Extended Interview: Paul Simon on his songwriting process, faith and “Seven Psalms”

Paul Simon retired from touring in 2018 and said he was no longer planning to write songs - until the idea for an album called “Seven Psalms” came to him in a dream. Simon talks with CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason about his songwriting process, his unexpected hearing loss, and the lasting impact of many of his songs.
#news #paulsimon #interview
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[@Jimriff45]

The maestro, straight up, authentic and honest to his core… love this guy and love his music… Rock on!

[@darlenemarshall7510]

Dearest Paul Simon, Thank You for sharing your beautiful music.

[@sheilamcintosh5835]

Man’s a genius - I love, love his songs and never get over how wonderful they are.

[@colleen6050]

Love Paul Simon's music. He is a gift.

[@jherl8307]

Wish all interviews were conducted like this one. When you’re interviewing a genius ask a pointed question and let the interviewee speak until he’s done. This interviewer is fantastic. Other interviewers try and finish sentences or cut people off or worse yet interject to try and show how smart they are - All awful techniques that deprive the listener the knowledge that is attempting to be imparted.

[@rickdorn9066]

Completely disagree.. 'so, Paul, you probably feel different about this day to day'... "No.. no, I don't

[@jherl8307]

@@rickdorn9066I was alluding to the interviewer’s technique of letting the person that is being interviewed compete an answer before the next question is asked. Thats all. Obviously you missed my point. Shame on you.

[@DOOWOPTRB]

This album, "Seven Psalms", is absolutely brilliant.

[@TheRemyRomano]

Paul Simon has always been my favorite.

[@duffgaryduff]

That story is magic. Just magic.

[@Kensington2714]

I grew up listening to Paul Simon ❤ as a kid and now listen as an adult. My daughter & I go on our nightly drives listening to The sounds of silence and his songs with Art Garfunkel

[@ericworiax1277]

A life musical magical man!

[@garetcrossman6626]

I listen to this each night to fall asleep to.

[@raystargazer]

What a great interview with an amazing artist! Anthony Mason is the best. Excellent job!

[@oleggorky906]

I don’t know the guy that well, as I am in the UK and had never heard of him before. But as the interview progressed I got the impression that this was a first rate interview. He let his guest finish his points without interrupting him (Piers Morgan should take note) and he seemed to have a warmth and empathy towards what Paul was saying to him.

[@EricMcDowellegm]

Paul Simon is absolutely brilliant! Have loved his work since I was a kid. He's had some amazing solo albums!

[@daveslastchance]

Paul Simon has had an amazing career and his music will live on forever. The shame in the music world is there are thousands of awesome musicians out there who never got the one big break to put them on their way to legend status of the chosen few...

[@brucefournier2391]

True. Someone said, the greatest music will never be heard, but by a few.

[@papasquat355]

Commercial music lives by a formula. Great music lives outside of that in small music rooms. I am actually very glad that my favorite artist didn't get his big break. I'd have to share him with thousands of others. Now it's done in small intimate venues where I can actually hear his music.

[@heydavemyers1]

I wonder if he feels the same way? @@papasquat355

[@celiarodriguez2999]

Simon your gifts music are God given.

[@doreencrespo6295]

I remember being a young teenager and playing my older sisters Simon and Garfunkel albums. Memorizing the words from the included sheets. Now that I am in my middle 60’s I can remember those words so easily but not what I read 5 minutes ago. 🙂

[@susanholbrook2491]

Really enjoyed the interview! May God continue to bless you each day. I still listen to your songs.

[@corneliamartens9187]

What a great interview with one of the greatest songwriters of all time. I really enjoyed it.

[@Pincer88]

Just having listened to the album today for the first time, I got the same feeling I had when listening to The Man Comes Around, by Johny Cash. So fragile, bare and honest yet so moving and beautiful. One thing I would love to see/hear, is what would happen if Paul Simon is given time and the ability to get together with that other marvelous songwriter, Paul McCartney. Both grey eminences, both with a legacy of fantastic musical creations and contemporate travelers. Wouldn't that be great?

