. There's no silly 'key changes' nor 'middle-eights' to break up the monotony, because there isn't any. The bass and 12-string are my instruments. My #1 song is The Byrds' rendition of 'The Bells Of Rhymney.') While much is to be said pertaining to the lyrics, I just love the music. Bobby from Holbrook, NyIt's my 'runner-up' best song of all time! (Oh, OK.So to me, the song is less about being a recluse physically and more about being isolated mentally, like the singer has decided to form their own religion, their own sect of ideas, their own solid faith, a rock which is unbreakable, and it is a rock separate from all other rocks, and thus can be called an island. Here rock is a representation of unbreakable faith. Internet Detective from Nostalgia HoleThe terms "rock" and "womb" are very common in Christian Lyrics, and often these lyrics reference the specific passage in the bible where Jesus calls Peter his "rock" upon which the religion of Christianity will be founded.And have felt like the lyric and a rock feels no pain and an island never cries in my life. Jennifur SunAlways wondered who did that neat guitar part on this song.Maybe describing yourself as a rock and an island gives you a warm fuzzy feeling. Miles from Vancouver, CanadaWhen I hear this song (or even just read the lyrics), I picture myself all stretched out in a walk-in linen closet at someone's house.Could there be any link to John Donne's poem, Meditation 17 ? "No man is an island, entire of itself.& therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee" Any connection perhaps ? ChrisYears ago, I read that they had 4 degrees between them, 1 being English Lit.Kevin Chaney from UsI am 65 and this song has provided comfort and a place of refuge and strength 3 times now in my life.
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