Something more needs to be said. This song reflects everything you described...but also describes it slipping away. It was written in the early 70's but is even more relevant today, 50 years later. He speaks of the unease, the sense of abandonment and the loss of cherished values..."my eyes could clearly see the statue of liberty sailing away to sea...". That is the America of today and it is worrisome and tiring. We all need to get some rest.
I'm now 73. I played this album seemingly a thousand times when it came out: There Goes Rhymin' Simon - SO many amazing songs on that album. In my humble opinion this is probably the best song Paul EVER wrote. It captures the American psyche, nearly an impossible thing to do. Written during the Viet Nam War and it is as relevant today as it was then. American melancholy and our sadness at not ever quite reaching our ideals. Then there is the element of our immigrant people still missing our original homelands in our souls. We came here with slaves, destroying Native Americans (our original sins) and yet hoping for a better life than we had. Hope, loneliness and cut off from our original roots in an alien place (so far away from home yet home), tears and loss. Simon uses brilliant imagery: the Statue of Liberty, the little ship the Half Moon that Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River in for the first time in this "new world", the Mayflower, our bone-deep fatigue and needing to rest but getting up the next day to try again to make the country and life for the everyday working man or woman a bit better. And, with all the disappointment I sense some salvation. "...my soul rose unexpectedly, looking back down at me, smiled reassuringly..." Things may just turn out alright, a reference to fundamental American optimism. I've tried but cannot entirely put my feelings about American Tune into words and perhaps that is the way it should be when it comes to great art. I think one could write a doctoral thesis on this song alone.
Paul Simon has earned his accolades throughout his career. "American Tune" captured a moment in time of war, uncertainty, unrest and cultural changes. He masterfully distilled the unspoken fears of our time and the words are as applicable today as they were 50 years ago.
You might also enjoy the live version of this song many years later at the Grammy Awards. He invited Rhiannon Giddens to sing while he played, and she adds another layer to this song. Some of her ancestors came unwilling to America in the darkness below the decks, and they did not find freedom for awhile. I’ve been a Paul Simon fan since I was a teenager, but I’ve only discovered Rhiannon Giddens in the last five or six years. She’s got a gorgeous voice, an incredible spirit. They made fabulous music together.
The meaning is in the title itself. America is singing a tune of its history. Its experiences throughout. "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." America is speaking about what it is witnessing. "They come on the ship the called the Mayflower. They come on the ship that sailed the moon..." Speaking of all those who came to this country throughout our history. Paul Simon is more than a genius. He is a seer. Extremely beautiful song.
Thanks Mojo . Never expected to see a reaction to this hidden gem. I think Paul Simon is commenting on the weariness people felt after events of 60s and early 70s, Vietnam war assassinations civil rights issues. The list goes on. Sadly nearly 50 years later this song still feels relevant. " I'm just trying to get some rest that's all just trying to get some rest "
Your break down seems good to me. The image of the Statue of Liberty sailing out to sea suggests to me the ideal of liberty has become unmoored and is being lost. But in the end however shattered our dreams, we just go to work and try to get some rest. Your reaction really felt that.
Yes, precisely - I see it as an continuation of Bridge Over Troubled Water, where PS also uses this powerful image of the Statue ( Goddess) of Liberty: " Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by, Your time has come to shine (!!!), All your dreams are on their Way, See how they shine ..." I do know that it's also a cheeky little reference to his wife at the time, who had just noticed her first grey hair, but that doesn't prevent it from having a double meaning. 😉 The main theme of AT is borrowed ( with slight variations ) from a hymn by the classical German composer Hans Leo Hassler "Mein Gemuth ist mir verwirret" ( My mind/ feelings is / are confused", which was later used by the classical German composers Paul Gerhardt" Oh, Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" ( Oh, head full of blood and wounds (about Jesus)) and more famously by Johan Sebastian Bach in one of his concertos, but the B-section "And I dreamt I was flying ..." is by PS himself. But even folk singers like Pete Seeker & Peter, Poul & Mary have sung this tune ( The A-section of AT) under the title "Because All Men Are Brothers".
I was going through a terrible time. The "Weary to the bone," helped me define my feelings. I was contemplating suicide. "...my soul rose unexpectedly..smiled reassuringly," helped me. I cry Everytime I hear this. I loved the two of them but Paul is the world's Poet Laurete.
To me, Paul lived through a very tumultuous time in American history, the 60s, and he wrote several introspective songs on America. This is a wonderful song and your reaction was great.
