Save one massive musical mistake this week (“country” singer, rhymes with “teeth”), Stephen Colbert had a good first week musically, capped off by Kendrick Lamar’s monstrously great performance on Wednesday.  And last night after some speculation (would it be Vampire Weekend, Pavement, etc.?), Colbert brought out Paul Simon (and members of his touring band) to perform Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard under the guise of Troubled Waters (“the world’s preeminent Paul Simon tribute band”).  Watch below as Colbert explains his “dream” of providing the whistling on Simon’s 1972 hit, and then watch as Colbert proceeds to dance and karaoke along in song.  All good fun, particularly as leavening to some of the heavier moments of the first Colbert week (the Joe Biden interviews were superb). But a man has to know his limits….  So when is Kendrick coming back?

In a web-exclusive, Simon then closed out the show by performing his salient song American Tune (lyrics at bottom) on 9/11.  In a time of trouble (worldwide immigration) and woe (reminding of Biden’s loss and good words), the song was a great cap to Colbert’s first week.  Though he may no longer have the vocal or guitar chops of yore, Simon remains one of the greatest songwriters of all-time and does the song perfect justice below.

American Tune

“Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I’ve often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I’m all right, I’m all right
I’m just weary to my bones
Still, you don’t expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

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
Oh, but it’s all right, it’s all right
For lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road
We’re traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what’s gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
And I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

Oh, we come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age’s most uncertain hour
And sing an American tune
Oh, it’s all right, it’s all right
It’s all right, it’s all right
You can’t be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow’s going to be another working day
And I’m trying to get some rest
That’s all I’m trying to get some rest”