NEW AD here in PA - wow, is that Paul Simon??

[polichick]

http://www.progressivefuture.org/american-tune%22

LOVE IT!

[MidwestTransplant]

1. Just saw it too. Running on cable or did you see it on a network?

[polichick]

3. Just saw it for the first time - on msnbc.

[demokatgurrl]

5. Why doesn't Bush put his hand over his heart for the National Anthem?

Because that is traditionally done for the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Neither does Obama, neither do I. Lots of people at baseball games do, for some reason.

[Clio the Leo]

2. THANK YOU! ..........

I knew there had to be SOME Paul Simon song befitting this election but couldn't put my finger on it!

[polichick]

6. Yeah, it's perfect!

[lamp_shade]

4. Holy Mackeral. I caught the tail end. Amazing.

[polichick]

8. I caught the end too, and went straight to the site to see if I heard right...

It's chilling and inspiring at the same time!

[Clio the Leo]

7. Here's the whole song.....

http://www.rtkk.com/MYSPACE/Music/AmTune.mp3

[polichick]

17. Thank-you!! From the Concert in Central Park, one of the best concerts EVER imo!

[Clio the Leo]

20. I think we have not tapped into Paul Simon enough during this campaign...

.... one of the greatest songwriters of our era.

I am on vacation .... I think I will be up late tonight finding more Obama worthy songs. ;)

[polichick]

24. True - Simon is an amazing writer!

[Clio the Leo]

29. The best one I'd thought of so far was "The Boxer"....

... which sounds like it was written FOR Barack...

When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station, runnin scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know

Li la li...

Asking only workmans wages, I come lookin for a job, but I get no offers
Just a comeon from the whores on 7th avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there


and Joe...

In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes he still remains



(warning to all DU-ers, I tend to get VERY cheesy during the more memorable moments in my life, this being high on the list, I fear my cheese-factor may be off the scale, read my posts at your own risk!) :)

[polichick]

30. The Boxer is one of my all-time favorites - Simon puts a whole novel into a single song!

[Clio the Leo]

33. Yep. I cannot listen to "He Was My Brother" w/out crying. Another Obama song...

"Born at the Right Time"

Down among the reeds and rushes
A baby boy was found
His eyes as clear as centuries
His silky hair was brown

Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time

[regnaD kciN]

57. Actually, the version in the ad is Simon's solo studio recording...

...while the full concert version in the link, of course, has both Simon and Garfunkel harmonizing on it (and is, in my opinion, much better).

And I've always found it amusing that "American Tune composed by Paul Simon" is, except for the bridge, neither an American tune nor composed by Paul Simon. (It's a 16th Century Lutheran church chorale composed by Hans Leo Hassler and featured prominently in Bach's St. Matthew Passion, although Simon obviously wrote new words for the melody.)

[spanone]

9. it's paul simon's 'american tune'

Words & music by paul simon

Manys the time Ive been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but Im alright, Im alright
Im just weary to my bones
Still, you dont expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far a-way from home, so far away from home

I dont know a soul whos not been battered
I dont have a friend who feels at ease
I dont know a dream thats not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but its alright, its alright
For we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
Road were traveling on
I wonder whats gone wrong
I cant help it, I wonder whats 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-ges most uncertain hours
And sing an american tune
Oh, and its alright, its alright, its alright
You cant be forever blessed
Still, tomorrows going to be another working day
And Im trying to get some rest
Thats all Im trying to get some rest

[lamp_shade]

12. Oh My God... the Goosebumps.

[polichick]

31. I got goosebumps too - couldn't get to that site fast enough!

[polichick]

18. I just couldn't believe they were able to use it - I'm so glad!

[bklyncowgirl]

37. It was written about Watergate but like any good political song it's universal.

Very touching ad.

[polichick]

40. Interesting info - yet another Republican fiasco.

[K Gardner]

10. I just saw this and started weeping ! Went to Google to try to find it then here to see

if anyone else had it. This needs to SATURATE the airwaves for the next two days.. wow, just wow. Thank you for posting this. I'll have it on 24/7 until Tuesday night.

Best Ad EVER.

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 all right, it's all right
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's gone wrong

[nutshell2002]

11. seeing it here in Fla too..is it a national ad?

