América
Simon and Garfunkel Tribute Band Lyrics
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We'll marry our fortunes together.
I've got some real estate
Here in my bag."
So we bought a pack of cigarettes,
And Mrs. Wagner's pies,
And walked off
To look for America.
"Kathy," I said,
As we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh,
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now,
It took me four days
To hitch-hike from Saginaw.
I've come to look for America."
Laughing on the bus,
Playing games with the faces,
She said the man in the gabardine suit
Was a spy.
I said, "Be careful,
His bow tie is really a camera."
"Toss me a cigarette,
I think there's one in my raincoat."
"We smoked the last one
an hour ago."
So I looked at the scenery,
She read her magazine;
And the moon rose over an open field.
"Kathy, I'm lost", I said,
Thought I knew she was sleeping.
"I'm empty and aching and
I don't know why."
Counting the cars
On the New Jersey Turnpike.
They've all come
To look for America,
All come to look for America,
All come to look for America.
The song "America" by Simon and Garfunkel is a poignant portrayal of two young people in search of their own identity and the true essence of America. The opening lines of the song suggest a desire for a shared future, as the singer invites his lover to "marry our fortunes together" and carry on a life of love and adventure. He then introduces his companion to his "real estate" in his bag, implying that he is carrying his hopes and dreams for the future with him.
The song then shifts to a past memory of boarding a Greyhound bus in Pittsburgh in search of the elusive idea of America. The singer speaks about the beauty of Michigan and the difficulty he faced in getting there, hitch-hiking from Saginaw. As they travel, the singer and his companion indulge in playful banter, observing the other passengers on the bus.
The song then takes a darker turn, as the singer suspects that a man in a gabardine suit is a spy, warning his companion to be cautious. As they run out of cigarettes, the two companions watch the scenery go by as the moon rises over an open field. The song concludes with the singer admitting his confusion and uncertainty about his own identity, as he counts the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike with all the other travelers who have come to look for America.
Overall, "America" is a carefully crafted song that explores the idea of American identity through the lens of two young travelers. It captures the restlessness and uncertainty of a generation that was trying to come to terms with social and political change.
Line by Line Meaning
Let us be lovers,
Let's form a deep connection and love each other.
We'll marry our fortunes together.
Let's combine our financial futures.
I've got some real estate
Here in my bag.
I have valuable possessions in my bag.
So we bought a pack of cigarettes,
And Mrs. Wagner's pies,
We bought some small indulgences.
And walked off
To look for America.
We embarked on a journey to find and experience America.
"Kathy," I said,
As we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh,
I addressed my companion on our Pittsburgh bus ride.
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now,
It took me four days
To hitch-hike from Saginaw.
I've come to look for America."
Michigan seems so distant and it took me a long time to reach Saginaw, but I'm searching for America.
Laughing on the bus,
Playing games with the faces,
We were enjoying ourselves on the bus, making fun of people's expressions and facial features.
She said the man in the gabardine suit
Was a spy.
I said, "Be careful,
His bow tie is really a camera."
She thought the well-dressed man was a spy, and I warned her that his bow tie concealed a camera.
"Toss me a cigarette,
I think there's one in my raincoat."
"We smoked the last one
an hour ago."
She wanted a cigarette, but we had run out an hour ago.
So I looked at the scenery,
She read her magazine;
And the moon rose over an open field.
I admired the surroundings while she read, and we watched the moon rise over a landscape.
"Kathy, I'm lost", I said,
Thought I knew she was sleeping.
"I'm empty and aching and
I don't know why."
I confessed to feeling lost and desolate, despite thinking she was asleep.
Counting the cars
On the New Jersey Turnpike.
They've all come
To look for America,
I counted passing cars on the highway, all of whom were searching for America.
All come to look for America,
All come to look for America,
All come to look for America.
Repeated phrase - everyone is in search of America.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind