"Beauty confronts us with the requirement that we place ourselves among...the redeemers, the leaders in the protection of life. Once you have seen the bush on fire, you are not going to get out of the assignment unless you close your eyes to the beauty.... [You] either have to close your eyes or go back to Egypt and set the people free." - Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, "Rising to the Challenge of Our Times"

Sunday, March 09, 2008

American Tune



The brilliance of this song is that it captures the spirit of America at her best while acknowledging somehow we got on the wrong road, that there are times of great despair and loneliness, life batters our souls, we're uncomfortable, weary to our bones, good times come and go...but it's alright, it's alright, it's alright. And it gives us a charge: we come in the age's most uncertain hour, and sing an American tune. What's your tune?

This is the only song about America that honors the myth, the ideals, the symbols, without glossing over the pain of living in the America we've made. 35 years after it was written it seems to fit better than ever.

Still tomorrow's gonna be another working day and I'm trying to get some rest. That's all I'm tryin' to get, is some rest.
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2 comments:

adamf said...

Great song. I love the Japanese subtitles as well. : )

11:18 AM
Emily said...

Yes, they were an added bonus. I really like Art Garfunkel's voice on the song but there is a good video of Paul Simon singing it by himself circa 1975. The only trade off is that Paul's mustache in that video is nearly as distracting as the subtitles in this one.

I'm going to post it anyway. It's just too good.

11:25 AM

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