He began performing with his schoolfriend Art Garfunkel in 1956; together the two came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. The duo's blend of folk and rock music in hits like "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America", and "The Boxer" served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their career together peaked with their last album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), at one point the best-selling album of all time. Throughout his subsequent solo career, Simon has continued to explore an eclectic mixture of genres, including gospel, reggae, soul, and more. His celebrated 1970s output—comprising Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)—kept him in the public spotlight and saw critical and commercial acclaim, spawning the hits "Mother and Child Reunion", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
Across his life, Simon has intermittently reunited with Garfunkel for several tours, including the famed Concert in Central Park. The widely lauded Graceland (1986) became Simon's biggest album of his career, melding his rock sound with worldbeat flavors; its single "You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's top hits. A sequel of sorts, The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), preceded his own successful Concert in the Park, attended by a half-million fans. That decade, Simon focused his energies on a Broadway musical The Capeman (1997), which was poorly received. In the first quarter of the next century, Simon continued to record and tour; his later albums, such as You're the One (2000), So Beautiful or So What (2011), and Stranger to Stranger (2016), have introduced him to new generations. He retired from touring in 2018. His most recent work, Seven Psalms, will see release in May 2023.
Simon is among the most acclaimed musicians and songwriters in popular music, and one of the world's best-selling music artists, both for his solo work and with Garfunkel. He is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been the recipient of sixteen Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence and Graceland, have seen induction into National Recording Registry for their cultural significance, and in 2007, the Library of Congress crowned him the inaugural winner of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He is a co-founder of the Children's Health Fund, a nonprofit that provides medical care to children.
In an in-depth interview reprinted in American Songwriter, Simon discusses the craft of songwriting with music journalist Tom Moon. In the interview, Simon explains the basic themes in his songwriting: love, family and social commentary (as well as the overarching messages of religion, spirituality and God in his lyrics). Simon explains the process of how he goes about writing songs in the interview: "The music always precedes the words. The words often come from the sound of the music and eventually evolve into coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Rhythm plays a crucial part in the lyric-making as well. It's like a puzzle to find the right words to express what the music is saying."
American Tune
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And many times confused
Yes, and I've often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I'm alright, I'm alright
I'm just weary to my bones
Still, you don't expect to be bright and bon vivant
So far away from home
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 alright, it's alright
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 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, we come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hours
And sing an American tune
Oh, and it's alright, it's alright, 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
In his song American Tune, Paul Simon portrays a sense of confusion and exhaustion that many people feel, especially when they are far away from their home. He acknowledges that he has been mistaken and confused in the past and that he has often felt abandoned and mistreated. Despite this, he is still able to remain positive, stating that he is “alright, I'm just weary to my bones.” The song takes a more somber turn when Simon speaks about the people around him who have also been through difficult times. He notes that “I don't know a soul who's not been battered. I don't have a friend who feels at ease.” Simon also reflects on how many dreams have been shattered and wonders what has gone wrong.
Towards the end of the song, Simon reflects on a dream he had where he was dying and his soul rose unexpectedly, looking back at him reassuringly. He then dreamed that he was flying, high above, and he could see the Statue of Liberty sailing away to sea. This image represents the uncertainty of the future in America and how it can seem like everything is slipping away. Despite this, Simon reminds us that we all come from a long line of people who have faced difficult times, whether it was coming to America on the Mayflower or watching the moon landing. He states that “tomorrow's gonna be another working day,” and all he is trying to do is get some rest.
