Paul Simon: "Seven Psalms"

Matters of Life and Death

The good news is that Paul Simon is still writing and singing about troubled waters.

The bad news is that the waters are rising, and there is no longer any bridge.

Paul Simon was probably not planning on creating an album, released today, called Seven Psalms, a 33-minute song cycle meant to be listened to in one sitting. My preference would be in a dark room, illuminated by a single yartzheit (memorial) candle, because this is about the end, my friend, and no matter what your faith, I would reconsider that pact we signed 55 years ago when Jim Morrison of the Doors made his then-outrageous assertion: "Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection." We were stoned, Lord. We didn't mean it. At least I didn't. Four years later, Jim Morrison was dead. I'm not suggesting cause and effect. I'm not suggesting anything. I'm just an observer, though the great power of the Doors was that they made us feel complicit in what they did, participants in their dark magic happening.

Paul Simon is 81 years o…