I just saw a recent live performance of this song on YouTube. Paul performs the song solo, with Art waiting at the side. Only to come out when the 'Aaaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah Here I Am' part is sung. I consider this as support of my idea that the 'Aaaaaaah Here I Am' part, with its dreamy arrangement and reverbed voice, is Paul hearing his friend's voice from afar, reassuring him that he's still there for him, the way it should be in any real friendship.
I think Paul was very ambivalent at the time: he was the one who wanted Simon & Garfunkel to keep on doing what they were good at: creating great songs as a duo (BOTW is simply perfect). But Art left for Mexico for reasons pertaining to a solo (acting) career. So Paul must have felt abandoned by a friend, about whom he hoped would sound from afar that he's still attached to their friendship. 'Aaaaaaaaah, Here I am'.
In the end, it took way too long for Paul. The filming of Catch-22 was delayed, and delayed. Art making promises to Paul that he would 'return soon'. But then listen to 'Frank Lloyd Wright', a song inspired by Art's love of this architect, and written by Paul in Art's absence. At 2:57 you can hear Paul sing in a similar echoed manner, almost buried in the mix: "So long, already, Artie!', expressing how the waiting is taking its toll.
@mcouzijn You are the only one here actually deciphering the lyrics, well done and thanks.
I'm still unclear what Paul means here though:
Half of the time we're gone
But we don't know where,
And we don't know where
@mcouzijn You are the only one here actually deciphering the lyrics, well done and thanks.
I'm still unclear what Paul means here though:
Half of the time we're gone
But we don't know where,
And we don't know where
I just saw a recent live performance of this song on YouTube. Paul performs the song solo, with Art waiting at the side. Only to come out when the 'Aaaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah Here I Am' part is sung. I consider this as support of my idea that the 'Aaaaaaah Here I Am' part, with its dreamy arrangement and reverbed voice, is Paul hearing his friend's voice from afar, reassuring him that he's still there for him, the way it should be in any real friendship.
I think Paul was very ambivalent at the time: he was the one who wanted Simon & Garfunkel to keep on doing what they were good at: creating great songs as a duo (BOTW is simply perfect). But Art left for Mexico for reasons pertaining to a solo (acting) career. So Paul must have felt abandoned by a friend, about whom he hoped would sound from afar that he's still attached to their friendship. 'Aaaaaaaaah, Here I am'.
In the end, it took way too long for Paul. The filming of Catch-22 was delayed, and delayed. Art making promises to Paul that he would 'return soon'. But then listen to 'Frank Lloyd Wright', a song inspired by Art's love of this architect, and written by Paul in Art's absence. At 2:57 you can hear Paul sing in a similar echoed manner, almost buried in the mix: "So long, already, Artie!', expressing how the waiting is taking its toll.
@mcouzijn You are the only one here actually deciphering the lyrics, well done and thanks. I'm still unclear what Paul means here though: Half of the time we're gone But we don't know where, And we don't know where
@mcouzijn You are the only one here actually deciphering the lyrics, well done and thanks. I'm still unclear what Paul means here though: Half of the time we're gone But we don't know where, And we don't know where