Simon, Paul - American Tune Lyrics

So beautifully sung, so pure. FYI: verse melody is from 16/17th century composer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcWuRIBn9oU . Bach used/borrowed/ripped it, common practive in those days it, listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9yp-sVrOjo

Sorry the Jewish community have the best toons xx

https://youtu.be/s1GQIJqGvP4

The truth is Paul Simon has never really wrote a great song of his own. Paul Simon was great at taking music from others and putting his name on them. His lyrics are fairly good and he has a great ability to put music together and produce it but he hasn't had the ability to write really great music. The music he did actually write ( if their is any at all ) is just average...you know... just ok. Nothing really special. Thank god he's a great deceiver and knows how to take from others without their permission.


Paul Simon is the type that will take what he wants and deal with the consiquences later....usually in some kind of pay off to the the original writer. He took from Los Lobos but they decided not to sue. If one really does their research they'd be surprised what they would find out about this so called GREAT song writer....just sayin.

1970's Paul, thru "Still Crazy After All These Years" will always hold a special place in the soundtrack of my life...

"Can't help wonder what's gone wrong". Song applies no matter what era.

You know singing wise Art Garfunkel has the better voice but Paul’s is so sweet. With an acoustic guitar he’s clear, and mellow and just sweet. You know what I mean? We have been blessed to have music from both of them. Their songs mark time and dates in my life as I’m sure they did for you also.

We come in the ages most uncertain hours -- nearly 50 years later and not much has changed.

What makes me so deeply sad hearing this song now is how relevant it is. "It's alright-it's alright-you can't be forever blessed."

Written in 73 and released in 74, another impeachment. The Statue of Liberty is not just sailing away, but being destroyed. This song comes to mind to me every day I see the laws of the Constitution being shattered.

Excellent song writer, vocalist and what a guitar picker!!! ✌ He still sounds great!!!!

That is one voice and one guitar. It's more relevant today than the day it was written.

Wow..just wow

The most sincere performance from Simon at his peak. Sadly though, we just have to accept that someone will always thumb down perfection. Where else would humanity be without the tasteless? It’s what strives Genius.

Probably just disillusioned guitar owners who never got past the F...-chord 😅

Hahahahahahahahahaha!! Are you serious? A man who took someone else's music and put his own lyrics to it is a genius??? Hahahahahahahahahaha Hahahahahahahahahahaha...that's a funny statement...

@Bjowolf2


Really? You should ask Neil Young about the F....-chord. I bet that would be an interesting conversation. Hahahahahahahahaha...you know..

@Shane Hunter I actually do have the F-chord in my arsenal - in various versions including the beautiful Fmaj6. And by now I don't even have to look or think about it, when I change into those chords.

I am pretty sure Neil Young knows it / them well too 😏

I was of course referring to those negative voters above - why can't they just appreciate this masterpiece? Envy? Disillusion?

The lyrics are beautiful and thought provoking unlike most of the newer stuff these days, Paul did rearrange the tune somewhat compared to Hassler's and Bach's versions , and the wonderful B-section is entirely his work, as far as I know.

@Bjowolf2
I hear you. I have to be honest. I still have trouble and have to look when I'm playing the F-chord- in various versions and I've been playing long enough where that shouldn't be so... Hmmmm not so sure why that is.


The lyrics are beautiful. They have always made me think. The arrangement is awesome ..no doubt. The whole song is really his and he knows how to put music together. I'm not sure how much of the actual writing of the music came from his mind but the song on a whole came from his mind so in that sense ....Paul Simon is a genius.

Bach. Thank Bach - one of the greatest composers ever.

All I can say is WOW!!! I pity today's kids and what they call music. We were truly blessed with great artists male and female in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Artists like Paul Simon raised the bar for music perfection.

Tomorrow's gonna another workin' day.
Been like this for decades.

actually a german tune

Sounds like a lullaby and make us to reflect so well about the fact society arrested all the workers as hostages with no choice and always the same grooves or routines whichever word you would rather to say.

Good old Bach sure gave Paul Simon a helping hand writing this tune. Funny he should call it "The American Tune": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY-aowxVXfI

"Certainly misused", "Driven to its knees", "sing an american tune", I love that vocal melody part

sounds like a hymn

A brilliant song and a flawless performance, but somehow not quite as touching and genuine as his 2015 version on Colbert.

