Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall

The song's lyrics talk about coping with reality and personal confusion.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8bp4UEtMQMC&dq=%22Flowers+Never+Bend+with+the+Rainfall%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA194 |title=Kicking Through the Leaves |publisher=Donald Skiff |isbn=978-1-4243-4296-9 |language=en}} In Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography, Laura Jackson says "his mirror on the wall threw back an image dark and small, which to some degree depressed him."{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3qHJueGtlhsC&dq=%22Flowers+Never+Bend+with+the+Rainfall%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA34 |title=Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography |date=2004-04-01 |publisher=Citadel Press |isbn=978-0-8065-2539-6 |language=en}}

The song is played in the key of G on The Paul Simon Songbook but capoed up two frets to A on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.{{Cite book |last=Bennighof |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v7fOEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Flowers+Never+Bend+with+the+Rainfall%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA29 |title=The Words and Music of Paul Simon |date=2007-10-30 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-0-313-08279-5 |language=en}}

Hey Alma called it a "joyful blend of baritone and tenor"{{Cite web |last=Frick |first=Evelyn |date=2022-01-26 |title=I Can Be the Only Living Boy in New York |url=https://www.heyalma.com/i-can-be-the-only-living-boy-in-new-york/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Hey Alma |language=en-US}}

Looking back 50 years to 1965, Cornell Banca said somewhat uncharitably the song and "A Most Peculiar Man" "confront the listener with similarly shallow "philosophical" reflections that sound engaging the first few times, and then pale on repeated listening."{{Cite book |last=Bonca |first=Cornel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VZ_YBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Flowers+Never+Bend+with+the+Rainfall%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA29 |title=Paul Simon: An American Tune |date=2014-10-10 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8108-8482-3 |language=en}}

The All Music Guide Required: Classic Rock book by Hal Leonard said it "was Simon at his most reflectively philosophical, dealing with age and its changes much as 'Patterns'"{{Cite book |last1=Woodstra |first1=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZ2bT1mu97kC&dq=%22Flowers+Never+Bend+with+the+Rainfall%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA196 |title=All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock |last2=Bush |first2=John |last3=Erlewine |first3=Stephen Thomas |date=2007 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-0-87930-917-6 |language=en}}

Matthew Greenwald at AllMusic states "An almost dead ringer for "Red Rubber Ball," a Paul Simon song never recorded in the studio by Simon & Garfunkel (it was a hit by the Cyrcle), "Flowers That Never Bend With the Rainfall" is a simple yet very likeable slice of pop confection. As with many of Simon's songs, this is a simple yet insightful self-analysis, filled with pathos and humor. Musically, it showcases Simon's pop instincts in a very powerful and charming way. There are many other songs of his from this period that are indeed better, but the sense of craftsmanship easily puts it on the level of Simon's other, more ambitious creations."{{Citation |title=Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall - Simon &... {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/flowers-never-bend-with-the-rainfall-mt0028618671 |access-date=2024-06-20 |language=en}}

The live tribute band Toast recorded a cover of the song in 1970 that was later included on Under the Covers – Forty Great Paul Simon Cover Versions 1964–2017.{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bcskEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Flowers+Never+Bend+with+the+Rainfall%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA52 |title=Paul Simon FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Legendary Singer and the Iconic Songs |date=2019-11-20 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-5075-8 |language=en}}

{{reflist}}{{Simon & Garfunkel singles}}

Category:1965 songs

Category:Paul Simon songs

Category:Simon & Garfunkel songs

Category:Songs written by Paul Simon