Richard Cory (song)

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Album This song officially appears on the Wings Over America Official live.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1976

Revolution 9

Riding Into Jaipur

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Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“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. The song was based on Edwin Arlington Robinson’s 1897 poem of the same title.

Plot

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.

Covers

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. […]

Last updated on February 7, 2017

Lyrics

They say that Richard Cory
Owns one half of this whole town
With political connections he spreads his wealth around
Born into society, a banker's only child
He had everything a man could want: money, grace, and style

The papers print his picture almost every place he goes
Richard Cory at the opera
Richard Cory at the shows
And the rumor of his parties and the orgies on his yacht
He really must be happy with everything he's got

But I work in his factory?
And I curse the life I'm living?
I curse my poverty?
I wish that I could be
I wish that I could be?
Oh, I wish that I could be?
Richard Cory

He freely gave to charity, he had the common touch
And they were grateful for his patronage and thanked him very much
So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read
Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head

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

Officially appears on

Wings Over America

Official live • Released in 1976

3:05 • Live • L1

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Vocals

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Acoustic guitar, Vocals

Mark Vigars :: Assistant mixing engineer

Phil McDonald :: Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording

Jack Maxson :: Recording engineer

Tom Walsh :: Assistant recording engineer

Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976

Wings Over America - Archive Collection

Official live • Released in 2013

3:05 • Live • L1.2013 • 2013 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Vocals

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Acoustic guitar, Vocals

Mark Vigars :: Assistant mixing engineer

Phil McDonald :: Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording

Jack Maxson :: Recording engineer

Tom Walsh :: Assistant recording engineer

Guy Massey :: Remastering

Steve Rooke :: Remastering

Simon Gibson :: Remastering

Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976

Bootlegs

Rrrrooock Show

Unofficial live

3:15 • Live

Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976

Welcome To Washington

Unofficial live

3:06 • Live

Concert From the concert in Seattle, USA on Jun 10, 1976

A Great Return To America

Unofficial live

3:07 • Live

Concert From the concert in Fort Worth, USA on May 03, 1976

Great Lost Takal Master

Unofficial live • Released in 1996

2:53 • Live

Concert From the concert in Landover, USA on May 15, 1976

Wings Over Boston

Unofficial live • Released in 2000

2:58 • Live

Concert From the concert in Boston, USA on May 22, 1976

See all bootlegs containing “Richard Cory”

Live performances

“Richard Cory” has been played in 60 concerts.

Year	Soundchecks	Concerts
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1975	0	17
1976	0	43
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2015	0	0
2016	0	0
2017	0	0
2018	0	0
2019	0	0
2020	0	0
2021	0	0
2022	0	0
2023	0	0

Latest concerts where Richard Cory has been played

London • Empire Pool • United Kingdom

Oct 21, 1976 • Part of Wings Over the World tour

London • Empire Pool • United Kingdom

Oct 20, 1976 • Part of Wings Over the World tour

London • Empire Pool • United Kingdom

Oct 19, 1976 • Part of Wings Over the World tour

Munich • Olympiahalle • Germany

Sep 27, 1976 • Part of Wings Over the World tour

Venice • Piazza San Marco • Italy

Sep 25, 1976 • Part of Wings Over the World tour

See all concerts where “Richard Cory” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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