[@brenda19ish]

A really great and informative interview with Paul by Anthony . Thank you for posting !

[@dianerittgers8747]

thank you for sharing yourself with the world.

[@Calthesnaz_waz12]

Paul simon what a legend . I am 40 yrs old from uk and was brought up listerning to his music . My dad had songs played at his funeral by paul simon . ❤❤❤

[@carolynturk-hu7je]

Working now, thank goodness! Just reloaded it, and sound! Love Paul Simon!

[@themoistgreenorganic]

I will always listen to PS albums. Youre the One, Rhythm, So Beautiful, you name it. My fave artist of all time.

[@ritadelitta424]

Yes , it is a wonderful gift ,,,,,love you , Paul Simon, thank you for sharing 🙏🙏🙏

[@puritymunywoki6046]

Oooooh Paul Simon,loving your music always ❤❤❤❤

[@michaelmendillo7513]

Just like many other great minds in this world who have come and gone, they credit their works to another higher power who works through them,,,and that is just mind blowing, 😎✌️✝️💕😇🙏💕

[@Anthony-gq7dk]

Anthony Mason is a superb interviewer

[@youknowwho-]

God, I love this man and his music. He's right. Either way-- his music lives on or it doesn't-- the culture won't care. In fact, if it doesn't, the culture won't even know. But of course, Paul, it WILL live on. (And it will do so whether you care if it does or not.)

[@JayYarbroughMusic]

Channeling music is a great gift.

[@nancywarren7331]

A true Artist. I never tire of his music. There is just that magic that has always been with Paul Simon. Happy New Year 💐❤️⭐️

[@knoelangel]

Incredible interview

[@afrivietmoskitych1300]

Thank you, dear Paul! Best wishes!!!

[@lisalisa870]

Great Paul 💕

[@davidlarkin842]

I listened to your interview and I've learned to appreciate you and your songwriting more now than ever you seem humbled which makes me feel good about you I am inspired thank you!

[@liznewmanwellness]

Omg. I loved Capeman. So amazing ❤

[@01JH]

Those words put to music would be amazing!

[@padgatavitielnam]

Simon, God loves you. You must know it. The missing piece in the jig saw

[@melissasalasblair5273]

This was excellent, thanks soooo much!!

[@ChristineOnYoutubify]

Living legend ❤

[@patriciaburke2401]

I have always preferred the beautiful simplicity of a guitar as the only instrument accompanying a wonderful voice. Sometimes, it seems, the experience becomes a bit overwhelmed by an orchestra. Perhaps your message is, “Keep it simple.” Thanks, so much, for so many hours of pure joy listening to your amazing music. Take care & God bless.

[@KiriOnAir]

My heroe since I heard "Sounds of Silence". Years later I almost died when I have had the luck to visit the concert of S&G in Waldbuehne, Berlin. What a sound❣

[@teachercharlesamericanengl2098]

A very interesting interview 👍

[@ArmyofLove]

I believe this sounds like God was giving Paul the music first then the lyrics through promptings. A episode of spiritual trust. I believe we get these promptings also for giving presents, writing cards, community ideas etc. Paul seems to have responded to the first prompt without knowing when the next pieces of the puzzles will fall into place.

[@garybrodowicz552]

GOAT

[@carolynturk-hu7je]

The audio is not working on this piece with Paul Simon. 😢

[@timmellin2815]

The most obvious example of someone else interpreting a song of his, years later, in a different context = Disturbed's version of Sounds of Silence. When Paul wrote it, it seemed what might happen.......in Disturbed's version, it's almost like an avenging angel being angry that's precisely what has happened since the warning. Anecdotal: in the video at the end, , there isn't a bridge over troubled water; rather, there's a boat moving slowly to the other side, via smooth water. But the video ends w/ the boat oh so close to reaching it, but not sure that it does.

