Paul Simon - American Tune (1974)

[@stevetournay6103]

Just sang this gem at karaoke here in Canada, November 7, 2024. Almost choked up at "the road we're traveling on". Way too damn apt right now...

[@lewiskatz8021]

This song saved my life after losing a 20 month old daughter. The lyrics as in all of Paul Simon’s songs are brilliant and emotional

[@jonstone55]

An emotional salve for me too, but to endure your horror is unimaginable. Best wishes for happiness.

[@gregjohnson1079]

I am so sorry for the loss of your child. Paul Simon’s voice and this tune is a salve for emotional pain. ❤

[@l3oozehound]

Stay strong, brother. So sorry to hear that, man. I hope you're doing OK

[@mah3223alia]

I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I lost my baby too. I'm putting my arms around you xx

[@pamelagibson6860]

So sorry!😔💔 God bless you for making it through! 🙏

[@morgaffi]

I can't think of another song makes so much 50 years after it was written. "You can't forever blessed," indeed.

[@georgebowie609]

This song reminds me of today’s America 2020. Makes me sob listening to this 😢

[@pgc8509]

Listening on the 4th with tears in my eyes.

[@drewconneely8623]

Heartrendingly relevant to our America today

[@pg6303]

me too,i am not American but LOVE THIS SONG...weeping like a baby listening to this masterpiece sung by an American legend!!

[@danbrock1843]

It's timeless

[@terichace7798]

tonight in NH,,,,,,

[@tsopuaifa]

The writing of that song and the execution is spectacular. In this one he did more than most artists do over an entire career.

[@liamg2271]

Except he didn't write the song. Taking nothing away from the guy, he's a brilliant lyricist and poet, but Johan Sebastian Bach composed this piece of music.

[@tsopuaifa]

@@liamg2271 I reckon all melodies are already written and the hard part is getting that personal touch to make it your own but the words can't be taken away from him and they move me every time, especially the last verse.

[@petrusdemo]

Don't want to sound like a smart ass, but Simon does borrow a lot from Bach. However, what he is borrowing from is Bach's interpretation of a centuries old folk song.

[@liamg2271]

He wrote the lyrics but is not the composer.

[@AChannelFrom2006]

Bach even got the tune from a composer in the 1500s called Hans. Though I prefer the chords that Simon picked.

[@jimdarvidis7774]

Feel so blessed to have Paul Simon music in my life. This song is one of his best, and this performance portrays his absolute perfect music structures, melody and sublime lyrics. How beautiful is listening to Paul singing a beautiful melody compared to the modern troubadours reaching for uncomfortable high notes that don't need to be there. Perfect.

[@michaelvaladez6570]

This is the very song that we need to hear right now for our country is in trying times in 11- 2024.. !!!!

[@lisawarren8362]

But the lyrics are what make the song & make me cry every time I hear it...

[@Danner-a-gogo]

Something about Paul Simon… I always want to wrap him in a bear hug to reward him for my appreciation for his music and my desire to protect him. His talent has enriched my life and I see his reticence and need for space. God bless him.

[@l3oozehound]

It's possibly my favourite song. So relatable

[@batya7]

Listening to this song a few days before the 2020 election, in a rising "third wave" of COVID-19, makes me feel nostalgic. Yes, "I wonder what's gone wrong." Today's 'American Tune' is much more sung in very uncertain times.

[@paulgiggs99]

yep Fuck Biden and his cronies

[@yajy4501]

Most relevant song right now and it was written over 50 years ago.

[@55DepotStreet]

This beautiful ballad will always be current. It touches life in an extraordinary way. There’s nothing like a artist singing his own creation. Paul Simon has had many.

[@fk2106]

American Tune" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the third single from his third studio album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), released on Columbia Records. The song, a meditation on the American experience, is based on the melody of the hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded".

[@clubcvc]

Im glad you wrote this. Great song but not 100% original. Rather an adaptation of an existing melody.

[@GenesisH20]

Thanks.

[@OCGal78]

And here we are in 2024. 😢

[@user-um8pg6pj5y]

At age 72, growing old with Paul Simon, having seen the non-vacation destination parts of the globe where we were in those far off places for good, this song still means a lot to me.

[@martaflitxpanella9423]

This is a perfect song. Bach would be proud.

[@santiagosuarez-quiroga3378]

Dude! I was just thinking the chord progressions sound very baroque

[@martaflitxpanella9423]

@@santiagosuarez-quiroga3378 es Bach.

