Paul Simon and Rhiannon Giddens “American Tune” Live at Newport Folk Festival, July 23, 2022 

OMG. She sang that like it was a prayer. That song now has even more weight. Stunning. She is a treasure. He is a genius and has meant so much to so many of us down through the decades.

Mr. Simon recorded this song in 1972, 50 years ago (it was released in 1973). He could have written it last week. Ms. Giddens performs it perfectly, but she always does.

Music like this Will heal America,such a beautiful country should not be divided on so many issues American's deserve to be happy healthy and free, many have forgotten that

Oh my goodness, that was very deep. Powerful lyric change; "we didn't come here on the Mayflower, we came on a ship in a blood red moon"

Two of the best ones we have

America's best....Paul

Thank you, Amy. I'm a 73 year old man brought to tears.

Forever song.

Rhiannon Giddens shining like a National guitar. 🥰

Paul Simon is the master of gravitas. And she is the embodiment of the wisdom and grace and strength of the Statue of Liberty. Feel like I"m back in the sixties when music was meant to deeply inspire and move people, as this song did. Let it rise again!

Rhiannon Giddens is simply spectacular and she got PaulSimon’s permission to rewrite the words “We didn’t come here on the Mayflower, We came on ships in a blood red moon.”

"We didn't come here on the Mayflower We came on a ship in a blood red moon"

I think when Paul Simon is introducing you, you have reached another level.

AND she happens to have the most beautiful, loving smile. 😍

Sometimes it's so sweet to be old! I am grateful to be 62 and to have such wonderful talents to grow up with and learn from.

Ms. Giddens with Paul Simon, This is a spiritual song, beautifully performed!

This is great. we have Bach, Paul Simon and Rhiannon all at the same time. Beat that.

the song itself. the singer. all of the ways this is so meaningful. but also, doesn't she look just insanely beautiful?

Rhiannon Giddens is a national treasure.

She is perfection! Interestingly, Paul Simon's "American Tune" is adapted from a German love song composed by Hans Leo Hassler in 1601. It was incorporated later into Bach's Saint Matthew Passion chorale and is often heard in Lenten church services as "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" -- the same beautiful tune. GOOD MUSIC HOLDS UP, and good musicians (like Simon & Rhiannon) help keep it alive 400 years later.

Was 15 years old when Paul Simon wrote this song. 65 now and listening to Paul Simon and Rhiannon Giddens with tears in my eyes. "American Tune" was always a great song for me, but this collaboration brought new life to it. The lyric changes have been noted here before. But it is Rhiannon Giddens who shows to the huge crowd that she is an extraordinary artist. I was lucky enough to have seen her here in Europe 2 years ago and follow all of her musical adventures. So if you don't know her yet: There's a lot of material here and elsewhere! - Thank you so much for filming and uploading this beautiful performance!

Simply gorgeous. Wish I could have been there. Two of America's best... ever.

RG is a national treasure mastering any American genre she chooses. Two amazing musicians right there.

Great gifts from generations and lives apart... Gratitude.

I came thru the sixties a teen, The Beatles, Stones et al but as an Englishman it was folk music that was my true love The Watersons, High Level Ranters , Vin Garbutt etc. were my playlist and of course the great American and Canadian performers, great to see it can still move people, we need it desperately in todays world, but not the woke cancel culture flooding the media, free speech and discussion please.

OMG! History two Greatest ever.

Rhiannon Giddeon Wan of our own.. Greetings from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪 Loved the change of lyrics dug the Mayflower reference 👌she is sublime slick clever too... Dropped the old truth bomb via American Tune That young fellow in blue 💙 is pretty good too respect 82 and gracious 👌 🙌 too.... Wan Love ❤ Thanks Amy...We come in the age's most uncertain hours And sing an American tune...

YOUR AWESOME. ANGEL PRINCESS YOU ARE!!! 😍🌈😎

Moved by the passing of the song forward to all time paul Simon moment his gift to the world

A magnificent piece .... way back in 1975, a very young Paul Simon solo'd this on the new and feisty SNL. Today, as many fear for our country's very future, this song evokes such powerful emotion. And tears.

That song is one of Paul Simon's most exquisite. A wonderful collaboration.

Our new American anthem.

To be in the presence of genius is a rare and beautiful thing. Blessed be.

The change of the mayflower lyric is stunning. And in a post-Dobbs America, hearing that song sung by a woman feels very appropriate. "It's alright, it's alright.... I'm just weary to my bones." Indeed.

A very nice Song with a wonderful R.Giddens.

Brought a tear to my old eyes . Love 'em both

A simple truth in a simple tune - we can't be forever blessed, and it's all right. The truth of America to me is not the Mayflower or the Statue of Liberty, or any Dear Leader stoking our fears or hates.

What a beautiful soul and stunning rendition of this song. She was one of the true Stars at Newport. She also sang at the Kennedy Center Honors for Joan Baez and was the best, most heartfelt of them all....Rhiannon is a huge star and will shine brighter.

Newport was amazing this year

Holy crap! Amazing.

The lyric change....chills.

Perfect! Thanks.

Why Paul Simon is a national treasure for giving us humans songs like this to cry and laugh about.

Wow she is awesome Paul was good too

So good! Rhiannon glows when she sings. What an angel

That was the best I've heard that song sung since when Paul did when he was younger.

I saw her sing this last night. She explained, Paul Simon had asked her to change the lyrics. Just exquisite. I was wiping away tears.

This is such an appropriate song for today. I cried through the whole thing. Rhiannon's beautiful voice and personal touch just sent me over the edge.

amazing, I had an emotional response (which is rare these days)

Overwhelmed with emotion and tears; two stunning talents, from different eras; her passion and ability/willingness to share vulnerability, and Simon, approaching 82 and missing very few, if any, licks either on the guitar or in his performance.

