Seven Psalms from an Aged Balladeer

Paul Simon may be 81 but his latest and perhaps last musical compilation is drawing lots of interest. He was one half of Simon and Garfunkel, after all, the adored folk/rock balladeers of another time who created sublime harmonies. The solo career which followed their break-up was eclectic and brilliant. 

                                                    Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Paul Simon 1986

Now, in old age, he has created a suite of songs with the intriguing title, Seven Psalms. Simon was raised in a Jewish family which was Jew-ish as one comedian described himself, occasional observance and a Bar Mitzvah without being particularly religious. As is often the case, though, awareness of mortality tends to focus one's thoughts, especially for those already inclined toward introspection. 

One review, written by Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin,has the title Paul Simon Gets Religion and argues that Seven Psalms is innately Jewish. Another by Jon Pareles in the New York Times begins with the header:

Paul Simon Confronts Death, Profoundly, on ‘Seven Psalms’ :The 81-year-old songwriter ruminates on mortality, faith and meaning in an album that could be a farewell.

As with others, Pareles spends much of his review pondering the spiritual content of Simon's 
album and makes an interesting connection with a couple of other iconic figures from the musical world:

“Seven Psalms” sounds like a last testament from the 81-year-old Paul Simon. It’s an album akin to David Bowie’s "Blackstar"  and Leonard Cohen’s "You Want it Darker" which those songwriters made as mortality loomed; they each died days after the albums were released...

Almost immediately, it becomes clear that the migration is from life to death, a transition the singer is preparing to make himself. He’s thinking about time, love, culture, family, music, eternity and God, striving to balance skepticism and something like faith. “I have my reasons to doubt/A white light eases the pain,” Simon sings in “Your Forgiveness.” “Two billion heartbeats and out/Or does it all begin again?”

I haven't heard any of these psalms but apparently the last word on the final song is Amen. I hope that the "amen" for this life is down the road a few more years for Paul Simon and that he will live in hope for the life to come. 

The Afterlife -- Paul Simon -- 2011

After I died, and the make up had dried, I went back to my place
No moon that night, but a heavenly light shone on my face
Still I thought it was odd, there was no sign of God just to usher me in
Then a voice from above, sugar coated with Love, said, "Let us begin"

You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line

OK, a new kid in school, got to follow the rule, you got to learn the routine
Woah, there's a girl over there, with the sunshiny hair, like a homecomin' queen
I said, "Hey, what you say? It's a glorious day, by the way how long you been dead?"
Maybe you, maybe me, maybe baby makes three, but she just sher head

You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line

Buddah and Moses and all the noses from narrow to flat
Had to stand in the line, just to glimpse the divine, what you think about that?
Well it seems like our fate to suffer and wait for the knowledge we seek

It's all his design, no one cuts in the line, no one here likes a sneak
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line

After you climb, up the ladder of time, the Lord God is near
Face to face, in the vastness of space, your words disappear
And you feel like swimming in an ocean of love, and the current is strong
But all that remains when you try to explain is a fragment of song
Lord is it, Be Bop A Lu La or Ooh Poppa Do
Lord, Be Bop A Lu La or Ooh Poppa Do
Be Bop A Lu La

                                                             Simon and Garfunkel 1968