Lief,,,,peace for dear Simon,,,his beaugifull thougts, songs and the prachtige man en alle schoons ,hij deelt met ons..kinderen van zijn wereld..peace 4 all!

so no one's gonna mention the porn stash?

I posted this song a few days ago on my FACEBOOK page but listening to it today I find it has new meaning. If you listen to the lyrics and imagine it's our country they're about, you'll hear a different song. One that warns us of our democracy falling apart and being destroyed. Listen to it, not as it is a person was singing it but as if it were Lady Liberty herself singing the song. The lyrics take on a whole new meaning. Imagine Lady Liberty singing these words as she witnesses her beloved country die. The Statue of Liberty sailing out to sea speaks of the end of our great country. Something to think about. Please let me know if you have listened to this song. I really want to know.

No more beautiful song ever written. Thank you Mr. Simon

I have always been impressed by his use of 'bon vivant.'

I get the chills when he sings “and I dreamed I was dying”

I thought this prophetic when 9/11 happened. I find it equally prophetic for today's world.

Beautiful and timeless

Paul Simon, musical genius...

Love the Irishness in some of the vocal melodies. I'm proud we shared that style with many American writers

That's an interesting statement. What gives this song it's Irishness?

This is amazing

wow. knocks the wind out of me every time. stunning. behold the real national anthem.

His songs will be played for years to come. Thank you Paul for all the great songs that bring back such memories to me whenever I hear them.

Masterpiece Song! Magnificent! Thank you Mr Simon !

You are an American tune🌟💕🌎

This is my favorite song - ever.

I think I'm in love again.

"I can't help but wonder,
'What's gone wrong.'"

Przemek, jeśli to czytasz to chcę żebyś wiedział że bardzo za Tobą tęsknię... Żałuję straconego czasu który powinniśmy spędzić razem a tak sie nie stało, ponieważ nasze drogi któregoś dnia się rozeszły i czuję, że Ty już nie chcesz aby się zeszły ponownie...mam nadzieję, że się mylę, może potrzebujesz więcej czasu.... zawsze byłeś dla mnie najlepszym przyjacielem i chciałbym, żebyś wiedział jakim skarbem dla mnie byłeś, nie doceniłem tego co miałem a był to najlepszy przyjaciel który zawsze był przy mnie... czas spędzony z Tobą to jedne z najlepszych chwil w moim życiu. Po dwóch latach od rozstania nie mogę o Tobie zapomnieć, rozdrapałem rany w sercu i czuję wielką tęsknotę za Tobą, czuję jakbyś umarł a przecież mieszkamy w jednym mieście, wiem, że żyjesz i masz się dobrze otoczony osobami które Cię kochają tak jak ja... Słuchaliśmy tej piosenki wiele razy, wspólnie śpiewając, wzruszając się bo jest na prawdę piękna, lecz teraz ma dla mnie szczególne znaczenie, jest jeszcze piękniejsza i bardziej wzruszająca ponieważ przypomina mi o Tobie... Jeżeli to czytasz to wiedz, że niczego w życiu nie żałuję tak bardzo jak straty Ciebie..

songwriters don't come much better than this, inspirational thank you from the Tartan Cowboy Scotland

I never hear much mention of it, but this guy can really play the guitar.

I saw 'them' live at da bowl in the summer of love was that the night Hendrix opened w Sgt. Pepper..1 week old..maybe 2,
I detect a classical tecnique..and a love for Harmony in Paul's picking..Aloha

I saw 'them' live at da bowl in the summer of love was that the night Hendrix opened w Sgt. Pepper..1 week old..maybe 2,
I detect a classical tecnique..and a love for Harmony in Paul's picking..Aloha

P.SIMON avec une classe imparable !...

We come on the ship that the moon

this should be the national anthem

still so young. this is from 1975 when Simon and Garfunkel changed to just Paul Simon. this is one of Paul's best tunes and that has that subtle Simon sound which is his musical handwriting. Art G. had a voice in only that one area, and paul began to sing better/fuller that Art wasn't even that much better. still a good act from the 1960s. 1969 The Graduate.
my brother Mr. Moneybags was caught up in "cool" music of the late 1960s. he wanted to see The Graduate to see what it was all about. he asked my father to go.well....this movie was the signature work of the late 60s and there did sit my dad in a movie theatre along with my brother. Plastics, Anne Bancroft in her underwear, a rich kid out of college who doesn't know much about life but at least he wants to learn. I want to see it again m

NYC borned and raised. huge 1960s 70s success.