Maybe the best folk/rock songwriter EVER. There Goes Rhymin Simon has so many different genres on it. It's probably my favorite album by him. This song makes me cry every time!
Yes, MojoDaddy, Paul Simon's solo work is astounding. If you're choosing a Mount Rushmore of greatest songwriters, it's Paul, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles.
Agree Paul Simon one of the most gifted songwriters ever! And his voice, his guitar, so so sweet. To me, this song has a very contemplative and weary feel to it. He sees the statue of liberty sailing out to sea. She's leaving. Dreams have been shattered or brought to their knees. It's this strange combination of positivity - I'm all right, it's all right, his soul smiled at him reassuringly - while also feeling that he is far from home, everyone is experiencing unease, he can't help thinking what's gone wrong. Is America real or is it just a dream or a wish, have our best days passed? Well it's all too much to think about, and he's going to have to get up and go to work tomorrow so he just needs to get some rest. It feels like a song about alienation but I can't really put my finger on it.
A beautiful song made deeply meaningful by Paul Simon's evocative lyrics. The tune has long classical roots - based on the hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded". Commonly known as Passion Chorale, itself a reworking of an earlier secular song, "Mein G'müt ist mir verwirret". However, the melody of "American Tune" is best known as part of Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Simon's version uses essentially the same harmonization.
Absolutely. And people should also be aware that the bridge section, that begins with, 'And I dreamed I was dying..', is all Paul (melody and lyrics). Imo, the bridge is what elevates this song to the next level.
thank you for sharing this! I didn't know the Bach Passion Chorale, but clearly Simon did ...and was as moved by it... as we are by his American Tune. ruclips.net/video/MY-aowxVXfI/видео.html&ab_channel=silvertone953
Thank you for playing this. Such a brilliant poet, musician. Eclectic , interesting man. When 9/11 happened, I'm a NYer I played this song over and over and over. This and Hallelujah sung by Wainright . Take good care
My favorite tune of all time. I remember him singing this on the televised special from DC for the 1976 bicentennial celebration. So perfect and powerful.
Did you know that the tune and instrumentation for this song is based on a movement in J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, a tune also used in the Christian Hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded?" You can sing that hymn over the Paul Simon song and the chords mostly match. It's ironic that the song called "American Tune" is actually based on a German tune.
And Bach even borrowed it from Paul Gerhardt's "Oh, Haupt voll Blut und Wunden", a hymn which was in turn a slightly reworked version of Hans Leo Hassler's "Mein G'müth ist mir verwirret" 😉
It really has an even deeper meaning: This song was written using the music from a hundreds-year old hymn and putting his own words in it, but if you know what the original hymn was (“Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded”) and consider this was a hymn about how Christ suffered and died and how sad it is that everyone doesn’t take advantage of his infinite sacrifice. Then consider that America was held in its place for the last days so that those seeking religious freedom could find refuge and His gospel could flourish and yet look what we’ve done with it.
It's from his There Goes Rhymin' Simon album. You ought to check out the studio version which has a beautiful string arrangement. Paul Simon is a genius!
Paul said in an interview he was upset about the 1960's veering towards a more conservative approach and less supportive of the civil rights of the 1960's. This was his song of grief that human rights and human dignity was losing the battle.
Great reaction, Mojo. One of my favorite songs. The heart of the song is: 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
An amazing and incredibly beautiful song from the famous song writing collective Hassler, Gerhardt, Bach und Simon 😉 Hans Leo Hassler: "Mein G'mut ist mir vervirret" ( 1500s ) Paul Gerhardt: "Oh, Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" ( slightly reworked tune, now with hymn lyrics, 1600s.) Johan Sebastian Bach: "St. Matthew Passion" using PG's hymn as a movement, slightly changed orchestral version, 1700s ) Paul Simon: "American Tune" ( new lyrics + addition of an extra B-piece, c. 1973 - 1974.)
Congratulations for letting the song play uninterrupted. I don't see the song quite the same way as you. The Statue of Liberty was sailing away to sea. When he thinks of the road we are travelling on he can't help but "wonder what's gone wrong". This is a song about disillusionment and the American dream going wrong. By the way if the tune sounds familiar it's actually J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion.
