Forget the Star-spangled Banner. This is America's national anthem. Movement and searching for a better life.

In the 60's, thousands upon thousands of young people took to the road, in cars and buses, hitchhiking, walking, looking for a life they couldn't define. They only knew the life they'd grown up with didn't satisfy them. Things were changing, the country was changing. The search for "America" was a search for meaning in a land that had become plastic, overly mannered, cold. Parents stayed together no matter the unhappiness, work was stifling and a lifelong trap, Madison Avenue sold people things when what they needed was fulfillment. So the young rebelled, fought back, ran away. The road became a refuge, promising something, anything better than what they had known. That's what the song is about - that search for the "America" they had been promised but which turned out not worth having, so they went in search of a new America, a new way of living, a new way of loving, a new way of being.

Two young people are searching for their place in this world. Like most young people, they got lost, but, to their credit, they are still searching.

"I'm empty and aching and I don't know why" - that point in time/in our lives we all face.

"Be Careful His Bow Tie Is Really A Camera"..... Brilliant

S&G will never disappoint.

What a great reaction ! and that is often quite difficult with S and G songs that are so well written and with deep lyrics.

Paul Simon's chord progressions are a thing to behold! I still get chills when Garfunkel goes hi on the chorus near the end. Their songs sink deeper and deeper into you on repeated plays. "April Come She Will", "A Hazy Shade Of Winter", (great cover by the Bangles)! "Cecilia", "At The Zoo", "Mrs. Robinson." I could go on all day!

The British band YES, recorded a prog rock cover for - America, it's amazingly different. More good songs from S & G - "Scarborough Fair" - "Mrs Robinson" - "El cóndor pasa (If I Could)" and many more.

....and, the Moon rose over an open field....

Excellent reaction.

What a wonderful song. The band Yes did a cover of this that is drastically different. It’s worth checking out. Good job!

searching for the American dream, not knowing that they already had it all along!

Music Is Magical. When it is put in the talented hands of an artist like Paul Simon to write the musical arrangements, choose the unique set of instruments and musicians, do superb vocals with the voice of Art doing highlights and harmonies, the results are timeless and legendary.... so many times that has happened in his lengthy career.

The thing i have always loved about this lyric is that it doesnt rhyme. The lines that end with America rhyme with each other in a way, but the rest of it doesnt rhyme. It's just free verse... Brilliant. Thank you, Paul 💙

Paul Simon at Doubleday Field Cooperstown N.Y July 4th 2006 ...... Sold Out. My family was only 20 feet away from the iconic artist doing 21 legendary songs. My three now grown kids saw some of the greatest artist with my wife and I growing up.... They now love all the people they saw.

Traveling by charter bus is a dying art.

It's always nice to hear the boys the monsters

Let’s go see our beautiful country!😺🎶

New jersey turnpike 🤘🤘🤘

This very short brilliant song captures a whole bunch of angst. It has its own Wikipedia page.

I think it's their best song.

Paul Simon is a genius. Not a single rhyme in this exquisitely written lyric.

Good interpretation. You got this one

The real estate here in his bag is pot

It’s just brilliant… that’s all!

🥰🥰🥰

While this has always been one of my fave SnG songs, it always felt like it needed another verse...but it so fits the times...love it...

well done!

Great album.

Trying to figure out the meaning to Paul Simon tunes can be a question, but nothing like trying to figure out...Bob Dylan, even Paul would tell you that.

I love that this song has no verses that rhyme

David Bowie opened his set at the memorial concerts following the 9/11 attacks on New York with a short a cappella rendition of this Simon and Garfunkel classic. Then he kicked into "Heroes" and the crowd full of firefighters and police officers went nuts. Funny thing though that while I hear the influence this song had on Bowie's music, I don't really hear The Beatles influence on this song, but The Beatles infused so much of the musical atmosphere back then that my not hearing it might be akin to the fish that doesn't know it lives in water. At any rate, another great Simon & Garfunkel tune that fits well with "America" is "Homeward Bound". Check it out when you can.

"Kathy's Song" would be a good next one.

Nope, no Beatles sound in this song whatsoever.

To understand this song, you really need to have lived in the 60’s and 70’s. It was an age of introspection and enlightenment. It’s a real organ, they didn’t have the organs today. It’s pot in the bag. He’s short of money and so is she so they marry what they have so they can buy smokes.