For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her

Album: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)
Charted: 53
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Songfacts®:

  • This short song is one of the duo's most romantic ballads. A man looks for the love of his life, wondering what it will be like when they meet again. It's very simple and brief, but very heartfelt. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • At the Simon & Garfunkel Live At Granada special, Garfunkel introduced this song by saying: "This is a song about a girl who is fictitious. Her name is Emily. Neither of us know her but the song is written about her. I'm sure she will appear someday."
  • Simon said in a 1990 interview with SongTalk magazine: "Artie likes that song an awful lot. He liked to sing it. Well, it was a very romantic song but I don't like it."
  • Written by Paul Simon, the only instrumentation on this song is his 12-string acoustic guitar.
  • A live version was included on the 1972 album Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, and released as a single, reaching #53 in the US.
  • Some have suggested that Paul Simon titled the song after Emily Dickinson; the 19th century poet is referenced in the lyrics of another Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme track, "The Dangling Conversation."

Comments: 20

  • Al from UkIt's almost certainly about Kathy Chitty whom he was apparently planning to marry and the loss he felt probably why he says he hates the song. Somebody will make a film about their relationship one day.
  • Dave from WaAs a teenager the first album I ever purchased was Simon and Garfunkel. I would put their album on after my parents went to bed with my head pressed to the turned down speakers. This was my favorite song as a lonely teenager looking for my first love. All these years later I'm still looking for Emily. She's just a dream, a desire, a wish maybe a fantasy. Maybe she's waiting at MacArthur Park?
  • Emily's Dad from Upstate NyThe popularity of the name Emily started to rise sharply after 1970 apparently reaching a peak about 2000 but still well above earlier levels. I'm thinking I'm not the only baby boomer dad touched by this song. Now we might be seeing a second generation named after their mothers?
  • John Rodgers from Stansbury Park, UtahAs a musician, I recognize a gem when I hear one. In his genius, Paul Simon put this together using only four chords, G, C, F, and D. Capo at the fifth fret. Play ten times a day for about three months and you might have it down!
  • Eddy Jacobsen from LondonHe must have been yearning and craving for this woman when he wrote this song; there are many ways to declare love... but this one is one of the best I have ever heard.
  • Michael from Montreal,que., CanadaLike many on here this is one of my favorite S & G songs. I decided that if I was every fortunate enough to have a little girl this would be her name. My wife lovingly obliged and today we have a beautiful little girl named Emily. I play this song to her on YouTube and explain that this is where her name came from.
    It's a Daddy / Daughter thing we share.....

    Michael, Montreal
  • Jenna from Bethalto, IlListen to all of the lyrics to this most wonderful song, and notice that when he wakes up from the dream, (reference the first line) Emily is right there beside him. How did some of you miss that? Warm and near, kissed her honey hair with grateful tears? The title isn't as descriptive as the lyrics. Just take the whole song into account, and it all makes great sense.This beautiful poem set to unbelivable music is the kind of song that needs to be listened to at least four times in a row. I just read that Paul Simon doesn't even like the song. How can someone who has written such a gem, and one of the most romantic songs ever written, not like it? As far as Art Garfunkel goes, he's the only one that can do it justice. God gave him a truly beautiful and golden voice. Paul should be grateful for Art's sensitive, soulful and loving treatment of the song. I don't care what Mr. Simon thinks of his own song...I love it! Jenna
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyMy favorite S&G song, when we married {1968} my wife and I decided if we ever had a daughter, this was going to be her name. No such luck, all sons!!!
  • Harold from San Bernadino, CaThey always had grreat lyrics too.
  • Sara from Greenville, AlRick Nelson covered this on his "Perspective" album.
  • Adam from West Palm Beach, FlIn my mind's eye, this is the very best S & G song.
  • Mark from Warwick, RiWhen it comes to FOR EMILY, WHEREVER I MAY FIND HER I cannot sing this; I have a beautiful daughter named Emily, who's a bright, brilliant kid. I sing at open mics and I have to leave the room if I sing this; I may be a sap, but I love my baby girl.
  • Steve from Salt Lake City, UtThis is a song you'd swear you'd heard before when you hear it for the first time. It was instantly one of my favorite songs the day I first heard it. I named my daughter after it and have met two other girls that were also called Emily in honor of this song. Although I agree with Kevin about how Artie ought to thank Paul for writing wonderful songs for him; he made every song Simon ever gave him better than anyone else could. I would personally never "stiff" my best childhood friend the way Paul did Art...what, for more money and to not be thought of as half of a team??? Come on, did he really not know that everyone knew he was the writing talent? I just feel cheated out of all the wonderful music they would doubtless have continued to make. Paul is still the man and he has made my life more enjoyable than it ever would have otherwise been.
  • Milly from La, CaThis song is really about a man who is looking for someone, but he doesn't know who she is. The Emily is really not a specific person, but the idea of the girl he is looking for, and has not yet met, hence the "Whenever I May Find Her" in the title.
  • Susan from Westchestertonfieldville, Va"And when I awoke
    and felt you warm and near
    I kissed you honey-hair
    with my grateful tears" - heart wrenching
    I am in love with this song.
  • Mikel from Bilbao, SpainSome of the very good guitar solos of Paul Simon, nice deep lyrics and the close-to-perfect Garfunkel´s voice in the whole song. One of the best I know.
  • Kevin from Reading , PaDespite their rifts over the years, Garfunkel, talented singer that he is, should bend down and kiss the hand of Paul Simon for writing songs like this for him to sing.
  • Michel from Toulouse, FranceEmily is Emily Dickinson. Great song
  • Dean from Sydney,I love the rythym guitar in the last few bars...
  • Chet from Buffalo, NyBeautiful track.
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