You got it totally wrong my friend. That's about the illusion of the idea of the opportunity and the fact that "you can't be forever blessed". And all his friends feel the same. Opportunity is the illusion created by the rich to keep the working class going ahead without rebelling. That's why he stopped thinking of his dreams as he needs "some rest" to work again tomorrow, and again and again ad again. Cheers
I think his peak was at the start of the 70s, the last album with Garfunkel and the two solo. Never been a big fan of Graceland. There were various reasons people went to America, the British monarchy had lost most of its power so that wasn't really important. There were factors such as religious strife (powered by long standing competition between states) and of course the promise of free land. The land was often taken from the natives but people didn't care back then. Some areas of Europe suffered depopulation.
Incredible song. Hard to pick a favourite Paul Simon but today I go for, "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War" - ruclips.net/video/nQ7sL9rdl58/видео.html
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Something more needs to be said. This song reflects everything you described...but also describes it slipping away. It was written in the early 70's but is even more relevant today, 50 years later. He speaks of the unease, the sense of abandonment and the loss of cherished values..."my eyes could clearly see the statue of liberty sailing away to sea...".
That is the America of today and it is worrisome and tiring. We all need to get some rest.
There are really not enough words to describe the magnitude of Paul Simon’s influence in music. The greatest artist of all. Thank you Paul Simon.❤️💐❤️
I'm now 73. I played this album seemingly a thousand times when it came out: There Goes Rhymin' Simon - SO many amazing songs on that album. In my humble opinion this is probably the best song Paul EVER wrote. It captures the American psyche, nearly an impossible thing to do. Written during the Viet Nam War and it is as relevant today as it was then. American melancholy and our sadness at not ever quite reaching our ideals. Then there is the element of our immigrant people still missing our original homelands in our souls. We came here with slaves, destroying Native Americans (our original sins) and yet hoping for a better life than we had. Hope, loneliness and cut off from our original roots in an alien place (so far away from home yet home), tears and loss. Simon uses brilliant imagery: the Statue of Liberty, the little ship the Half Moon that Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River in for the first time in this "new world", the Mayflower, our bone-deep fatigue and needing to rest but getting up the next day to try again to make the country and life for the everyday working man or woman a bit better. And, with all the disappointment I sense some salvation. "...my soul rose unexpectedly, looking back down at me, smiled reassuringly..." Things may just turn out alright, a reference to fundamental American optimism. I've tried but cannot entirely put my feelings about American Tune into words and perhaps that is the way it should be when it comes to great art. I think one could write a doctoral thesis on this song alone.
Well said! I'm 73 too, and know so well where you are coming from. Simon's best song, and that's saying a whole lot.
I am 60, I have Cancer and the Lines "I'm just weary to the bone" and "I'm just trying to get some rest" make me cry every time.
One Guy, One Acoustic Guitar produces all of that Emotion and Sound.
Reminds me of Don Mclean's "Vincent" in that regard. Same era too.
Paul Simon has earned his accolades throughout his career. "American Tune" captured a moment in time of war, uncertainty, unrest and cultural changes. He masterfully distilled the unspoken fears of our time and the words are as applicable today as they were 50 years ago.
Im 63 and I am sobbing. We keep throwing it all away.
You might also enjoy the live version of this song many years later at the Grammy Awards. He invited Rhiannon Giddens to sing while he played, and she adds another layer to this song. Some of her ancestors came unwilling to America in the darkness below the decks, and they did not find freedom for awhile. I’ve been a Paul Simon fan since I was a teenager, but I’ve only discovered Rhiannon Giddens in the last five or six years. She’s got a gorgeous voice, an incredible spirit. They made fabulous music together.
The meaning is in the title itself. America is singing a tune of its history. Its experiences throughout. "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." America is speaking about what it is witnessing. "They come on the ship the called the Mayflower. They come on the ship that sailed the moon..." Speaking of all those who came to this country throughout our history. Paul Simon is more than a genius. He is a seer. Extremely beautiful song.
For me this is the most perfect song ever written.
Can't argue with that.
My favorite Paul Simon tune. And considering he's my favorite song writer, that's high praise.
Song is just as powerful today as when I first heard it when I was fourteen.
This is one of my favorite songs. Doesn’t get as much attention as some of the others. Paul Simon is an amazing artist
I've heard this song countless times - and it never fails to move me.
Thanks Mojo . Never expected to see a reaction to this hidden gem. I think Paul Simon is commenting on the weariness people felt after events of 60s and early 70s, Vietnam war assassinations civil rights issues. The list goes on. Sadly nearly 50 years later this song still feels relevant. " I'm just trying to get some rest that's all just trying to get some rest "
Howdy again, Mojo! Paul Simon to me has always been so literate, yet so able to touch into the slice of life vibe.
This is the hymn tune "O Sacred Head Sore Wounded".
