Quiz: Can You Name the Simon & Garfunkel Song From One Lyric?

When it comes to folk-rock music, there is one duo that always stands out. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel became known as Simon & Garfunkel, and you likely know many of their songs without even realizing it. Do you consider yourself a true fan, though? We’re putting your music knowledge to the test with our latest quiz.

How did you do? If you got 8/8, then we’re impressed, and you’re a true Simon & Garfunkel fan. Don’t worry if you didn’t, as we purposely chose lyrics that weren’t the most obvious. After all, we couldn’t make it too easy! This is the perfect excuse to listen to the albums over and over again once more.

The Most Popular Simon & Garfunkel Songs

Simon & Garfunkel’s most popular hits mostly came from the late ‘60s into the early ‘70s, although there was one that will always stand out from the mid-1960s. “The Sound of Silence” is now one of those tracks where a cover version may be more popular than the original, and the rock duo acknowledged how great it is.

The track launched their career, though, and it remains famous even without the cover by Disturbed in 2015. It was originally recorded acoustically for their debut album, and their producer, Tom Wilson, later added in the electric guitars and drums. The duo had no idea that this was happening, leading to some haunting and poetic moments throughout the track.

Another that has been covered by multiple bands and solo artists is “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the 1970 release on their final studio album. Written by Simon, it was created to mark their friendship, a sign of comfort and peace, which starts as a delicate whisper but grows into a soaring gospel climax. This was the track that won multiple Grammy Awards, deservedly so.

If you’ve watched the movie The Graduate, there is another Simon & Garfunkel song that will stand out. “Mrs. Robinson” brought cultural satire to the musical world, with acoustic riffs and vocal harmonies that would capture the shifts between the decades.

That same year, “America” was released. Part of the Bookends album, it was a story of two young lovers riding buses across the country. With the romance and search for national identity, this track captured the hearts and minds of those in the 1960s. While it may not be one of the more memorable ones now compared to “The Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” it had its place in time.

If you love to test your music knowledge, check in with the Mental Floss quiz page for more challenges.