Paul Simon is one of the best singer-songwriters in history, but he clearly didn’t have a clue what he was talking about when he wrote this song. In fairness he wrote it before the first ever NYC Marathon, but I owe it to him and you to correct some of the misconceptions in his lyrics (which are in italics below):
Slow down, you move too fast.
[I’m not Stanley Biwott [2015 NYC Marathon winner] so no, I’m not moving too fast, and I didn’t start the race too quickly for my own goals, either. In fact right now – 2 hours 30 minutes into the race – I’m moving slower than 16,000 out of the 49,000 runners.]
You got to make the morning last.
[That’s so not encouraging in a race.]
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
[I’m kicking asphalt baby.]
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy.
[Wait for the after-race party. Seriously.]
Hello lamppost, What cha knowing?
[No lampposts under the bridge. And if I needed a pee I’d wait for the facilities.]
I’ve come to watch your flowers growing.
[No flowers either.]
Ain’t cha got no rhymes for me?
[Unlikely.]
Doot-in’ doo-doo, Feelin’ groovy.
[I’m so NOT feeling groovy right now. Although I’m feeling better than the guy I just passed who is throwing up into a gutter.]
Got no deeds to do, No promises to keep.
[Well, I’ve got another 11 miles to do and I cautiously promised myself a sub-4 hour marathon, so…]
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
[Skin isn’t dappled and I’m too psyched to sleep, though I wouldn’t mind sitting down for a few minutes.]

Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
[Say what?]
Life, I love you, All is groovy.
[Just passed another guy who feels worse than me – he’s crying and clutching a hamstring. And I do love life. But all is NOT groovy. Mainly because this silly bridge is too steep and too long.]
You’re welcome.
Nice one! It didn’t click when we saw that you went over the 59th Street Bridge! I’m sorry for that guy clutching his hamstring – after all that training (I assume), What’s up next? Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water?
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Didn’t click with me until several miles into the race either! I was actually on a different bridge when I twigged and as I sung the lyrics to myself I realised how amusingly inapt they were.
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