 Paul Simon (1972) [ larger cover art ] |
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Ahhhhh, peace like a river ran through the city
Long past the midnight curfew
We sat starry-eyed
Ooh, oh, we were satisfied
ahhhhh, and I remember Misinformation followed us
like a plague
Nobody knew from time to time
If the plans were changed
Oh, oh, oh, if the plans were changed
You can beat us with wires
You can beat us with chains
You can run out your roles
But you know you can't outrun the history train
I seen a glorious day, aiee------ooooh, oooh
Ahhhhh, four in the morning
I woke up from out of my dream
Nowhere to go but back to sleep
but I'm reconciled
Oh, oh, oh, I'm going to be up for a while
Oh, oh, oh, I'm going to be up for a while
Oh, oh, oh, I'm going to be up for a while
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Feb 08, 2013 - 05:51 Freshman year in college and my first "real" guitar teacher (ie, not one of my friends). He puts this song on in a rehearsal room at the music school and just says "listen closely." The tuning, the excellent recording, and Simon's wonderful guitar work and vocals sent chills down my spine. It was like hearing music, really hearing it, for the first time. Thanks, Jim, for the education. |
| badbadger (London UK) | Posted: Nov 06, 2012 - 03:22 Just singing along to this, what a great track, I've not listened to for ages. Class. |
| Poacher (Brighton, UK) | Posted: Sep 04, 2012 - 04:55 Well, well. I usually slate Paul Simon because most of the stuff I hear is (to my ears) shite. But this early stuff (which I have never heard before) is rather nice. . . Much like Elton John. . . and many other artists being fabulous in the early years and just not cutting it in later years. Another reason to keep listening to RP. . . its an education. |
| oldviolin (Esse Quam Videri) | Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 10:44 oldviolin wrote: How far do we go back with this, Bill...KLRB, right? Pretty sure you were spinning the first time I heard it. Masterpiece. |
| leafmold | Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 17:09 Lovely |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Aug 21, 2011 - 11:40 What a glorious classic... love it... |
| oldviolin (Esse quam videri) | Posted: Dec 12, 2010 - 16:50 How far do we go back with this, Bill...KLRB, right? |
| zair99 (In Cognito) | Posted: Nov 10, 2010 - 21:27 lmic wrote: Awesome cover of this by Spoon at Wolfgang's Vault. Somehow the Spoon version was the one I heard first. My initial thought when I heard this version was, "Who's covering that Spoon song?" /facepalm! |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Oct 11, 2010 - 17:55 Sometimes, Paul Simon's music just makes me freeze and listen with chills up my spine. No, MOST times his music does that. Love it, love it, love it.   |
| dyharenas (Cerro Apoquindo) | Posted: Oct 11, 2010 - 17:53 From my South American perspective, this guy should qualify as a national treasure for those born in the States. |
| bachbeet | Posted: Sep 09, 2010 - 23:29 Great song from a great album. |
| horstman (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Aug 07, 2010 - 09:45 Hearing this after that horrible Madeleine Peyroux version of Elliot Smith's "Between the Bars" brought both a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. I truly love Elliot and his simple sound, that guy and a guitar alone for a total, complete sound. |
| helgigermany (Germany) | Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 12:43 Nice! |
| isayhoomhom (Bethel, CT) | Posted: May 05, 2010 - 12:35 lmic wrote: Awesome cover of this by Spoon at Wolfgang's Vault. I haven't heard it, but I have to say, after just seeing Spoon at Radio City in March, I wouldn't doubt they could do anything. |
| lmic (Harmless Little Bunny) | Posted: Apr 25, 2010 - 17:35 Awesome cover of this by Spoon at Wolfgang's Vault. |
| sej (NorCal lovely foothills) | Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 20:33 Revel in the appearance of Paul Simon on RP. Another turn up the volume song. |
| bam23 (Berkeley) | Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 20:18 Mandible wrote: you can bet these days that wouldn't be allowed in schools. SAD!!!!! It depends where you are I suppose. My daughters' school has the students doing these sorts of things all the time. Maybe all is not as bleak as it may appear at times. |
| Mandible | Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 07:37  LOVE Paul Simon |
| Antigone (A house, in a valley, Virginia) | Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 07:34 Antigone wrote: I love this song, great lyrics and fantastic guitar!   Still. |