[@Natalie-es3dc]

💔

[@dougbennett3265]

It's clear the words/music came from "somewhere", as they weren't there before, and they (apparently) came to him while in the sleeping "state" and not while awake. While certainly not being critical, I do find it interesting when he responded " . . . I'm not sure I want to know." Why would he not want to know??

[@Diana-jx1ju]

Either way!

[@keithm9337]

Man, Paul looks so feeble here. Please God, let Paul and Artie get to gether again for another song or better yet an album.

[@jonnsteinbeck]

What does Paul wear around his neck ?

[@whitesun264]

Paul said - maybe the lesson was to accept less. Maybe this presents an opportunity, rather than handing over the guitar playing to someone else and singing himself, why not retain the guitar playing and hand over the singing to someone else. There is an explosion of great modern artists - a lot of female artists in particular. I would also love to hear a purely INSTRUMENTAL album - perhaps like in the Blue Light, but a purely instrumental version of that album. But yes bringing in some of the amazing modern talent to sing would be neat and a twist (and would also introduce a whole new audience to Paul Simon.

[@SIRHOPES]

To be as talented and nice but miss the mark heart breaking 💔 give me a call Paul 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@muffinman4353]

Iconic, living music legend.

[@durrutti]

Why doesn’t anybody ask him about Carrie? I wanna know about Carrie .

[@Calthesnaz_waz12]

Carrie ??

[@durrutti]

@@Calthesnaz_waz12 Carrie Fisher, you know, his first (?) wife.

[@timmellin2815]

"I wanna know about Carrie." Maybe that's an insignificant part of his past that really isn't relevant to him now, directly. But if you are still interested, read the recent biography of Paul Simon and / or / the Playboy interview w/ him from the 1980s. Significant mention of Carrie in those sources.

[@gabrielleeast9578]

Interesting that most people retire from their jobs at 65 or 67 yet we expect musicians to continue to their death. Why can't they be allowed to retire and enjoy life and family?

[@larryc8568]

Because they don't want to stop their creative lives. It is what they do; it is theor essence. No one is forcing them.

[@susanm4665]

John chapter 3, you must be born again, give your life to the Lord Jesus who is the Messiah

[@MrMielten]

Rubbish!

[@rocksinger45]

OK Paul but what if you pass on and you lose consciousness and nothing happens ~ Just like we always say ~ Your dead ~ Maybe all this thinking of there being a god is just wishful thinking on our part as human beings ~ The legend continues ~

[@nomiddlenamenmn427]

Here is a joke from another age. What do you call a dead atheist? All dressed up & nowhere to go.

[@garetcrossman6626]

Fortuitous DOES NOT MEAN fortunate!

[@tmm4446]

Second entry in Oxford English Dictionary for the word “fortuitous”: “happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that brings a good result.”

[@rineric3214]

If asked,, would you play at a benefit for RFK Jr. to help him pay for his own security, since he has been refused five times to be guarded by the secret service?

[@FavourChristopher-so5ws]

Lo más inteligente que debería estar en la mente de todos en este momento debería ser invertir en diferentes flujos de ingresos que no dependan del gobierno. Especialmente con la actual crisis económica en todo el mundo. Este sigue siendo un buen momento para invertir en oro, plata y monedas digitales (BTC ETH...).

[@rickdorn9066]

Terrible interviewer.. just not very good at all..

[@boxofmoles4057]

This exemplifies pandering. A songwriter, with a long career, but one foot in the grave, subtly incorporates themes of faith in an attempt to gain attention and boost album sales. It's rather disheartening.

[@cambercrush]

I don't know Paul Simon well. I remember hearing mrs. Robinson a few times growing up. But I just don't care about his writing process. I just Don't

[@JudgeFredd]

And ? Who cares about you ?

[@Blisolda]

Then don't listen to his interviews... What's the point of your comment?

[@pauliuspaskevicius6600]

man, good for you not caring, you are super cool guy

[@Calthesnaz_waz12]

Why are you even watching it then ? You have a choice .my opinion off him is what a legend this guy is . I've grown up listerning to his music so I do care to listern to what he has to say.