One of the greatest songs by one of the greatest writers... beautiful!!

Still haunting in 2019!

Should be our new national anthem.

He's graced our quality of life.💚

Melody and message blended (like few can do it to, by the way) make a great song, and performance.

It was prophetic in 1975 and it is still prophetic. This is possibly my favorite Paul Simon song ever.

But it's alright.

Tomorrow is another working day. Quite.

He wrote this last year, right?

statue of liberty sailing away to sea......and sing an American tune.....beautiful

he looks like Gogol

Pure genius

As a guitarist, I've noticed that some singer-songwriters (Dylan, Cash) were terrible guitar players.


Not Simon. He's a guitar master.

One of the smoothest voices of all time

Beautiful

This song is more relevant now more than ever. Where are we going?

What a respectful audience. No clapping, interrupting of any kind. Just listened to the end and THEN went wild.

Bach used this melody twice :
O haupt voll Blut und Wunden (st matthews passion) And in "wie soll ich dich empfangen" in his Weinachts oratorium https://youtu.be/QucfJjuneN0

America's GREATEST songwriter, bar none. In truth, nobody comes close. Paul Simon is THE American genius tunesmith and lyricist - the best for centuries to come. World-wide, his only rival is/was/will be fellow timeless genius Paul McCartney.

WIthout question, one of the greatest songs ever written

Paul Simon, la coiffure la plus improbable de toute l'histoire de la pop music !

C'était la mode de l'époque ☺. On a tjrs M. Matthieu avec sa coiffure improbable ... Maintenant, barbe de 3 jours ou plus, coupe de cheveux un peu du style jeunesses hitl... ou autre et tout ça devient (presqu') obligatoire😕.

When I first heard this way back in the day I thought this would be a fitting national anthem. . .

What a beautiful song!!!

https://youtu.be/DcaBJ65sl_4 ❤️

Maybe Simon’s greatest vocal performance.

First viewing of this and it is amazingly brilliant! I've loved this song since its release and this was performed brilliantly. Paul was, and is, one of the greats!!

good to hear his voice strong and clear!

Another timely parallel to now.

This is a beautiful song.
Many know it.
Many are moved.
I wonder why few know this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcaBJ65sl_4

Many greetings from Italy, brothers of the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcaBJ65sl_4

And high up above my eyes could clearly see the Statue of Liberty sailing away to sea... with Trump grabbing her fanny...

Beautiful and moving song, one of those compositions that is more powerful when performed with a single guitar and no other accompaniment.

A great artist and a great performance

Bach. And beautiful. There and Bach again. Badoom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcaBJ65sl_4

"O haupt voll Blut und Wunden" Matthew's Passion. JS Bach's copyright....
https://youtu.be/RTLRp2zU3x0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcaBJ65sl_4

@Mario Pizzol étrange au premier abord, mais très belle version. ☺

@Mario Pizzol
And also : "wie soll ich dich empfangen" by Bach's Weinachts oratorium !!
https://youtu.be/QucfJjuneN0

@D Lefil :
Yes, even bwv 244.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTLRp2zU3x0
The passion according to Matteo.

ahhhhh...cant sleep..

If just this one song...Just this one he would be one of the worlds greatest ever

The moustache makes him look a little bit like Freddie Mercury..!

One of the most beautiful songs I know. Paul was brilliant; in drawing upon Bach he joins him in magnificence.

Fucking legend☝️

The tune began in 1601 as a country-type romantic lament of HL Hassler, so popular that soon enough it was reused into one of the most melodically powerful of Christian hymns; and here it got repurposed yet again.

Wait! This song could have been written about now! Did Paul travel to the future and back?

More meaningful now then when he wrote it.

It's a song of despair, struggle, and the loss of the american dream. It starts with the bon vivant, and ends with another working day.

I'm sure you remember that 1975 was the end of the Vietnam war, which was the end of the "american dream", but above all a relief for all these guys who went to VN and lost the best years of their lives !! (But I do not get all the words of his song, english is not my mother tongue)

Brilliant song from the best of all musicians!

Best song....EVER

This song rings so true today. We are undergoing a terrible time in this country, and this song describes much of it.

May flower pilgrim fathers

For Donna.

I was in church earlier this year, and we sang a hymn that had this same tune, and I thought, "Hey, I recognize this!" When I got home I googled it and found out that Paul Simon got the tune from J.S. Bach.