[K Gardner]

15. Says on the website they're running it on CNN and MSNBC. I need to donate to them so they can run

it more !

[polichick]

28. Definitely a worthy cause! :)

[seaker]

13. Sweet!

[JBear]

14. WOW!

That is a wonderful ad!!! It really hits doesn't it!

:bounce:

[polichick]

23. Just like it was written for this moment - a little eerie, but yes wonderful!

[Catshrink]

16. That is the most perfect ad I've seen this election.

Wow. Just wow.

:applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause:

[polichick]

19. I agree - THE BEST!

[Cha]

21. Rec'd! Thanks..beautiful Paul Simon

tune and I bet he doesn't mind it being used for this ad from Progressive Future!

[polichick]

34. I love it when our best artists get behind political issues...

...it was great to see Bob Dylan endorse Obama this time around, since he usually steers clear.

[Cha]

41. Oh Yes! All our beautiful

musicians who care so much for our country and use their talent and creativity to sing for it.

[gblady]

22. saw it here on msnbc.....

made me stop in my tracks....
and wonder who made it...
it was well done...
hope to see it again.

[me b zola]

25. Here in Portland, too

Recommended.

[Shakespeare]

26. It's a national add, and I LOVED it!

I wasn't even sure what it was about until the very end. :thumbsup:

[stuntcat]

27. it's great!

Thank you for this link!! Now I love Paul Simon even more :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[polichick]

32. You're welcome! I'm thrilled Paul Simon agreed to this.

[AlinPA]

35. Dynamite ad.

[lamp_shade]

36. Do you think they saved this one for last for a reason? Looks that way.

[polichick]

38. Good question!

I don't know the answer, but it does seem perfect for right now.

[lamp_shade]

47. BIL sent me a Hank Williams Jr. video all about McCain... me and about

40 other people. I'm "replying all" right now with this beautiful video.

[tigereye]

39. that's really great!

And as it was playing the Obama folks called to thank me for volunteering tomorrow... doubly cool!

[polichick]

42. That is doubly cool - I thank you for volunteering too...

Our staging center was swamped with people today ~ about 300 volunteers dropping lit and making calls. Good luck tomorrow! :)

[tigereye]

43. I've never seen a campaign this organized

and I've been doing this off and on for years!


where are you? I live in PA

[polichick]

44. I'm in PA too - Philly burbs.

[tigereye]

46. I'm right outside Pittsburgh - how are things looking there?

are most Philly suburbanites fed up with Bush/McCain?


I live in a blue enclave, so I don't always know how the rest of the state is trending.


:hi:

[polichick]

48. This has really become Obama Country! We registered so many new voters...

...and switched so many indies and Reps to Dem during the primaries that it looks like we'll do great here.

How is it outside Pittsburgh? My husband just spoke with some devout Catholic cousins there who LOVE Palin!

[tigereye]

51. yeah, we have some fundie strongholds outside Pgh here and rural areas

I've seen some MC- Palin signs even in a very liberal upper-class part of the city here, which is kind of weird.


There are a lot of pragmatists who are fed up with Bush-type policies in the Northern suburbs here, which used to vote more Rep in the past - they voted out a lot of Reps during the last election. I think a lot of middle class professionals are trending more Dem, while the more RW religious folks are trending Rep.

[chieftain]

45. It's running in Florida, I saw it on MSNBC. What a punch to the

solar plexus this is.

[polichick]

49. So true - gave me goosebumps. Both chilling and inspiring!

[IsItJustMe]

Wonderful. Just saw it. Beautiful. Genius. Awesome.

MSNBC

[JBear]

50. Running in NC too!!!

It is so fun being in a battleground state!!!

I just wonder what's going on!

:bounce:

[Uzybone]

52. I just saw it. Its the best ad Ive seen so far

It totally hits the mark. Man.

[K Gardner]

53. Big Kick before I head out for work.. been listening to this all evening.

[Left Is Write]

54. I saw it too, on MSNBC.

[ncteechur]

55. Saw it in NC, too. It was great! Snuck up on you and then

POW! right between the eyes!

[lamp_shade]

56. Kick for the morning crowd. Look for this ad today if you haven't already seen it.

[cjsmom44]

58. Playing in Bangor Maine

I saw this ad last night in Maine...I got the shivers...and teared up....Great ad....