A great tune by a great artist..this song will reach into your spirit & soul, and might bring a tear to your eye
Your break down seems good to me. The image of the Statue of Liberty sailing out to sea suggests to me the ideal of liberty has become unmoored and is being lost. But in the end however shattered our dreams, we just go to work and try to get some rest. Your reaction really felt that.
Yes, precisely - I see it as an continuation of Bridge Over Troubled Water, where PS also uses this powerful image of the Statue ( Goddess) of Liberty:
" Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by,
Your time has come to shine (!!!),
All your dreams are on their Way,
See how they shine ..."
I do know that it's also a cheeky little reference to his wife at the time, who had just noticed her first grey hair, but that doesn't prevent it from having a double meaning. 😉
The main theme of AT is borrowed ( with slight variations ) from a hymn by the classical German composer Hans Leo Hassler "Mein Gemuth ist mir verwirret" ( My mind/ feelings is / are confused", which was later used by the classical German composers Paul Gerhardt" Oh, Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" ( Oh, head full of blood and wounds (about Jesus)) and more famously by Johan Sebastian Bach in one of his concertos, but the B-section "And I dreamt I was flying ..." is by PS himself.
But even folk singers like Pete Seeker & Peter, Poul & Mary have sung this tune ( The A-section of AT) under the title "Because All Men Are Brothers".
I started learning this song on guitar based off this performance
I was going through a terrible time. The "Weary to the bone," helped me define my feelings. I was contemplating suicide. "...my soul rose unexpectedly..smiled reassuringly," helped me. I cry Everytime I hear this.
I loved the two of them but Paul is the world's Poet Laurete.
To me, Paul lived through a very tumultuous time in American history, the 60s, and he wrote several introspective songs on America. This is a wonderful song and your reaction was great.
I’m never gonna expect to bright and bon vivant when I’m so far away from home again !!! Unbelievable song ...
You must see him perform this song at Newport Folk with Rhiannon giddens where he changed the lyrics for her
That's as good a tune as anybody ever wrote or performed.....period.
This is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.
Maybe the best folk/rock songwriter EVER. There Goes Rhymin Simon has so many different genres on it. It's probably my favorite album by him. This song makes me cry every time!
Thank god for Bach! Paul Simon wrote the lyrics, but the music is attributed to Bach, the composer (1658-1750).
One of my favorite songs. So relevant today.
Yes, MojoDaddy, Paul Simon's solo work is astounding. If you're choosing a Mount Rushmore of greatest songwriters, it's Paul, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles.
Agree Paul Simon one of the most gifted songwriters ever! And his voice, his guitar, so so sweet. To me, this song has a very contemplative and weary feel to it. He sees the statue of liberty sailing out to sea. She's leaving. Dreams have been shattered or brought to their knees. It's this strange combination of positivity - I'm all right, it's all right, his soul smiled at him reassuringly - while also feeling that he is far from home, everyone is experiencing unease, he can't help thinking what's gone wrong. Is America real or is it just a dream or a wish, have our best days passed? Well it's all too much to think about, and he's going to have to get up and go to work tomorrow so he just needs to get some rest. It feels like a song about alienation but I can't really put my finger on it.
Paul wrote Mother and Child Reunion after seeing an item by that name on a menu in a Chinese restaurant in Queens NY . It was a chicken and egg dish!
A beautiful song made deeply meaningful by Paul Simon's evocative lyrics. The tune has long classical roots - based on the hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded". Commonly known as Passion Chorale, itself a reworking of an earlier secular song, "Mein G'müt ist mir verwirret". However, the melody of "American Tune" is best known as part of Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Simon's version uses essentially the same harmonization.
Absolutely. And people should also be aware that the bridge section, that begins with, 'And I dreamed I was dying..', is all Paul (melody and lyrics). Imo, the bridge is what elevates this song to the next level.
@@paulholyfield Right you are. That is the icing on the cake.
thank you for sharing this! I didn't know the Bach Passion Chorale, but clearly Simon did ...and was as moved by it... as we are by his American Tune. ruclips.net/video/MY-aowxVXfI/видео.html&ab_channel=silvertone953
Thank you for playing this. Such a brilliant poet, musician. Eclectic , interesting man. When 9/11 happened, I'm a NYer I played this song over and over and over. This and Hallelujah sung by Wainright . Take good care
This is a true national anthem
Your breakdown is spot on, and it also is about a general view that Life is Hard for us all.
My favorite tune of all time. I remember him singing this on the televised special from DC for the 1976 bicentennial celebration. So perfect and powerful.
