Be careful his bow-tie is really a camera

[seren_ccd]

30 Day Meme

Day 16 → A song that makes you cry (or nearly).

America by Simon and Garfunkel.

"Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together"
"I've got some real estate here in my bag"
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America

"Kathy," I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now"
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America

Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said "Be careful his bowtie is really a camera"

"Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field

"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all gone to look for America
All gone to look for America
All gone to look for America

I have no idea why, but this song always makes me yearn for something. I'm never quite sure what though.

Comments

[ms-prue.livejournal.com]

Uncultured ignoramus Prue is an uncultured ignoramus: I have never seen the lyrics to this song before. Which is embarrassing because I could sing you the melody no probs :o)
I know the lyrics for The Boxer, though, and that song nearly makes me cry.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

Hee! It's got such good lyrics, but yeah. I had to look them up because what I was hearing in my head was just NOT making sense. :D

Oh, the Boxer slays me everytime. *sighs*

[tonguestopraise.livejournal.com]

I once told my boyfriend that its much easier to understand me as a person if you've listened to the entirety of Paul Simon's Graceland while driving across America with the windows of your car open, especially if there's a chance of rain. It was a really strange and offhand comment, but it's absolutely true.

America is such a beautiful song. I've been listening to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKqLQcIfgvI which is a beautiful cover of Graceland by The Tallest Man on Earth.

[tonguestopraise.livejournal.com]

I've been reading "Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck recently. It's about traveling across America, but its also about why people don't travel when they want to. Maybe that's what you're longing for here. Humans are naturally nomads, and the desire to travel is hardwired into our brains. Maybe you want to go look for your own 'America,' or whatever America stands for in your minds interpretation of the song.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

That could very well be it. I first heard this song in middle school and was desperate to be anywhere else. I hadn't really ever travelled before. Now, when I hear it, it does make me wish for a car and an open road to just drive. :D