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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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From: macon@gallifry.Berkeley.EDU (Glen Macon)
075
Title: AMERICA (Simon & Garfunkle)
C Bm Am G F
Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together
C Bm Am
I've got some real-estate here in my bag
Em A Em A
So we bought a pack of cigaretts, and Mrs. Wagner pies
G C G A B C B Am
And walked off to look for America
C B Am G F
Cathy I said as we boarded the Greyhound in Pittsburg
C B Am
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
G
It took me four days to hitch-hike from Saganaw
D G D Cmaj7
I've gone to look for America
Cmaj7 D
Laughing on the bus, playing games with the faces
Cmaj7 D
She said the man in the gaberdine suit was a spy
G F# Em A D Fmaj7
I said be careful his bowtie is really a camera
C B Am G F
Toss me a cigarette I think there's one in my raincoat
C B Am
We smoked the last one an hour ago
G A Em A
So I looked at the scenery, and she read her magazine
G D G A B CB Am
An the moon rose over an open field
C B Am G F
Cathy I'm lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
C B Am
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
G
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
D G D Cmaj7
They've all gone to look for America
D G D Cmaj7
They've all gone to look for America
D G D Cmaj7
They've all gone to look for America
From: Harlan L Thompson
AMERICA- Simon & Garfunkel
C C/B Am C/G F C C/B Am C/G F
Ooh ooh ooh a ooh a ooh, ooh ooh ooh a ooh a ooh
C C/B Am C/G F
Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together
C C/B Am Am7
I've got some real-estate here in my bag
Em7 A7 Em7 A7
So we bought a pack of cigarettes, and Mrs. Wagner pies
Em7 D C G C C/B Am Am7/6 F
And walked off to look for America
C C/B Am C/G F
Cathy I said as we boarded the Greyhound in Pittsburg
C C/B Am Am7
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
G
It took me four days to hitch-hike from Saginaw
Em7 D G D Cmaj7 C
And I've come to look for America
Bbmaj7 Bb C
Laughing on the bus, playing games with the faces
Bbmaj7 C C/B Am C/G
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
F Fmaj7 C C/B Am C/G Am6 Fmaj7
I said be careful his bowtie is really a camera
C C/B Am C/G F
Toss me a cigarette I think there's one in my raincoat
C C/B Am Am7
We smoked the last one an hour ago
Em7 A7 Em7 A7
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
Em7 D C G C C/B Am C/G F
And the moon rose over an open field
C C/B Am C/G F
Cathy I'm lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
C C/B Am Am7
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
G
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
D G D Cmaj7
They've all come to look for America
D G D Cmaj7
They've all come to look for America
D G D Cmaj7 C
They've all come to look for America
C C/B Am C/G Dm F G G7
Do do do do-da-do, do do do do-da-do (repeat and fade)
C/B: x 2 2 0 1 0 C/G: 3 3 2 0 1 0
Am7: x 0 2 0 1 0 Cmaj7: x 3 2 0 0 0
Em7: 0 2 2 0 3 0 Bbmaj7: 1 1 3 2 3 1
Fmaj7: x x 3 2 1 0 Am6: x 0 2 2 0 2
NOTE: At the end of each C C/B Am C/G F chord progression, there
is a small but important extra note. While fingering the F chord
(1 3 3 2 1 1), quickly hammer on and then pull off the sus note
(1 3 3 3 1 1). Do this twice each time. Listen to the record to
get a better idea of what I mean.
(from Bookends, 1967)
(sent by Harlan at harlant@hawaii.edu)
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Jer Average |
#1 by Jer at Jul 12, 1979 at 3:17 PM EST |
| "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" ACID TRIP MUCH? also: "I'm empty and aching and I don't know why" | |
|
No Picture
rikiscorner Average |
#2 by rikiscorner at Jan 27, 1982 at 12:02 AM EST |
| a coming of age song, search for ones self, the search for "the American deam", self discovery hippie-style (like crimsoncity said) | |
|
No Picture
Average |
#3 by nirvana at Jan 4, 1985 at 2:44 PM EST |
| "Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping I'm empty and aching and I don't know why I find myself asking this question all the time. But i dont think the america i would find today would be any help to the chaos. "Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together." "I've got some real estate here in my bag." The Only Possesions you need can fit it a bag. I love it. Take Me. | |
|
No Picture
Sam Wanna Be |
#4 by Sam Payne at Jul 13, 1990 at 12:30 PM EST |
| This song makes me want to be free. | |
|
No Picture
sean Wanna Be |
#5 by sean bradly at Dec 5, 1990 at 2:23 PM EST |
| this song is absolutely perfect in every way. extremely poetic and musically ingenius. there's something about the line "kathy i'm lost... i'm empty and aching and i don't know why" that hits so close to home with... just about everybody. i've always felt like there's a certain overtone of the relationship not being the innocent perfect thing it seems like initially, as well. | |
|
No Picture
Master Shaïtan Wanna Be |
#6 by Master Shaïtan at Dec 20, 1993 at 8:04 PM EST |
| Once again another drug refrence. Why do ppl think almost every song (mainly the really good ones) are about drugs. I have been a S&G fan for awhile (since 2), but i never really liked this song. untill recently. i do not know where i heard (it might have been on Wal-mart Radio {I work overnights at wal-mart [for the records i am only 20]}) and i listen to the words very closely. This, just like Bridge over trouble waters, sends shivers down my spin. maybe becuase of my free sprit or something, but idk. But this song could also be a metaphore for America of the 60's-70's. who knows. but this song is one of the best. | |
|
No Picture
Charley Rhythm Player |
#7 by Charley Hockin at May 23, 2000 at 1:17 AM EST |
| I agree - that parts good, but my favourite line is 'Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike'. My parents used to listen to their Greatest Hits LP all the time when I was growing up, but its only now that I've been able to appreciate the music. America is definitly my favourite song of theirs :] | |
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No Picture
|
#8 by at Mar 12, 2002 at 11:44 PM EST |
| This is the most amazing song. When i herd it i wanted to cry. Kudos ! | |
|
No Picture
Keegan Average |
#9 by Keegan at Aug 6, 2002 at 10:05 AM EST |
| Actually, I think it really has to be America that he's talking about. America is as much a metaphor as anything else in this song, it represents all that is free and the ability to be whatever you want to be, and do whatever you want to do. | |
|
No Picture
Niks Average |
#10 by Niks at Oct 14, 2002 at 6:11 PM EST |
| just wanna say that this song has by far the greatest lyrics of any song. i dont think it needs to explained. just listen to the way the lyrics echo off the harmonies and cascade down the guitar chords. | |
|
No Picture
Mike Average |
#11 by Mike at Oct 2, 2007 at 5:08 PM EST |
| I could listen to this over and over. My mom loves simon and garfunkel and has been trying for ages to get me to listen to this song, and i only just realized the greatness of it about a year ago. i love this song from start to finish, from the sweet humming in the beginning to the organ outro. it just oozes emotion and tells a story so beautifully. "and the moon rose over an open field".. | |
|
No Picture
Katie Wanna Be |
#12 by Katie St. Michel at Oct 3, 2007 at 5:44 PM EST |
| I like the point of the lovers going to find there American dream..the one our parents told us if we want to do something we can..and the slow relization that, it's not true. You can't honestly do anything you put your mind to. You don't have every oppritunity to succeed. | |
|
No Picture
Andrea Average |
#13 by Andrea Lauria at Oct 3, 2007 at 9:04 PM EST |
| "this song explains why i am leaving home to become a stewardess" | |
|
No Picture
david Average |
#14 by david maynard at Oct 5, 2007 at 11:46 AM EST |
| I love how their songs are like little glimpses into random episodes of people's lives. I think this one is about two young people discovering themselves and the future, hippie-style. And Art's voice is simply beautiful. | |
|
No Picture
by fires light Rhythm Player |
#15 by by fires light she cried at Oct 5, 2007 at 6:13 PM EST |
| i love this song, it's such a beautiful vision of traveling across the country, kind of like kerouac's "on the road"...in a way. my favorite line is "I'm empty and aching and I don't know why..." | |