[@swarzeoz2550]

Except that it was written by Hassler, and from his PASSION.

[@martaflitxpanella9423]

@@swarzeoz2550 it's Bach.

[@martaflitxpanella9423]

@swarzeoz2550 Die Matthäus-Pasion von Johan Sebastian Bach. Libretto by Christian Friedrich Henrici. (It's copied from there)😉

[@timmarks5691]

What a American treasure.....

[@annegurney5166]

I would love to have even an iota of Paul Simon's talent for writing unique, meaningful and brilliant melodic songs! Musical genius.

[@FeiduFeidu]

The melody is by J. S. Bach

[@jamesgannon6192]

Almost everyone knows 👀

[@cleopatra6912]

Beautiful performance 🙂

[@michaelvaladez6570]

One of America's best songwriter next to Bob Dylan.period.

[@frankiefrankie9973]

Such a great tune... Thanks

[@mikewilliams258]

Frankie Frankie Just as good now as when Johann Sebastian Bach wrote it. :)

[@peternemeth1777]

Bach stole it from Leo Hassler and used the melody in his st matthew passion. It's a love song from the 16th century.

[@michelechicago889]

Bob Dylan & Paul Simon, voices of a generation .

[@corneliamartens9187]

So beautiful.

[@lornar5550]

American masterpiece

[@Lentin00]

So beautiful…

[@michellefrench6617]

RIP 9/11. Never Forgotten

[@agungwayne3090]

Beautiful.

[@TheBloctivist]

The melody's origin can be found around 1600 in Germany. Very famous church song by the name of "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden".

[@brandonkropp7769]

I'm surprised so few comment on the glaring similarity to the ancient Christian hymn 'O Sacred Head Surrounded." What a marvelous take on the melody. One of my favorite Simon tunes ever.

[@bmental7128]

great comment, great observation. however, are you possibly referencing, the ancient chistian hymn, "O sacred head now wounded" instead, just miswrote wrong hymn name?

[@DonVueltaMorales]

I'm surprised how many have noticed the model, as well as the "original" Hassler. Thank God for _Wikipedia_ !

[@bartleyburk2042]

@@bmental7128I’ve heard it sung under both titles.

[@alistairstewart5590]

Very special

[@philbrown1474]

Most uncertain hour. Sure sounds relevant today in 7/2021.

[@ellencamano4197]

Can't thank you enough for this!

[@MikeFerguson-yq2jh]

Pail Simon is such a masterful guitarist and lyricist.

[@janekata1432]

One of their best...

[@ReallyImWorking]

I learned how to play this, and it is *sooo* much fun to play! Just lovely how it moves from chord to chord. It's a borrowed tune, sure. But the arrangement is sheer genius.

[@RuiCâmaraPina]

Was that really writen in 1973?? It could have been writen today....Beautiful song !!!

[@janekata1432]

A Classic...

[@funfunfuntheautobahn]

Great song writer Paul Simon..

[@scottylover73]

can visualise the people coming to Ellis island to a new world, working hard. this is what makes our country great. the immigration, the big melting pot of culture

[@doogalloonni]

My themesong!

[@francescaemc2]

This melody is note for note from Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

[@chrisbjork1093]

And as others have pointed out, Bach borrowed the melody from Hassler.

[@francescaemc2]

Thank you. I did not know this. I hope Hassler sold his catalogue to SONY for 250 million usd ;) Obviously there is no price for Bach's. @@chrisbjork1093

[@nat.serrano]

I'm just trying to play as Paul :)

[@김경현-u4i]

정말 멋쪄요

[@randomrecordings9757]

"What's becoming of the children" Help us save them, Paul. Come to the rallies over the next two months. Sing this song. Help us to remember who we are.

[@slappymcgee8092]

Just who are "we" dingbat?

[@mikemanning4294]

The king of smooth

[@christopheroliver9854]

Baroque unlimited...awesome!

[@DatNguyen-hx6rb]

genius

[@judithslay]

Poetry for our times🇺🇸

[@gf1478]

An uncanny fit to 9/11 and, on this the last day of Trump, an uncanny fit for 20/1. Good luck, America. You've lived so well so long...

[@KingoftheJuice18]

Sung in 1974, meant for November 2016.

[@yasisoufi]

gnshapiro meant for 2020 .... 😪😪

[@HelloEveryonez678]

Thank you Bach for composing the original!

