Call me a purist, but I do enjoy the simple beauty of a gifted musician accompanied only by his favorite instrument. Give Elton John a piano, and let him play alone. Give Paul Simon his guitar, and experience his songs’ natural beauty (unless he sings Bridge Over Troubled Water, which he should never sing himself. Period. No discussion.).

For more years than I can count I have been a vivid Simon & Garfunkel fan. With very few exceptions I could never really warm up to Paul Simon’s solo albums, though. Just recently I discovered The Paul Simon Songbook, and he plays solo, only accompanied by his guitar, and singing old songs like I Am A Rock, April Come She Will, The Sound Of Silence, and more. If you already own the Simon & Garfunkel versions you will get a fabulous addition to your collection.

One song that is sorely missing on the album is American Tune, because it was released in later years during his solo career. Ironically, if the information I have is correct, Paul Simon composed American Tune and Bridge Over Troubled Water pretty much at the same time; the musical elements for both songs were inspired by a classical theme, namely Johann Sebastian Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion.

American Tune first appeared on There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973), Simon’s second solo album following the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel. It was also released as a single, which eventually reached #35 on the Billboard charts in the United States. The lyrics offer a perspective on the American experience; there are references to struggle, weariness, hard work, confusion, and homesickness. The bridge conveys a dream of death and of the Statue of Liberty “sailing away to sea.” The song ends with an assertion that “you can’t be forever blessed” before the lyrics return to the idea of work and tiredness. The tune is based on a melody line from Johann Sebastian Bach’s chorale from “St. Matthew Passion,” itself a reworking of an earlier secular song, “Mein Gmüth ist mir verwirret,” composed by Hans Hassler. The melody used for American Tune can be heard quite distinctly in part 1, number 21 and number 23 and in part 2, number 53. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Tune.

American Tune

Words & music by Paul Simon

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

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 all right, it’s all right
for we 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 crying

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 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