A conversation with Paul Simon

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4.3 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2023

⏱️ 37 minutes

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Summary

Singer Paul Simon surprised fans earlier this year by releasing Seven Psalms, his first album since 2018. It was surprising not because so much time had passed, but because he had originally said his previous album, In the Blue Light, would be his last. In an interview with All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen, Simon said he was ready to retire from music and pursue other creative projects, like painting. This week, we go back to that 2018 conversation when Simon first announced he was done making new music. He talks about his dreams, the creative process and life's biggest questions. "We don't have the capacity to understand the great mysteries of life and God or no God or infinity," Simon says. "We just can't get it. It's beyond us, but that's fine."

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's all songs considered from NPR music I'm Robin Hilton.
0:03.4	Earlier this year, singer Paul Simon,
0:05.7	surprised fans by releasing seven songs,
0:09.2	his first new album since 2018.
0:12.5	Good morning, Mr. Indivination.
0:18.6	Looks like you haven't slept all night.
0:24.9	Yet my professional opinion.
0:31.0	Go back to bed, turn off your light.
0:36.3	The release of seven songs was surprising,
0:38.7	not because so much time has passed,
0:41.0	but because Paul Simon's previous record,
0:43.5	in the blue light, was supposed to be his last.
0:47.7	In a conversation with all songs considered Bob Boylin,
0:50.5	Simon said he was ready to retire from music
0:53.6	and pursue other creative projects, like painting.
0:57.2	But at 81 years old, Simon couldn't stay away
1:00.1	from making music for long.
1:02.3	His latest album is a probing, deeply personal
1:05.6	and considered work about the state of the world,
1:08.7	war, global warming, the pandemic, and so much more.
1:13.1	This week on All Songs Consider,
1:14.6	we go back to our 2018 conversation with Paul Simon
	...

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