| Limpopoking (The Parish of St. Alfonzo) | Posted: Mar 03, 2010 - 05:17 Shaker wrote:  It is lovely to read the comments for Paul Simon. Not much complaining, rather inner thoughts, true sharing. I am thankful for RP listeners who have positive things to say. I'm thankful for the positive RP listeners period! The naysayers are so detracting of this amazing resource. |
| Shaker (Canada) | Posted: Nov 27, 2009 - 09:37 It is lovely to read the comments for Paul Simon. Not much complaining, rather inner thoughts, true sharing. I am thankful for RP listeners who have positive things to say. |
| middleagedhipster (chilliwack, bc) | Posted: Nov 27, 2009 - 09:23 sqqqrly wrote: I had an English teacher that did the same for Rush's The Trees. That was in 1981 or 1982. Damn, you folks are lucky, my hippie elementary teacher had us dissect Kansas - Dust in the Wind. That was in 1979 or so. Still hate that song today. |
| sqqqrly (Baboosic Lake, NH) | Posted: Oct 28, 2009 - 13:03 Randomax wrote: Ahhh...the best teacher I ever had...Skipper - social studies 1968 made us listen to S & Garf. and write about what it meant....just a whole different generation of listeners I guess...it meant something....this and Rhymin....excellent and meaningful... I had an English teacher that did the same for Rush's The Trees. That was in 1981 or 1982. |
| sqqqrly (Baboosic Lake, NH) | Posted: Oct 28, 2009 - 13:02 ThePoose wrote: Where have you been for the last 35 years? He was born in '77. |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Oct 28, 2009 - 12:56 Mandible wrote: you can bet these days that wouldn't be allowed in schools. SAD!!!!! big surprise the other day...a friend of my son's (19) had his IPod going and lo and behold it was THIS song...he said "do you like Simon And Garf"? I just about fell over...I said "I'm surprised you even know who they are" he had this Simon album and the earlier S&G on his IPOD...I was soooo proud! |
| Mandible | Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 10:08 Randomax wrote: Ahhh...the best teacher I ever had...Skipper - social studies 1968 made us listen to S & Garf. and write about what it meant....just a whole different generation of listeners I guess...it meant something....this and Rhymin....excellent and meaningful... you can bet these days that wouldn't be allowed in schools. SAD!!!!! |
| martinc (Ottawa Canada) | Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 10:07 I am enjoying it |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Aug 26, 2009 - 11:07 can't folks just enjoy the wonderful poetry and the picture it paints? Don't see how anyone would find this boring! The guitar work alone is amazing! |
| cayenne (in over my head) | Posted: May 23, 2009 - 08:57 Peace like granola sits in my pantry. |
| smehan55 (Beneath a Carolina blue sky) | Posted: Jan 15, 2009 - 09:21 nap time |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Dec 16, 2008 - 08:06 Ahhh...the best teacher I ever had...Skipper - social studies 1968 made us listen to S & Garf. and write about what it meant....just a whole different generation of listeners I guess...it meant something....this and Rhymin....excellent and meaningful... |
| toterola (Somewhere between Shipping and Receiving) | Posted: Nov 14, 2008 - 18:55 andrewimft wrote: This was the first album I ever bought. I was in 7th grade. The second one, not too long after that, maybe a few months, was Alice Cooper's Killer, a big change in my ear and attitude, into coming home after junior high hell and going into the basement, sitting in the dark and relaxing with turning up the stereo on the hard rock. The third one shortly thereafter was The Who's Who's Next. I'll always remember those three. After that I bought too many to remember the order. So those three hold a special place in my mind for how they affected me. This Paul Simon record was a pretty good record, though the subsequent Rhymin' Simon was a masterpiece and paled this one in comparison to my later ear. But this one prepared my ear for Bob Dylan and all the other singer songwriters I got into a couple years later, with the quality lyrics and song writing on it that I could spend some hours reading over and over and listening to, and at that age thinking about and trying to figure out the meanings, while tuning out the TV blaring in the living room and procrastinating my homework. I won't even attempt to complement you on this superb "stream of consciousness/slice of life". Please know that you are "of a generation" who was influenced in their thinking, actions, and lives by these artists. Excellent post!  |
