I heard this in 2000 and it sounded like the Paul Simon of old…no pun intended. It’s about when people telling you…you are getting old whether you are there or not.
It was on the album You’re The One released in 2000. You’re The One was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2001. As a result Simon became the first artist to be nominated in that category in five consecutive decades (1960s-2000s). Paul McCartney also joined that club in 2006 with his album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.
You’re the One‘s generally upbeat tone arose out of his happy home life with singer Edie Brickell and their children… “the first time that I ever had domestic bliss.”
You’re The One peaked at #19 in the Billboard Album Chart, #8 in Canada, and #20 in the UK. This release was 3 years after his album Songs from the Capeman which contained songs from a Broadway Play he wrote.
Old
The first time I heard ‘Peggy Sue’, I was twelve years old
Russians up in a rocket ships and the war was cold
Now many wars have come and gone, genocide still goes on
Buddy Holly still goes on, but his catalog was sold
First time I smoked, guess what, paranoid
First time I heard ‘Satisfaction’, I was young and unemployed
Down the decades every year, summer leaves and my birthday’s here
And all my friends stand up and cheer
Say man you’re old
Getting old
You’re old
You’re getting old
We celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day
And Buddha found Nirvana along the Lotus Way
About fifteen hundred years ago the messenger Mohammed spoke
And his wisdom like a river flowed through hills of gold
Wisdom is old
The Koran is old
The Bible is old
Greatest story ever told
Disagreements?
Work ’em out
The human races walked the Earth for two point seven million
And we estimate the universe about thirteen to fourteen billion
When all these numbers tumble into your imagination
Consider that the Lord was there before creation
God is old
We’re not old
God is old
He made the mold
Take your clothes off
Adam and Eve
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The beginning sounds a lot like Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, so I can see why you said it sounds like old Paul Simon.
Yes it does Jim I agree…I thought the same thing.
You’re right.
an overlooked Simon album.
I remember hearing this song maybe once when it came out. I thought the same, it was the familiar Paul Simon sound.
Nice! I don’t think I have heard this before , but it does sound like 70s Simon, good lyrics as well. Gee, thanks so much “hit radio” for ignoring this in favor of Limp Bizkit and Britney Spears back then, he says tongue firmly in cheek
Oh I AGREE…totally! If this would have been released earlier…even the 80s…it might have been at least a minor hit then.
Between you and Dave you have all the Simon bases covered. I’ll be sure to tell Steve Berlin this. lol
I’ve always thought that Paul Simon sounded much better accompanied by Art Garfunkel.
I’m with you on that…they complimented each other well.
Exactly.
I think this was the first time I heard this tune. I like it! I also agree the beginning is reminiscent of “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.”
Yes it is and it sounds like the old Paul…although I like the African phase also.
Jim & Christian are right.
It sounds like old Paul before Graceland
Well, sort of. As he has aged, his voice has dropped. And, he does sound better with Art. Art made him “sing” instead of talking thru his music.
His songs are so wordy that he has to squeeze them in quickly.
Yeah, he does…LOL!
Same with Dylan…that is why Dylan sang more on Lay Lady Lay and Knocking on Heavens Door…just a few words.
Two songs of his that I like…
Yea but you had someone else sing…ah…Like A Rolling Stone or another song of his…it probably wouldn’t sound much different if they get all the words in.
Possibly…
Not bad. These lyrics would work for the poetry prompt we had today about repeating words or phrases.
I feel what he is saying Lisa…I have always admired his writing…always clever.
I think he has a lot of good stuff on his 21st century albums. Wrist Band from his most recent one is a good tune with some insightful words.
I’ll take a listen to it.