Hey friends, I’m taking a short break and using the Fourth of July as a convenient excuse. I’ll leave you with this, one of my favorite Paul Simon songs.

I got (minor) beef with the dude, but damn, he’s a good songwriter. I once covered a post- 9/11 benefit where he was the star performer, and he wouldn’t let me interview him. Feh.

Simon wrote and recorded this song as the Vietnam War wound down, the draft was ending, and Nixon’s dirty tricks dominated the news. I can’t think of a song, other than his own “Peace Like a River,” that better expressed the weariness and sadness of the era. It’s ageless, really, and sounds current 50 years later. Plus, the tune itself is beautiful and his acoustic guitar playing is exemplary, as always.

There are better clips of a younger Simon singing this song out there, but YouTube in its strange wisdom makes you go to the site rather than play it here. You can track them down, or just enjoy this before you head out to the barbecue. Stay safe and enjoy the fireworks.

[Image top of page, A. Paonita as we left JFK Airport for Europe, May 2023]