| andrewimft (North Californie) | Posted: Sep 11, 2008 - 00:30 This was the first album I ever bought. I was in 7th grade. The second one, not too long after that, maybe a few months, was Alice Cooper's Killer, a big change in my ear and attitude, into coming home after junior high hell and going into the basement, sitting in the dark and relaxing with turning up the stereo on the hard rock. The third one shortly thereafter was The Who's Who's Next. I'll always remember those three. After that I bought too many to remember the order. So those three hold a special place in my mind for how they affected me. This Paul Simon record was a pretty good record, though the subsequent Rhymin' Simon was a masterpiece and paled this one in comparison to my later ear. But this one prepared my ear for Bob Dylan and all the other singer songwriters I got into a couple years later, with the quality lyrics and song writing on it that I could spend some hours reading over and over and listening to, and at that age thinking about and trying to figure out the meanings, while tuning out the TV blaring in the living room and procrastinating my homework. |
| DBCinCA (California) | Posted: Sep 11, 2008 - 00:21 AlienRelic wrote: This was written during the Vietnam war. There were antiwar protests, govenment reaction to the protests, endless government lies about the war, etc. Sound familiar? That's what I was just thinking - scrolled down... yep, you said it! |
| BillG (Paradise, CA) | Posted: Sep 10, 2008 - 14:28 oldviolin wrote: Bill, you've been spinning that since KLRB. Tell the truth now. Thanks Man. Is true. |
| siandbeth (Santa Cruz California) | Posted: Jul 25, 2008 - 09:43 oldviolin wrote: Bill, you've been spinning that since KLRB. Tell the truth now.
Thanks Man. KLRB? Heck, that is something I'd totally forgotten about. Wow. Loved that station. |
| Ulises (Fairbanks, Alaska) | Posted: Jul 09, 2008 - 19:01 skdenfeld wrote: Paul Simon does not have a song that is below a 7, with most in the 8-9 range and a few in the 10-12 range.
That is one opinion. |
| KurtfromLaQuinta (Yep. I'm still here in La Quinta.) | Posted: Jun 23, 2008 - 21:12 aragon wrote: Nice cover, pretty damn good song. First listen and wondering what to do to get the disc. It kinda freaks me out to know I was 4 when Simon released it. Man! Yeah. I was a senior in high school.
Great album. |
| aragon (Nowhere Fast) | Posted: May 23, 2008 - 10:43 Nice cover, pretty damn good song. First listen and wondering what to do to get the disc. It kinda freaks me out to know I was 4 when Simon released it. Man! |
| Stewed_Mulligan (West Virginia, USA) | Posted: May 23, 2008 - 10:42 haven't heard this for YEARS.....takes me back to my Viet Nam war protest days....difficult times, but worth recalling....thanks RP |
| twcarlin (too far, and not far enough) | Posted: Apr 06, 2008 - 08:25 ThePoose wrote: Where have you been for the last 35 years? Hey cut the guy some slack- it's not like this gets played on any MSM radio station- ever. |
| Manbird (Santa Rosa, CA) | Posted: Mar 21, 2008 - 11:06  |
| skdenfeld (Bend, Oregon) | Posted: Jan 18, 2008 - 13:09 Paul Simon does not have a song that is below a 7, with most in the 8-9 range and a few in the 10-12 range. |
| MsJudi (Houston, TX) | Posted: Jan 18, 2008 - 13:07 So lovely. |
| cayenne (in over my head) | Posted: Dec 02, 2007 - 13:35 When I was little and my dad would play this, I thought the lyrics said "you can't beat us McGuires."  |
| AlienRelic (east of Eden) | Posted: Oct 16, 2007 - 07:23 ice-9 wrote: Please - can someone tell me what this song is actually about? Sounds like it's about something.
Incidentally, Elvis Costello counts this among his favorite songs. Trivia. This was written during the Vietnam war. There were antiwar protests, govenment reaction to the protests, endless government lies about the war, etc. Sound familiar? |
| hippiechick (in the groove) | Posted: Oct 16, 2007 - 07:19 His old stuff was so good. His new stuff...bleh |
| ice-9 | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 10:56 Please - can someone tell me what this song is actually about? Sounds like it's about something. Incidentally, Elvis Costello counts this among his favorite songs. Trivia. |
| ThePoose | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 07:55 nicolaluna wrote: actually never heard this paul simon song before. really nice. thanks, bill!
Where have you been for the last 35 years? |
| Antigone (A house, in a valley, Virginia) | Posted: Aug 14, 2007 - 11:18 I love this song, great lyrics and fantastic guitar! |