Ten Favorite Fake People Songs: Richard Cory (#1)

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After picking up and running with @teamfreak16 's idea of songs that mention real people in the title, I also came up with a series of songs that have fictional people's names in the title. I'm closing with my favorite song, which may be a huge surprise. Then again, it may not. Here it is. #1: Richard Cory - Simon & Garfunkel The first time I heard this song was on the Wings Over America album in 1977, when they did this song (with Denny Laine [not being inducted with the Moody Blues, BTW...sad aside] singing lead). From there I had to find the Simon & Garfunkel original. And oh, once I did find it.... This is the second of two songs on this countdown based on a poem (the other is Johnny Horton's song "Sam McGee," based on the poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee"). "Richard Cory" was written by Edwin Arlington Robinson in 1897, dealing with a rich and well-respected man who realized that "power, grace, style" didn't make one happy enough to keep living. Simon took some liberties in his lyrics. While the poem referred to Cory as "a gentleman from sole to crown," the song paints a darker side of the millionaire ("the rumors of his parties and the orgies on his yacht"). However, the poem and the song end the same way: with a gunshot. It's a lesson that needs to be repeated often: money doesn't buy happiness. Simon and Garfunkel sang it oh, so well. Thanks for reading. Richard Cory Written by Paul Simon Recorded by Simon & Garfunkel From Sounds of Silence, 1966 I wish that I could be: