1306 – Paul Simon – American tune (1973)

 

Escrita por Paul Simon e Hans Leo Hassler, foi gravada em 1972 em Londres e lançada em 5 de maio de 1973 no terceiro disco da carria de Paul intitulado There goes rhymin' Simon e depois saiu em compacto em 9 de novembro de 1973 no compacto que tinha One man's ceiling is another man's floor como Lado B. O Hans, nascido em 1564, entrou como parceiro pois Paul usou sua melodia pra colocar sua letra em cima. A melodia é de O Sacred Head Now wounded, de Hassler. Chegou ao número 35 do Billboard Hot 100 e número 5 no Canadá. Fala da experiencia americana de luta, fraqueza, trabalho duro, confusão e saudades de casa. Fala de um sonho de morte e da Estátua da Liberdade indo embora. No fim fala que não podemos ser abençoados pra sempre. Paul Simon cantou e tocou violão. Bob James tocou teclado. Bob Cranshaw tocou baixo. Rady Tate tocou bateria. Foi regravada por Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews e Elvis Costello, entre outros artistas.

A letra:

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 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, 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

Ah but it's alright, it's alright
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 has 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

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 going to be another working day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying to get some rest

A versão de Paul Simon:

A versão de Willie Nelson:

A versão de Dave Matthews em casa: