Five years ago, Paul Simon declared that he was done writing songs. However, he soon realized that he couldn’t resist the allure of songwriting. Simon describes the feeling of creating something out of thin air as a “dopamine splash” in his brain that keeps him addicted to the process.
Recently, Simon has been residing in Texas where he works on his ranch in the Lone Star State. When asked about his unexpected move from Queens to Texas Hill Country, Simon humorously replied, “Well, you have to marry a girl from Texas!” He and his wife, Edie Brickell, have settled down in Texas, where Simon recorded his latest solo album, “Seven Psalms,” in his cabin studio.
The title of the album came to Simon in a dream. He recalls being told in the dream to work on a piece called “Seven Psalms” and immediately wrote it down on a legal pad upon waking up. Simon explains that when something as vivid as that happens, he doesn’t question it but waits for further clarification on what he’s supposed to do. The clarification came in the form of guitar pieces, and later, the words came to him in dreams.
The process of creating the album is captured in the documentary “In Restless Dreams” by Alex Gibney. Simon describes waking up between 3:30 and 5:00 in the morning multiple times a week with words flowing into his mind. He would write them down and gradually piece the songs together.
Despite his immense talent and success, Simon remains humble about his songwriting abilities. He acknowledges that the creative process is mysterious and doesn’t dwell too much on where the inspiration comes from. He compares the phenomenon to when he wrote his hit songs “The Sound of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and “Graceland.” Each time, he felt that the songs were beyond his usual capabilities and recognized their greatness.
Simon recently revealed that he is facing a new challenge – he is losing his hearing. His left ear’s hearing has declined to just 8%, making it difficult for him to play with a large group of musicians. However, he remains optimistic and curious about what he can learn from this experience. He believes that acceptance of limitations is a part of life, considering that many people face worse challenges.
During his appearance at the Newport Folk Festival last year, Mason asked Simon if it might be his last significant performance. Although Simon hopes that it is not, he remains realistic about the possibility. He expressed his desire to perform “Seven Psalms” and hasn’t given up hope yet.
“Seven Psalms” is a reflective and introspective album that reflects on belief and mortality. However, Simon doesn’t feel burdened by his age or the theme of the album. He acknowledges that he’s 81 years old and naturally thinks about mortality but doesn’t let it consume him.
Simon has noticed how his songs have evolved over time and the different meanings they can take on. He mentioned how his performance of “The Sound of Silence” at Newport was vastly different from the original recording in 1966. This evolution gives the songs new feelings and meanings as time goes on.
When asked about his legacy, Simon dismisses its importance. He believes that if his music lives on, it deserves it, but if it doesn’t, then it gets discarded, and culture moves on to new sources of nourishment. While he may be personally disappointed, he understands that culture doesn’t care.
Despite his age and hearing challenges, Simon can’t help but continue to create. He recently started writing again and has already penned two new songs. As long as he can write and sing, he intends to make music, even if it’s just for himself.
To listen to selections from Paul Simon’s album “Seven Psalms,” you can watch the accompanying video. For more insight into Paul Simon’s journey and experiences, be sure to watch Anthony Mason’s interview with him on “CBS Mornings.”
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