American Tune

[Voltaire]

Many's the time I've been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes and I've often been foresaken
And certainly misused
Oh but I'm allright....I'm allright
I'm just weary to my bones
Still, you don't expect to be bright and bon vivant
So far away from home
So far away from home

I don't know a soul that'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 its allright, its allright
For we've lived so well, so long
Still, when I think of the road we're travelling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it I wonder, what's gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me, smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty, sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

Oh they come on the ship they call the Mayflower
They come on the ship that sailed the Moon
They come in the Age's most uncertain hour
And sing an American Tune
Ah, but its allright. . .
It's allright, It's alright
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's gonna be another working day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying, to get some rest

Paul Simon

Have a great day everyone...Peace

[Voltaire]

1. Kick

Cuz its a good song. And appropriate.

[Bluebear]

2. 'You can't be forever blessed'

It's a wonderful tune, thank you for posting it.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. I can't listen to that song any more.

I played it a few times in early November, but it got to be too painful.

You do know that Paul wrote that after Nixon had creamed McGovern in '72, right?

[Voltaire]

5. Didn't know that

but that would have been the time to write it. I played it a lot in November too. Some days I am infuriated at our state of affairs and some days I am just deeply deeply saddened by it all. That's what that song reminds me of.

[bunkerbuster1]

6. Here's a pertinent quote

It is a song about disillusion. It was written after Nixon was elected. It bothers me whenever I think that the definition of American doesn't include everybody, doesn't include the minorities, equally. And whenever I feel that we're in a time where that's the case, it's reactionary to me and it makes me uncomfortable, and I think that's the case today.

He said that in 1986, five years into Raygun's term. Go figure.

BTW, if you haven't heard a live version from '74, sung solo-acoustic, on an LP called "Live Rhymin'"--worth seeking.

there's something about the way his voice cracks a little on last word of this line

Oh they come on the ship they call the Mayflower

that's so heartfelt and fragile it gets me in the gut every time.

[Bluebear]

7. Tears me to shreds.

This indeed is a song for our time. Again. Still.

[Voltaire]

8. Looking back at the last 5 years

"I'm just weary to my bones" is the one that most mirrors what I feel most of the time. You all will well know that seeing a trainwreck in the making and trying to get the blind and the deaf to recognize it is one tiring chore. I am heartily sick of it. But I can't stop because I don't want to let us down.

[Bluebear]

9. kick

[lisa58]

4. I Love this song - thanks for reminding me!

[Bluerthanblue]

10. ahhhh Paul... i hear your voice so clear... so

right...

so beautiful.

i was just thinking about maybe venezuala was a better place for me... but i can't run away from myself....

rest, oh how we could all use some blessed, refreshing, rest.

thanks for the song-
and the peace it brings....

[Bluebear]

11. The last 5 years have been exhausting btb

'rest, oh how we could all use some blessed, refreshing, rest.'

how right you are.