RG , Greensboro's gift to the world. But we do miss her so much!

I keep playing this over and over...it hit me deep into my soul! Masters at their craft..both American masters!

This song has always moved me but in these times of division and uncertainty, it brings me to tears. Wonderful performance.

I grew up listening to Paul and playing/singing his songs. so many, like this one, still resonate in the heart and soul and world, today 🎶

I have loved this song forever, and I have loved singing it, and singing harmony whenever I heard Paul Simon sing it. But Rhiannon Giddens in my mind now owns that song. And I can't stop crying. So pure. So righteous. What an amazing performance. 🙇🏻‍♀

2 American treasures on 1 stage. What an honor.

Thank you very much for sharing!

I've listened to this half a dozen times already and it still gives me chills. I truly think this is the definitive performance of this song for me. Paul's words take on so much new power in Rhiannon's voice.

I have always felt the song prescient of 9/11 and it always takes me back to that day.

J’ai écouté Rhiannon Giddens deux fois en concert, et Paul Simon, plus de 10 fois…la réunion des deux est un pur bonheur.

I hope they'll live forever, especially Paul.

Not just one of my favorite Simon and Garfunkel tunes, but one of my favorites of all time. I got chills as soon as she started singing...

I'm a puddle of goo right now! Just beautiful!!!

This my first time hearing her - MS. RHIANNON GIDDENS. SHE SINGS OF THE SPIRIT IN HER. SHE GLOWS OF BEAUTY AND GRACE! SING IN YOUR BEAUTY AND CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR SPIRIT. MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AS YOU ALLOW HIM TO USE YOUR HEART ❤! WE ARE FAR FROM HOME, MY SISTER-QUEEN!

Two incredible artists. Paul Simon is my songwriter “home. She is exquisite, musically, visually and vocally.

Such a beautiful song. I don’t know anybody, punks, goths, grunge, who don’t like Paul Simon’s music. It will last forever. I feel so lucky being there when I heard them for the first time.

I'm glad she's getting this exposure. She deserves it. An amazing traditionalist/multi instrumentalist/vocalist....

This is one of the most brilliant performances I’ve seen in a long time! 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

Guitar guy is pretty good too.

One of the best versions of this song!!!! Kudos to Rhiannon and Paul!

Back in action everybody, let only music rule the world fans

Fifty years ago, as a teenager with a not very well formed musical palate, I sat on a hillside in Newport Rhode Island on the second night of the Newport Jazz Festival and watched, mesmerized, as a woman named Nina Simone sat a piano and played and sang for the next hour. I didn't know Nina Simone and I had never heard music like that before, I described it in a later blog as a deep, resonant soulfulness. Until today I have never heard anyone come close to that same sound. Rhiannon Giddens is a treasure, and her voice, combined with Simon's transcendent music and lyrics, may be the greatest thing I have ever seen on you tube.

....Oh MFG! I am in tears, I know this song and have cried for it over and over, but this version just kicked it over the edge, such emotion I haven't felt in years for something so right on, right on, right on, right on. Love them Chocolate Drops, X 100....

Great to see Paul just digging the tune and his guitar playing here is off the chart, he's the whole band. Not to forget the sublime vocals.

This is one of my favorite songs ever. It's so poignant, especially now, with so many of us losing our rights. What a sad but important image of the Statue of Liberty, sailing away to sea.......

Touches me deeply still. I remember singing along with this as a college student in the late '60's. Tears. "We can´t be forever blessed." so true so true.

Whoa. I’ve been listing to attend the Folk Festival for years. I’m 68. What am I waiting for? This is perfection

Rhiannon performed here in Australia a few years ago (pre-covid) and was absolutely sensational. She still is and remains one of my favourite singers. Nice to see her perform with the other legend, Paul Simon. A great treat.

I listen again and again. Perfectly gorgeous!!

I'm today years old and hearing this song for the first time. I am moved beyond words...

Forever relevant 🙏❤️

This song with that voice just hits different these days. Amazing and thank you so much for posting this.

I’ve always loved this song- her lyric change made it a new thing again.

Thanks that's wonderful.. 💕 Rhiannon Giddens. I hate that I Missed this. Live. 🌎 ✌💙💜💚👌

Oh my God! Always beautiful. But this was breathtaking.

So apros pro for these dark times. This amazing music will always keep us fighting for Justice! #noplaceforhate #whoareweamerica

So beautiful. Two national treasures.

Powerful words and a powerful presentation.

Incredible

A brilliant, heartfelt re-interpretation, by two great artists of a familiar, moving and brilliant old favourite. A great American tune indeed!! Bravo to you both !!!

This was a wonderful Newport moment. Rhiannon is a huge talent and was clearly emotional about the opportunity to sing with Paul Simon. What a great gift for those in attendance. I gotta admit that I shed tears hearing this live at The Fort! Bravo!!!

Phenomenal! Everything she touches turns to gold.

Extraordinarily beautiful, made me cry.

For Paul to capture the essence of another world and for Rhiannon to sing it was something to remember and hold close in your heart forever. Together, They were magical. Thank you for a priceless gift💐

I feel proud to be an American listening to this. Until I remember… wait, I’m not an American. Sure feel like one now though.

Beautiful

She's a goddess.

Wow ... the change in the lyric at 5:00 ... tears to my eyes. Thank you for this beautiful rendition of this truly inspired piece. Thank you.

I've been waiting for another perspective on this great Paul Simon song. Maybe his best ever.

Beautiful rendition of Paul Simon's song. Loved it! 🎶