I Am a Rock Lyrics

Performed by Simon and Garfunkel

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
Well, I've heard the word before.
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

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mocking? | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/30/11

The narrator is mocking himself. He decides to isolate himself after an emotional pain, denying the knowledge that the pain has already happened. The narrator mocks himself, since he knows he can't be alone forever, even though he feels like it's all he wants. It's ego mocking id.

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Isolation out of fear | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/10/11

I'm not sure why a few people here think there's a mocking tone about the song. The narrator (the 'I') is simply recognizing that they have been hurt and they'd rather isolate themself than feel pain again. A rock becomes hard and stubborn, and an island is isolated. His room of books and poetry is a safe place; they are his company as he has steeled himself against reaching out to others, e.g. falling in love again, and taking risks.

Paul Simon is a poet - so many great lyrics. S&G wrote beautiful songs.

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LIfe, love ...loneliness | Reviewer: Anonymous | 5/14/10

This song is the quintessential song for anyone who has been kicked by relationships, one after another and by family, CLOSE family, by friends who didn't even realize they were doing it.
I write a bit of prose and this is one poem (that's what it is) I wish I had written.

I am a rock!

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I wished I was a rock | Reviewer: Anonymous | 11/16/09

Yes, the last 2 lines are irony, in the futility of attempting to insulate oneself from the world and the pain inflicted by others, the betrayal of supposed friends, walling oneself away, and finding that loneliness is nearly as bad as people. And one cries.

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I am a Rock | Reviewer: Anonymous | 8/10/09

One of my favorite S+G songs. The words in the opening - "A winter's day. In a deep and dark December; I am alone, Gazing from my window to the streets below. On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow" shows that Paul Simon is a masterful poet who trys to paint an image of loneliness.

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I Am a Rock | Reviewer: Anonymous | 4/6/09

It honestly never occurred to me that this was supposed to be taken seriously. The sadness in his voice in the last part of the song makes it seem pretty obvious that it's mocking the point of view expressed earlier in the song, at least to me. Think what you want.

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I Am A Rock myself with walls beyond reach | Reviewer: Woodsman | 12/31/07

When you have been kicked down spat upon enough by friends and family the only way out is going alone. A rock feels no pain therefore it won't crack. An Island never Dies it is surrounded and protected by a moat of water therefore cannot be penetrated to be hurt.

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contradiction | Reviewer: shay | 12/10/07

this song has a good meaning, but at the same time i can tell it's mocking people who think they can be alone forever. the way its written the narrator mostly just sounds mad. i can relate to it a lot.

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Words for the deeply wounded to live by | Reviewer: Anonymous | 12/7/07

I have related to and identified with the amazingly poignant and painful lyrics since I first heard this song, probably in the early 1970's. Although sad, this song has provided me not only with words that articulated pain I could not personally express openly, but they gave me the strength to cope with pain that would have perhaps been unbearable otherwise. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel wrote and performed music that touched the soul in a deep and profound way. Their music is a gift for us all.

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Self Actualization | Reviewer: Anonymous | 11/13/07

The song sounds like a song of a loner who was deeply hurt by love and friendship - 2 important needs that human beings should have. However, if we look deeper into the total effect of the song, for me, it encapsulates what we should be - especially in relationships.
We have to be a rock and an island to be able to sustain and maintain a healthy, peaceful and lasting relationship. For like a rock, we shouldn't feel the pain... pain comes only when we fear about losing our partner. But then, we shouldn't have any fear at all because life is dynamic, changes happen for good. Sometimes, we just couldn't see the benefit, but in the long run, we will realize that we were lucky to be freed from such a relationship.
While in a relationship, we should be like an island, too. Not dependent on our partner, no expectations, no demands - meaning, we will welcome what our partner gives and shares but if nothing comes our way, we should just be contented with what we get.
Fear of losing, dependency, expectations and demands are the major causes of failure in any relationship, thus, only when we become a rock and an island that we can really be a perfect partner to someone. For a rock and an island are free from fear, pain, dependency, expectations and demands...

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