Engang i tresserne tomlede han rundt i Danmark sammen med Stig Møller og spillede på gader og stræder. Om kort tid modtager han som den allerførste Gershwin-prisen for sit livslange bidrag til amerikansk populærmusik. Paul Simon, lille af krop, stor af kunstnerisk format. Prisen, der er navngivet efter det berømte par Ira & George Gerschwin, uddeles af Library of Congress den 23. maj.

American Tune
Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I’ve often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I’m alright, I’m alright
I’m just weary to my bones
Still, you don’t expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far a-way from home, so far away from home

And I don’t know a soul who’s not been battered
I don’t have a friend who feels at ease
I don’t know a dream that’s not been shattered
or driven to its knees
but it’s alright, it’s alright
for we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
road we’re traveling on
I wonder what’s gone wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what has gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul ROSE unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the a-ge’s most uncertain hours
and sing an American tune
Oh, and it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
You can’t be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow’s going to be another working day
And I’m trying to get some rest
That’s all I’m trying to get some rest

Mere hæder: Paul Simon er også – i følge New Musical Express – blevet optaget i the National Recordings Registry, hvor US Librarian of Congress opbevarer musik, der kulturelt set er vigtig. Æren gælder “Graceland”. Samme hæder overgår The Rolling Stones “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)”, Nico & The Velvet Underground for “Velvet Underground and Nico”, Carl Perkins med “Blue Suede Shoes”, The Ronettes med “Be My Baby og Pete Seeger for “We Shall Overcome”. Blogbestyreren har ikke noget at indvende…