Line by Line Meaning
Many's the time I've been mistaken
I have been wrong and made mistakes many times
And many times confused
I have been confused multiple times
Yes, and I've often felt forsaken
I have experienced feeling abandoned many times
And certainly misused
I have been mistreated or taken advantage of multiple times
Oh, but I'm alright, I'm alright
Despite all of these experiences, I am alright
I'm just weary to my bones
However, I am extremely tired and exhausted
Still, you don't expect to be bright and bon vivant
I realize that it is not realistic to always be lively and vivacious
So far away from home
Especially when I am far from home
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
It appears that everyone I know has been through a rough time
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
None of my friends appear to be content or comfortable
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Even my dreams and aspirations have been crushed
Or driven to its knees
Or brought to the limit of its capabilities
Oh, but it's alright, it's alright
Despite this reality, everything will be ok
For we've lived so well so long
Because we have been fortunate for a long time
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
However, when I consider the path that we are currently on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I cannot help but question what has happened for us to be in this situation
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
I am unable to stop wondering what has caused our current state
And I dreamed I was dying
I had a dream where I was close to death
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
In this dream, my soul unexpectedly left my body
And looking back down at me
As I left my body, I was able to look back and see the physical world
Smiled reassuringly
From this vantage point, something (possibly a deity or a loved one) smiled at me and made me feel comforted
And I dreamed I was flying
I also had a dream where I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
In this dream, I was high above the ground and could see far distances clearly
The Statue of Liberty
One of the landmarks I saw was the Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
In the dream, the Statue of Liberty appeared to be moving away from me, towards the ocean
Oh, we come on the ship they call the Mayflower
The Mayflower is the ship on which the first English colonists arrived in America
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
This is a metaphorical line, indicating that Americans have experienced some of the most astounding accomplishments in history
We come in the age's most uncertain hours
This line suggests that Americans are living in an extremely uncertain time in history
And sing an American tune
However, despite the challenges and uncertainties, Americans continue to carry on
Oh, and it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Despite the many difficulties, everything is still okay
You can't be forever blessed
It is unrealistic to expect everything in life to be perfect forever
Still, tomorrow's gonna be another working day
Regardless of what difficulties come my way, tomorrow is simply another day of work
And I'm trying to get some rest
In spite of everything, I am doing my best to get the rest I need
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RIDETHESUNSHINE
Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I’ve often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I’m all right, I’m all right
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 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 lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road
We’re traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what’s gone wrong
And I dreamed I was dying
And I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying
Oh, we come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age’s most uncertain hour
And sing an American tune
Oh, it’s all right, it’s all right
It’s all right, it’s all right
You can’t be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow’s going to be another working day
And I’m trying to get some rest
That’s all I’m trying to get some rest
Paul Simon
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Will
@stvbrsn
Ok… setting aside the timeless perfection of the lyrics... Setting aside the elegantly simple melody and song structure… Setting aside Paul’s sublime voice…
If you can set all those things aside (which of course you can’t)…
Just take a moment to appreciate the arrangement of this recording. Amazing.
Just acoustic gtr and voice to begin. Then the organ slips in, almost unnoticed. The trap drums come in (just as verse two starts) for punctuation. And then as we enter the bridge… those strings. I promise you, if you listen to this and focus on the strings during the bridge, you will get tears.
Either that or something’s wrong with you.😁
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
Many's the time I've been mistaken, and many times confused
Yes and I've often felt forsaken, and certainly misused
Ah but I'm alright, I'm alright, I'm just weary thru my bones
Still you don't expect to be bright and bon-vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home
And 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
But it's alright, it's alright, for we live 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 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
But we come on a ship they called Mayflower
We come on a ship that sailed the moon
We come in the ages' most uncertain hours and sing an American tune
And it's alright, oh it's alright, it's alright, you can 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
@joesmith942
I'm just trying to figure out how he wrote perfect lyrics in 1973 for 2020.
@classichost
In 1973 this country was almost as much of a fractured mess as today. Watergate, the energy crisis, a war we were trying to finally get out of, a world that for many had changed much as the world has changed for us today. But the message in the end is that because we are Americans we would get past it and be stronger. Now it feels like because we are Americans we may never get past it.
@steveweinstein3222
Great art is always relevant.
@willdwyer6782
History doesn't repeat itself but it sure does rhyme.
@jacksonk.fozzbodie213
@@classichost Thanks to democrats
@johndemeritt3460
@@jacksonk.fozzbodie213, it's neither Republicans nor Democrats, but all of us who're responsible. We talk past one another rather than listening to each other. When we assume we know the other's positions, feelings and experiences, we tend to draw very mistaken conclusions about each other.
I'm willing to listen and perhaps learn where I might be wrong. Will you listen?
@davidc3857
One of the saddest songs I've ever heard in my life but it's very relevant, especially in these trying times that we live in... Paul Simon is one of the greatest composers/song writers & musicians that my generation has ever produced, pure genius! He speaks for the huddled masses that are heartbroken and displaced. An American Tune sung by a true American Hero in my humble opinion.....
@davidc3857
Seth Tuthill Yes, it's all how you.percieve things, I don't know where you're at but one of the people running for governor here wants to raise the sales tax on everything 37%, that's insane! We've got lots of racial tension going on here because of the Travon Martin & Corey Jones killings, both killings were somewhat local to here, the crime rate is rising, we were hit badly by Hurricane Irma last year here in Florida and this is going to be another busy hurricane season. There's numerous other notable things going on like the Parkland school shooting last Valentines day with 17 shot and killed, that's 20 miles away from here, I've got children so needless to say, I'm concerned! The list is endless, in short, YES, I'd certainly consider these trying times! ....Apparently you're not a working adult with children living in this area of Florida & phased by these problems?! SMH
@davidc3857
@@billyshakespeare17 That's ok, everybody's entitled to their opinion, its a free country.... I wish that I was where you're at in this point of time, where there isn't the problems that I had mentioned... Must be nice? However, it is nice to see folks who have an optimistic outlook and see a bright future...
@davidc3857
@@billyshakespeare17 No argument there! Human beings are the biggest problem & are solely responsible for the problems yet few people take notice or seem to care anymore, very sad indeed! I weep for the future....