PERMA-NENTLY FEELIN’ GROOVY!

When I first heard Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)’ in my late teens, I didn’t grasp the deeper message of mindfulness and happiness woven into its lyrics. Back then, I just thought it was about “looking for fun and feeling groovy,” the kind of song which I took on face value as hipster language for the ultimate cool. Far out, man! Like many other songs, I misinterpreted its meaning at first. Over time, however, it grew to mean much more to me — a realization that came as both my personal life and professional perspective evolved. In a way, Paul Simon’s intuitive wisdom in the lyrics of The 59th Street Bridge Song, , and the PERMA model of positive psychology (more on that later), have all intersected to shape my understanding of well-being.

Misunderstanding lyrics wasn’t a one-time thing for me. In fact, it became a bit of a theme. Take Queen’s Killer Queen, for example. My twelve-year-old self was utterly convinced that Freddie Mercury was singing, “dynamite with a lesbian” instead of the actual line, “dynamite with a laser beam”! Misheard lyrics like that can be pretty funny in hindsight, and serve as a reminder of how much our interpretations reflect what we know — or don’t know — at the time.

Another classic song I misheard and misunderstood was also a Simon & Garfunkel recording of the old English folk song, Scarborough Fair. With its haunting chorus, “Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme…” I assumed these were simply four girls’ names (not that I knew anyone by these names, but it sort of made sense that someone was asking Parsley and her friends if they were off to the fair). Growing up in a small Scottish town with little exposure to herbs beyond salt and pepper, I didn’t know any better! It wasn’t until later that I learned they were actual aromatic plants, each carrying its own symbolic meaning. Now that I cook, my understanding of herbs has shifted with age and experience, revealing layers of flavour I hadn’t tasted before — cumin, paprika, coriander…

Shifts in perspective aren’t limited to music. It’s something I’ve experienced in my professional field as well. When I first was exposed to psychology, much of the focus was on dysfunction — understanding mental illness and what goes wrong in the mind. But then Martin Seligman came along and popularized positive psychology, a field that focusses on positive emotions, and explores what makes life worth living. This approach emphasizes well-being and fulfillment, which was a refreshing shift for me.

Within positive psychology, there’s this model called PERMA, which outlines five key elements that contribute to a flourishing life: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. And that got me thinking about The 59th Street Bridge Song , and how much of PERMA was already embedded in those seemingly simple lyrics.

It’s almost as if Paul Simon intuitively knew the importance of these elements long before positive psychology was in vogue. Was he a philosopher? Was he amused, playing around with words? Or was he ahead of his time, with insights we’d only recognize decades later? We know he was a brilliant musician, but there’s a timeless wisdom in his lyrics that makes you wonder. Here’s the thing: we don’t know what we don’t know. As our minds open and we learn, we begin to look deeper and interpret things differently. What might seem straightforward at first can later reveal layers of meaning we weren’t capable of grasping before.

Positive Emotions

The song is brimming with positive emotions. Right from the opening line, “Slow down, you move too fast; you got to make the morning last,” there’s an invitation to take time out to simply embrace happiness and joy. This aligns directly with the “Positive Emotions” component of the PERMA model, encouraging followers to experience life with a sense of light heartedness, optimism, and an appreciation in life’s small pleasures.

Engagement

The PERMA model also emphasizes the importance of engagement, or what we often call “flow.” This is the state of being fully absorbed in what you’re doing. While the song doesn’t refer to a specific activity, the lines “kickin’ down the cobblestones” , and “lookin’ for fun and feelin’ groovy” , suggest taking time out and becoming completely immersed in the simple pleases of a casual stroll in the present moment. 

Relationships

The PERMA model highlights the value of relationships and social connections. The song hints at a sense of connectedness to the world. The whimsical line, “Hello lamppost, whatcha knowin’?”, suggests a light-hearted interaction with the environment, as if the singer is forming a friendly bond with elements of the city. This can represent a broader idea of relationships — not just with people, but with our surroundings, reminding us of the joy that comes from feeling connected.

Meaning

The fourth element of the PERMA model is meaning, or a sense of purpose in life. In The 59th Street Bridge Song, this is a subtle yet powerful theme. The lyrics encourage us to slow down and savour life, which can be seen as a meaningful act in itself. By taking a break from the rush and embracing the present moment, the song suggests that there’s purpose in simply being. Life’s significance can often be found in appreciating each day and cherishing the little moments.

Accomplishment

While traditional accomplishments are not directly referenced in the song, it does celebrate a sense of fulfillment and contentment in the present. Sometimes, just being able to pause, breathe, and feel “groovy” can feel like an accomplishment on its own. This reflects the idea that achievements aren’t always about big goals; sometimes, they’re about reaching a state of contentment and well-being.

So now, in my world, The 59th Street Bridge Song has a completely different significance. The words and music are still the same, but my interpretation has shifted, much like my understanding of psychology through a positive lens. Now, I see Simon & Garfunkel’s song as a reminder to slow down and appreciate life, capturing elements of the PERMA model that are fundamental to well-being. Their lyrics remind us that slowing down, enjoying the present, and finding pleasure in life’s simple moments are not just feel-good ideas — they are, in a sense, the building blocks of a fulfilling life.

In much the same way, positive psychology has taught us what contributes to a good life. But sometimes, as with music, it takes time and growth to recognize the beauty and meaning that was always there, waiting for us to understand it. Now, if I can just figure out what Bohemian Rhapsody means, I’ll be one step closer to enlightenment — ‘Is this real life? Is this just fantasy?’ Now there’s a philosophical quandary that would take a whole book to explore!