Did you know that the tune and instrumentation for this song is based on a movement in J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, a tune also used in the Christian Hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded?" You can sing that hymn over the Paul Simon song and the chords mostly match. It's ironic that the song called "American Tune" is actually based on a German tune.
And Bach even borrowed it from Paul Gerhardt's "Oh, Haupt voll Blut und Wunden", a hymn which was in turn a slightly reworked version of Hans Leo Hassler's "Mein G'müth ist mir verwirret" 😉
You are the first person I’ve seen react to this! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
I've always interpreted this song as Simon's expression of his disillusionment with America in the later years of the Vietnam War.
Original album is "There Goes Rhymin' Simon".
It really has an even deeper meaning: This song was written using the music from a hundreds-year old hymn and putting his own words in it, but if you know what the original hymn was (“Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded”) and consider this was a hymn about how Christ suffered and died and how sad it is that everyone doesn’t take advantage of his infinite sacrifice. Then consider that America was held in its place for the last days so that those seeking religious freedom could find refuge and His gospel could flourish and yet look what we’ve done with it.
Simply the best of Simon...
It's from his There Goes Rhymin' Simon album. You ought to check out the studio version which has a beautiful string arrangement. Paul Simon is a genius!
This song is from the 1973 album Here Comes Rhymin' Simon.
Anytime you hear it is perfect time. It's applicable no matter what decade.
Paul said in an interview he was upset about the 1960's veering towards a more conservative approach and less supportive of the civil rights of the 1960's. This was his song of grief that human rights and human dignity was losing the battle.
From one of my favourite album of all time There goes rhythm Simon, brilliant review.
Great reaction, Mojo. One of my favorite songs. The heart of the song is: 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
He's great.
Stephen Colbert had him in the night of the financial collapse of 2008. It was stunning and gut wrenching.
An amazing and incredibly beautiful song from the famous song writing collective Hassler, Gerhardt, Bach und Simon 😉
Hans Leo Hassler:
"Mein G'mut ist mir vervirret"
( 1500s )
Paul Gerhardt:
"Oh, Haupt voll Blut und Wunden"
( slightly reworked tune, now with hymn lyrics, 1600s.)
Johan Sebastian Bach:
"St. Matthew Passion" using PG's hymn as a movement, slightly changed orchestral version, 1700s )
Paul Simon: "American Tune"
( new lyrics + addition of an extra B-piece, c. 1973 - 1974.)
A song so right for our time...They should play it in the Senate daily or at least once yearly at the State of the Union address till things look up.
Congratulations for letting the song play uninterrupted. I don't see the song quite the same way as you. The Statue of Liberty was sailing away to sea. When he thinks of the road we are travelling on he can't help but "wonder what's gone wrong". This is a song about disillusionment and the American dream going wrong. By the way if the tune sounds familiar it's actually J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion.
You got it totally wrong my friend. That's about the illusion of the idea of the opportunity and the fact that "you can't be forever blessed". And all his friends feel the same. Opportunity is the illusion created by the rich to keep the working class going ahead without rebelling. That's why he stopped thinking of his dreams as he needs "some rest" to work again tomorrow, and again and again ad again. Cheers
SOMBER and a soul searching song !
Try "Livin' with the Blues" by Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcgee. Another Sad, yet inspiring song.
The melody is by Bach. The lyrics are by Paul Simon.
Well, not the bridge. 'And I dreamed I was dying..', that part is all Paul.
Bach actually borrowed it from Paul Gerhardt, who in turn borrowed it from Hans Leo Hassler in a slightly reworked form and turned it into a hymn.
The best version of this song is his performance with Garfunkel in Central Park.
It's a sad song about the American dream. He sees freedom sailing away to sea in the statue of liberty. It's as poignant now as it was in 1974.
I think his peak was at the start of the 70s, the last album with Garfunkel and the two solo. Never been a big fan of Graceland.
There were various reasons people went to America, the British monarchy had lost most of its power so that wasn't really important. There were factors such as religious strife (powered by long standing competition between states) and of course the promise of free land. The land was often taken from the natives but people didn't care back then. Some areas of Europe suffered depopulation.
Incredible song. Hard to pick a favourite Paul Simon but today I go for, "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War" - ruclips.net/video/nQ7sL9rdl58/видео.html
If you haven't checked it out yet, Hearts and Bones - ruclips.net/video/hKAEXeBFejA/видео.html&ab_channel=markdlg
Its on There Goes Rhymin Simon, Amazing