[@lawrencefitton2927]

he got the chords and melody from a chorale by j.s. bach. i played it.

[@StanKindly]

It has many geneses. You may be referring to. O Sacred Head Now Wounded by Paul Gerhardt (Bach did an arrangement). It's the verses 4 bars (repeats 4) but Paul takes it to new levels. I'm sure Gerhardt, Bach would approve - maybe even were present 💕

[@StanKindly]

@Bill Hill Thank you Bill...from an old Yankees fan 😉

[@michaelharter568]

@@StanKindly in Germany the Chorale named „Oh Haupt voll Blut und Wunden“ .It descripes Jesus, when he dies on friday before Easter.

[@nintendonut100]

He did modify the album a bit, and added the b-section melody to it, but yes, it's based off of a chorale, albeit not a chorale composed by Bach, who merely harmonised the most popular version of it.

[@lorijohnson2348]

January 6, 2021 😢

[@BurblyWurbly]

"And high up above my eyes could clearly see The Statue of Liberty Sailing away to sea"

[@hansvink6470]

music from Johann Sebastiaan Bach- Matthew Passion - O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden

[@Gelsyviolet]

Favoloso

[@tonyfriggs]

Always Giving is Pauls Simon...*1!"T"!1*

[@RucaShroom]

❤

[@FeiduFeidu]

"Oh Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" from Matthäus-Passion by J. S. Bach

[@whereisthehook]

O Sacred Head now wounded

[@scottcampbell6617]

Mein G'Mut is Mir Verwirret

[@timmyteaching]

yeah. I know he must have attributed it at some point, right? It's one of the most moving hymns, in my opinion.

[@stevetournay3731]

Paul Gerhardt; Hans Hassler; J.S. Bach (who wrote a famous arrangement of it), and finally Paul Simon... My brother and I recorded a Christmas album years ago that put yet another spin on this exquisite melody; we sang "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" to the tune of "O Sacred Head". They are metrically identical lyrics, and the juxtaposition of a song about the birth of Christ with one about his death is very moving...

[@michaelharter568]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4qQkqKtrbuLnKs

[@kates6371]

@@stevetournay3731 that’s a beautiful idea

[@rainbow-lg9hd]

Great hair

[@artnardone]

O B E

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

2019 Can someone be gracious enough to post the chord shapes on screen for free...such a lovely song

[@seagulld100]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKjOimBtoM1lsJY this is a note for note lesson

[@djkingsley51]

2025's Anthem for American 2.0

[@joelmenzzasalma679]

Astral projection ?

[@dogsareboss]

Not bad, eh? X

[@sticksman1979]

Everything about this is beautiful. Maybe except the hair.

[@francescaemc2]

OK, Paul. You got 250 million usd from SONY music for your catalogue... This song is from Bach as is Bridge over Troubled Waters.... how about donating some of that money for music education for children who don't know those composers? Many steal from the best... but, they dont get paid hundreds of millions... how much do you think Bach's catalogue is worth? It's nice of you to cite Bach... but you need to do more. Had it been Lennon/McCartney you could not have used their music.

[@pgsteenstraten]

Mis wel carfunkeltje 😢

[@gnulen]

so much talent and so bad hair at the same time

[@harrisonkurunathan]

He stole this from bach !!!

[@David-kv9yh]

Can you find it in your heart to forgive him?

[@harrisonkurunathan]

@@David-kv9yh no can't do

[@jsinton]

Yes. He talks about it stealing it from Bach on an episode of Dick Cavett from around the time of release.

[@mr.skeltal8687]

Music is a transformative art, Paul's final work hardly resembles the inspired Bach piece

[@harrisonkurunathan]

@@mr.skeltal8687 if you think it hardly resembles bach then you are tone deaf ... period

[@malcolmdale]

I have to laugh at the comments sayng what a greatwriter Paul Simon was - this song was written in 1601 by Hans Leo Hassler. Paul Simon just wrote the words.

[@carolpratt3127]

that's what writers do?

[@lesmcnabney1761]

Kinda, but not quite.

[@complexlittlepirate3589]

there's no "just" about it...

[@JoePruessner1]

And from whom did Hassler steal? Stravinsky said it - all composers do it.

[@jmandelaro]

You’re right. He’s terrible. 😂😂😂😂

[@kennstrong601]

it's not all right

[@jamesjournalist3919]

Ode to the Era of Donald Trump

[@occasm]

It's about the damage the orange demon has dine dude