Mrs. Robinson

song by Simon

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

"Mrs. Robinson" is a song by the American musical duo Simon and Garfunkel, released in 1968. It was famously featured on the soundtrack of the 1967 film The Graduate. The song's title and theme were inspired by a request from the film's director, Mike Nichols, who felt the song would fit the movie better than other options. While the song's lyrics are somewhat abstract, they are often interpreted as reflecting themes of seduction and societal pressures, mirroring the film's narrative about a young man's affair with an older woman. "Mrs. Robinson" became a major hit for the duo, winning Grammy Awards and contributing significantly to the success of both the film and the duo's album Bookends.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Art Garfunkel
Success in Simon and Garfunkel
…“I Am a Rock,” “Mrs. Robinson” (from the feature film The Graduate [1967]), “A Hazy Shade of Winter,” “At the Zoo,” “Scarborough Fair/Canticle,” “The Boxer,” “Bridge over Troubled Water,” and “Cecilia.” However, at the height of their popularity, the duo’s personal relationship began to unravel, in part because of…
Read More
…“I Am a Rock,” “Mrs. Robinson” (from the feature film The Graduate [1967]), “A Hazy Shade of Winter,” “At the Zoo,” “Scarborough Fair/Canticle,” “The Boxer,” “Bridge over Troubled Water,” and “Cecilia.” However, at the height of their popularity, the duo’s personal relationship began to unravel, in part because of…
Read More