Richard Cory - Simon & Garfunkel

"Richard Cory" is a song written by Paul Simon in early 1965, and recorded by Simon and Garfunkel for their second studio album, Sounds of Silence in 1966. The song was based on Edwin Arlington Robinson's 1897 poem of the same title. 

"Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head."

The song tells the tale of a Richard Cory from the perspective of one of the men who works in his factory. The factory worker is envious of the advantages and enjoyments available to Cory, believing him (Cory) to be a satisfied man. The last verse of the song ends similarly to the Robinson poem: Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head. The chorus repeats again after this verse. This signifies that, despite Cory's unhappiness - explained by his suicide - the worker still "curses his [the worker's] poverty", and would still rather be Richard Cory.

The song was covered by Wings during their 1975-1976 Wings Over The World tour (available on the 1976 album Wings Over America). Denny Laine sang lead.

Em                                                          D                  
They say that Richard Cory owns one half of this whole town,
                 Em                              B7
With political connections He spreads his wealth around.
             A7
He was born into society, a banker's only child,
             Em   D          G                A       B7
He had everything a man could want: money,  praise, and style.


Em                                                     D                      
The papers print his picture almost every place he goes:
               Em                       B7
Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Cory at the  shows
               A7
And the rumour of his parties and the orgies on his yacht!
       Em      D          G        A    B
He really  must be happy         with everything he's got.


G                          Em
But I work in his factory
Am                                 Em
And I curse the life I'm living
Am                Em
I curse my poverty
Am                        Em
I wish that I could be,
Am                        Em
I wish that I could be,
Am                               B7
Oh, I wish that I could be,
         Em
John Denver.

      Em                              D    
He really gave to the  charities, had the common touch,
                         Em                                            B7
And they were thankful for his patronage, so they thank you very much,
            A7
So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read:
 Em          D               G                                                                               Em
"Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head."

G                          Em
But I work in his factory
Am                                 Em
And I curse the life I'm living
Am                Em
I curse my poverty
Am                        Em
I wish that I could be,
Am                        Em
I wish that I could be,
Am                               B7
Oh, I wish that I could be,
      Em
Richard Cory.