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No Picture
` niki * Average |
#16 by ` niki * at Oct 6, 2007 at 3:04 AM EST |
| this song has such a magical quality to it the storytelling lyrics and melodic guitar are amazing | |
|
No Picture
Ale Wanna Be |
#17 by Ale Rosado at Oct 6, 2007 at 8:06 AM EST |
| I love the part about the man in the gaberdine suit being a spy, and this is an amazing song. | |
|
No Picture
Steil Wanna Be |
#18 by Steil Lionhart at Oct 10, 2007 at 8:16 PM EST |
| This song first came out when I was in high school, and it has been decades since I really paid any attention to it, but now - looking at the lyrics and singing the song in my head - I can appreciate the genius behind it. Look at how the mood of the song slides from optimistic exuberance to a feeling of emptiness with each verse painting a slightly different mood among the two lovers. I especially like the transition from the silliness of “I said ‘Be careful his bowtie is really a camera’” to the impending gloom of "Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat". WOW!! Absolutely beautiful. | |
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No Picture
Daniel Average |
#19 by Daniel Rainbolt at Oct 12, 2007 at 12:42 AM EST |
| I'm not sure what else to say about this song, except that it's truly a beautiful one, and very touching! I feel it refers to the elusive American Dream, the promise young people are assured as they set out on the world that they can conquer anything. A theme seen throughout the works of Hemmingway, Fiztgerald, and Kerouac, it is merely that: a dream. As the two lovers here progress on their journey, they run out of cigarettes, they grow bored, and they go to sleep. There is nothing left to do but count the cars in the turnpike, who are of couse all doing what they are doing- looking for America. | |
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No Picture
Matt Lead Player |
#20 by Matt Spencer at Oct 12, 2007 at 12:00 PM EST |
| yes yes to all you kids that have not seen it ... almost famous ... *orgasms* it really rocks like no other. this song also makes me think of catcher in the rye, and mostly igby goes down which is kinda like it ... just how the movie deals with what you're supposed to do in life, and the whole feeling of being lost. the kid is disullisioned cause his dad got what was supposed to be the american ideal and then had a mental breakdown. and in catcher in the rye, he always tries to escape through girls and has this inclination to run away and start a new life. but, an amazing song all by itself. | |
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No Picture
PJVILL Professional Badass |
#21 by PJVILL at Oct 12, 2007 at 7:40 PM EST |
| I would have to agree; that lyric is my favorite in the song as well ("...and the moon rose over an open field."). I also loved the use of this song in the movie Almost Famous (dir. Cameron Crowe). The daughter is moving out because she feels her mother has too many rules - the mother has contempt for rock and roll music. To explain why she is leaving home the daughter simply plays this record. It is perfectly symbolic of the daughter's desire to find the American Dream. She too ends up in despair; after becoming an airline stewardess she stops seeing her boyfriend and eventually runs accross her brother in an airport in the middle of the night and returns home with him. Clearly she never found her dream. | |
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No Picture
metal-cat Average |
#22 by metal-cat stepheria at Oct 13, 2007 at 4:50 PM EST |
| yeah I totally agree with bongo... i'm from india but this song has a lot of meaning for me... i have tears in my eyes each time i listen to the last bit 'counting the cars on the new jersey turnpike they've all gone to look for America All gone to look for America (X2) Beautiful song... Simon and GArfunkel ...you blow my world | |
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No Picture
Aaron Average |
#23 by Aaron Doyle at Oct 14, 2007 at 2:23 AM EST |
| This song is so incredibly beautiful. I think it IS about the American dream. Oh, piece of trivia - Paul Simon's girlfriend at the time was named Kathy and she was British, so it makes sense. See also "Kathy's Song," quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs ever written. The arrangement of "America" is easily better than that of "Kathy's Song", though. | |
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No Picture
kostas Rhythm Player |
#24 by kostas kouveliotis at Oct 15, 2007 at 1:05 AM EST |
| i don't think this is about america exactly, it can apply to people from any country who arre lost and lack direction. America is just a metaphor for life. | |
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No Picture
Tye Musical Genius |
#25 by Tye williston at Oct 18, 2007 at 4:55 AM EST |
| I also love "counting the cars on the new jersey turnpike"...theres something about it that sends shivers down my spine. its a truly fantastic song. infact all of simon & garfunkel's songs are great! | |
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