At 83, Paul Simon Finally Confesses Why He Couldn’t Work With Art Garfunkel – And It’s More Heartbreaking Than You’d Ever Imagine

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s names are forever etched in music history as one of the greatest duos to ever grace the stage.

Their voices, weaving together in perfect harmony, created timeless classics that defined a generation.

But behind the beauty of their music was a story riddled with tension, resentment, and creative warfare that neither could fully escape.

At 83, Paul Simon has finally broken decades of silence to reveal the devastating truth about why their partnership was doomed from the very beginning.

The admission is raw, candid, and might shock even the most devoted fans.

Their story began in Queens, New York, where two 11-year-old boys discovered their voices blended effortlessly during a school production of Alice in Wonderland.

What started as a childhood friendship blossomed into a musical partnership that would sell over 100 million records worldwide and produce legendary albums like Sounds of Silence, Bookends, and Bridge Over Troubled Water.

By the late 1960s, Simon & Garfunkel were global superstars.

Their song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” spent 10 weeks at number one and won six Grammy Awards.

Yet, at the peak of their success in 1970, the duo stunned the world by announcing their breakup.

Paul Simon now admits that the cracks began during the recording of Bookends in 1968.

He felt burdened by carrying the weight of songwriting, arranging, and producing, while Art Garfunkel pursued acting roles, most notably the film Catch-22.

Simon felt that Garfunkel was enjoying the spotlight without contributing equally.

“I was writing the songs. I was arranging them. I was producing them,” Simon explained.

“And Art would come in and sing his part.”

This imbalance bred a toxic resentment that poisoned their relationship for years.

The tension reached a boiling point during the sessions for Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Simon had written the title track specifically for Garfunkel’s soaring tenor voice, fully aware it would be their biggest hit.

Yet, the song’s massive success only deepened Simon’s feelings of being overshadowed, as critics and audiences alike praised Garfunkel’s emotional delivery.

Simon describes himself as a perfectionist and control freak who wanted complete creative authority.

He spent endless hours crafting intricate arrangements and meaningful lyrics, viewing their songs as his artistic vision realized through Garfunkel’s voice.

In stark contrast, Garfunkel saw himself as an equal partner who deserved creative input.

This clash of visions led to frustration, especially when Garfunkel suggested changes to Simon’s arrangements during the Bridge Over Troubled Water sessions.

Simon felt these moments compromised his artistic vision.

Adding to the strain was Garfunkel’s growing commitment to acting.

His prolonged absences during the filming of Catch-22 left Simon feeling abandoned and resentful.

Recording sessions and promotional activities had to be delayed, stalling their momentum.

Simon also reveals a deeply personal insecurity: standing at 5’3”, he was painfully aware of how he appeared next to the tall, handsome Garfunkel.

He admits feeling like “the ugly one,” believing audiences were more drawn to Garfunkel’s looks and voice than to his own songwriting genius.

This insecurity festered and fueled his resentment.

The final straw came in 1970 when Garfunkel committed to another film, Carnal Knowledge, without consulting Simon.

For Paul, this was proof that Garfunkel prioritized his acting career over their musical partnership.

In a moment of anger, Simon ended the duo, coldly informing Garfunkel he was moving forward solo.

The breakup devastated both men.

Garfunkel later described feeling eviscerated by Simon’s decision and the harsh way it was delivered.

The rupture triggered years of depression that affected Garfunkel’s music and acting careers.

Meanwhile, Simon threw himself into his solo work, determined to prove his independence.

Despite successful solo albums, Simon acknowledges that something was missing—the magic of their collaboration.

Over the years, the pair attempted several reunions, each marred by the same old issues.

Their 1975 Saturday Night Live reunion was tense and awkward.

The 1981 Central Park concert drew over 500,000 people, hinting at a rekindling of their magic.

Yet, during sessions for Simon’s Hearts and Bones album, creative differences resurfaced.

Simon initially planned it as a reunion project, even recording Garfunkel’s vocals on several tracks.

But he ultimately removed those vocals and released it solo, a betrayal that cut deeper than their original split.

The pattern repeated during their 2003–2004 reunion tour.

Although commercially successful, backstage tensions and disagreements over setlists and arrangements persisted.

Garfunkel felt reduced to a backing vocalist for songs he helped create, while Simon maintained strict creative control.

Now, in his twilight years, Simon has become remarkably candid about the partnership’s failure.

“The truth is, I was threatened by Art’s talent,” he revealed.

“His voice was the instrument that made our songs soar, but I couldn’t handle not being the only essential element. I needed to be irreplaceable, and Art’s voice made me feel replaceable.”

Simon admits his treatment of Garfunkel was often cruel and calculating.

He deliberately excluded him from key creative decisions and used their business relationship to maintain power.

“I was protecting my ego at the expense of something beautiful,” he confessed.

Perhaps most poignantly, Simon expresses regret.

“I proved I could do it alone, but I never proved it was better,” he says.

“Some partnerships are greater than the sum of their parts, and ours was one of them.”

Art Garfunkel, now 82, has been more guarded publicly.

Friends say he has found some peace in Simon’s admissions, but decades of hurt and mistrust make a final reconciliation unlikely.

What remains undeniable is the beauty of what they created together.

Songs like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “Scarborough Fair” continue to move listeners across generations.

Their story stands as both a testament to the extraordinary power of collaboration and a heartbreaking cautionary tale about how fragile that magic can be.

In the end, Paul Simon’s late-life honesty offers a glimpse of growth and self-awareness, even if it comes too late to fully heal the wounds of one of music’s most iconic duos.