Paul Simon's "America," sung by the Swedish duo First Aid Kit, at a concert in Stockholm in 2012 (bringing tears to Simon's eyes, as he was there; and as it may do to yours)
Paul Simon's "America," sung by the Swedish duo First Aid Kit, at a concert in Stockholm in 2012 (bringing tears to Simon's eyes, as he was there; and as it may do to yours)
Nice choice Mark. 10 years seems so very long ago now... I feel like if we don't unite and do something soon, we are all just going to continue to watch an iron curtain close on our own country. Just look at the bickering going on about RFK Jr.
My husband is good friend with Simon and Garfunkel They were childhood buddies and played baseball (Hoderson ATHLETIC CLUB. and Miller Bread)together in Queens NY, and their mothers played Mahjong together for many years. When I first met my husband I thought he was kidding because I absolutely loved them and had all their albums. One day were going to Kennedy airport to pick up
tickets and there was a huge limo in front of our car at the terminal. My husband saw Simon in the car but Simon got out of the limo to say hi to my husband. I was really quite shocked.
We all went to the counter together to pick up tickets. Simon was going to South Africa. I remember one thing about him. He was one of the most genuine celebrity I ever met. He asked me what I did for a living but more than that he looked directly in my eyes when I explained my teaching handicapped children. I had the privilege of telling him that I thought he was the spokesman of an entire generation. He actually blushed. Outstanding gentleman soft spoken humble and my husband said he was a good baseball player too.
This song was always my favorite however the poignant feeling still runs deep in America as we the “elders “ now can actually remember a time we were all young fresh faced and loved our country with all our hearts regardless of its faults because we descendants of European grandparents knew what oppressive worlds we managed to escape. Bittersweet memories now.
Beautiful and at the same time crushingly sad. I don’t know what or whom to trust anymore. But we’ll persevere and figure things out for the better. There is no other choice.
Well, I am not tearing up. I am angry. America is, and always has been, here---but it is being willfully, systematically and maliciously destroyed and those of us that know what it COULD be are aching. And dumb, NEA- and Hollywood-corrupted, young people--teamed up with goofball, self-indulgent and clueless 60- and 70-somethings, Republican and Democrat, "educated" and uneducated, male and female, religious and non-religious, as well as all the maliciously obedient and supercilious, are aiding that destruction by consenting to tyranny. What a vapid trashcan of lyrics. (B.t.w., I have their vinyls from my teen-fan days.)
Thank you MCM, but darn you’ve got me crying! And mourning our great nation. Interesting that Swedes sang that song. My parents came from Stockholm to look for America in 1949. They toured and embraced their new country before my father entered medical school in Iowa that year. Two of us were born in Iowa and two at Mayo Clinic in MN, where dad got his pathology credentials. Funny- none of the four kids were given citizenship until my parents gained citizenship. We ended up in California, where “the grass is greener”, as it was for many years. My parents are lucky to be gone, I hate to say. Thus my tears.
A song from a time when America was a place to discover, when there was possibilities and hope. Simon has another song that turned out to be more apropos, that also had "America" in the title, American Tune:
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it's all right, it's all right
For we've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
And of course also begging a listen is "Sounds of Silence", which is universally regarded as the best song ever written. Take a listen to the Disturbed's version of it, it underscores the poetry of the song very dramatically.
It's funny how subjective music can be. Paul Simon's first solo album after splitting with Art Garfunkel featured a poignant piece called "Armistice Day". I was surprised to read in an interview that Paul considered it the weakest song on the album. I loved it - especially the killer lines:
Nice choice Mark. 10 years seems so very long ago now... I feel like if we don't unite and do something soon, we are all just going to continue to watch an iron curtain close on our own country. Just look at the bickering going on about RFK Jr.
My husband is good friend with Simon and Garfunkel They were childhood buddies and played baseball (Hoderson ATHLETIC CLUB. and Miller Bread)together in Queens NY, and their mothers played Mahjong together for many years. When I first met my husband I thought he was kidding because I absolutely loved them and had all their albums. One day were going to Kennedy airport to pick up
tickets and there was a huge limo in front of our car at the terminal. My husband saw Simon in the car but Simon got out of the limo to say hi to my husband. I was really quite shocked.
We all went to the counter together to pick up tickets. Simon was going to South Africa. I remember one thing about him. He was one of the most genuine celebrity I ever met. He asked me what I did for a living but more than that he looked directly in my eyes when I explained my teaching handicapped children. I had the privilege of telling him that I thought he was the spokesman of an entire generation. He actually blushed. Outstanding gentleman soft spoken humble and my husband said he was a good baseball player too.
This song was always my favorite however the poignant feeling still runs deep in America as we the “elders “ now can actually remember a time we were all young fresh faced and loved our country with all our hearts regardless of its faults because we descendants of European grandparents knew what oppressive worlds we managed to escape. Bittersweet memories now.
Beautiful and at the same time crushingly sad. I don’t know what or whom to trust anymore. But we’ll persevere and figure things out for the better. There is no other choice.
Yep. Got the tears rolling. Witnessing human genius and beauty does that to me. WTF?
This is a wonderful song but there's no America to find anymore. American Tune is more like it, also Simon and Gar.
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it's all right, it's all right
For we've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
Well, I am not tearing up. I am angry. America is, and always has been, here---but it is being willfully, systematically and maliciously destroyed and those of us that know what it COULD be are aching. And dumb, NEA- and Hollywood-corrupted, young people--teamed up with goofball, self-indulgent and clueless 60- and 70-somethings, Republican and Democrat, "educated" and uneducated, male and female, religious and non-religious, as well as all the maliciously obedient and supercilious, are aiding that destruction by consenting to tyranny. What a vapid trashcan of lyrics. (B.t.w., I have their vinyls from my teen-fan days.)
Thanks for sharing that, Mark. We are not giving up on America.
Good one Mark. Paul has a new album out...recorded at my cousin-in-law’s studio near Austin: “Seven Psalms”
Thank you MCM, but darn you’ve got me crying! And mourning our great nation. Interesting that Swedes sang that song. My parents came from Stockholm to look for America in 1949. They toured and embraced their new country before my father entered medical school in Iowa that year. Two of us were born in Iowa and two at Mayo Clinic in MN, where dad got his pathology credentials. Funny- none of the four kids were given citizenship until my parents gained citizenship. We ended up in California, where “the grass is greener”, as it was for many years. My parents are lucky to be gone, I hate to say. Thus my tears.
A song from a time when America was a place to discover, when there was possibilities and hope. Simon has another song that turned out to be more apropos, that also had "America" in the title, American Tune:
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it's all right, it's all right
For we've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
And of course also begging a listen is "Sounds of Silence", which is universally regarded as the best song ever written. Take a listen to the Disturbed's version of it, it underscores the poetry of the song very dramatically.
Beautiful and has me going back to look at the lyrics.
Mr. Simon has written many, many beautiful songs. I've been a fan since Sounds of Silence.
But this is probably his most poignant and beautiful song, and this duo (with an orchestra!) does a superb job (11 years ago!).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiDc4DbFQZY
It's funny how subjective music can be. Paul Simon's first solo album after splitting with Art Garfunkel featured a poignant piece called "Armistice Day". I was surprised to read in an interview that Paul considered it the weakest song on the album. I loved it - especially the killer lines:
"I'm weary from waiting
Down in Washington DC
I've come to see my congressman
But he's avoiding me"
As true now as it was then.
Mark, thank you for that........yes, tears.
Thanks for sharing this incredible vid. Brought tears and smiles both to me.