and somehow Paul Varjak (PAUL!) becomes the first "living boy" for Holly as he's the first one she feels any other connection to than the interest in his wealth. Also "getting the plane on time" is a topic in both the film and the song. And the forth-time repetition of "shine" in the song seems to me like building up a conscious contrast to the end scenes of 'Breakfast at Tiffanny's' which take place in a heavy downpour. Of course, my interpretation is kinda incomplete and I hardly believe that Paul Simon thought of the film while writing the song. I mean the story about him writing to Art Garfunkel being left alone in NY kinda makes sense... but anyway I thought these pecularities were worth sharing. :) General Comment: Marc Cohn does a very respectful and respectable version of The Only Living Boy in New York on his recent covers album "Listening Booth: 1970". It's a great album of his versions of songs released in 1970, the year Simon and Garfunkel broke up. General Comment: I feel that "iamtehmadhat" interpretation covers pretty much everything. However, I think that "Half of the time..." refers to touring, refers to being on the road. Another day, another city. Performers often lose track of where they are. The line could also refer to their drug use, I suppose, but considering the song is about remaining in New York--and being content about that--I think "Half of the time..." refers to touring. (Could also refer