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Paul Simon — The Afterlife
Album: So Beautiful or So What
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 695









Released: 2011
Length: 3:35
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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After I died, and the makeup had dried, I went back to my place
No moon that night, but a heavenly light shone on my face
Still I thought it was odd, there was no sign of God just to usher me in
Then a voice from above, sugar coated with Love, said, "Let us begin."

You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line

OK, a new kid in school, got to follow the rule, you got to learn the routine
Woah, there's a girl over there, with the sunshiny hair, like a homecoming queen
I said, "Hey, what you say? It's a glorious day, by the way how long you been dead?"
Maybe you, maybe me, maybe baby makes three, but she just shook her head...

You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line

Buddah and Moses and all the noses from narrow to flat
Had to stand in the line, just to glimpse the divine, what you think about that?
Well, it seems like our fate to suffer and wait for the knowledge we seek
It's all his design, no one cuts in the line, no one here likes a sneak

You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line
You got to fill out a form first, and then you wait in the line

After you climb, up the ladder of time, the Lord God is here
Face to face, in the vastness of space, your words disappear
And you feel like swimming in an ocean of love, and the current is strong
But all that remains when you try to explain is a fragment of song...
Lord is it, be bop a lu la or ooh poppa do
Lord, be bop a lu la or ooh poppa do
Be bop a lu la
Comments (63)add comment
do all his songs sound the same?
Posted 5 months ago by jjbix37    [ Reply ]
I find this album hit or miss, despite impressive musicianship, there are some excellent tracks and some that don't really work that well. This is not one of them. It's got a great groove, ironic and  humorous lyrics [in the face of death]. I'm quite confused how RP listeners can't get this past a "6.3"..? 
Posted 9 months ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
so, so
Paul,  go funk el self
Posted 1 year ago by Michaeljcovel    [ Reply ]
Paul Simon is fine I believe but his music is overplayed, esp. this song.
Posted 1 year ago by Dinges,_the_Dude    [ Reply ]
Such marginal music from Paul. Why not play some other non-hits that are far superior? Anything from Hearts and Bones, One Trick Pony or Rhythm of the Saints is NECESSARY music if you're a fan!
Posted 2 years ago by jmgarcia    [ Reply ]
 Finafek wrote:


I wish Paul and all the other artists would end their "making music we are comfortable with" and return to following their muses again. But hey. Ya can't have everything.



Important message to all U2s, REMs and all the other standstill artists. Thanks Finafek
Posted 2 years ago by joko63808    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:

I wish Paul would end his "experimenting with the music of other cultures" and become a simple singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar again. 



I wish Paul and all the other artists would end their "making music we are comfortable with" and return to following their muses again. But hey. Ya can't have everything.
Posted 2 years ago by Finafek    [ Reply ]
 Dgradeworkunit wrote:

I had not envisioned the afterlife as being quite so... umm... bureaucratic. 



What? You've never seen Beetlejuice? 
Posted 3 years ago by NotShakespeare    [ Reply ]
Nice
Squeezebox
Work !
Posted 3 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
I wish Paul would end his "experimenting with the music of other cultures" and become a simple singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar again. 
 
And damn that David Bowie for abandoning his Ziggy Stardust persona!
Man, he coulda milked that one for decades!
Posted 5 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
I wish Paul would end his "experimenting with the music of other cultures" and become a simple singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar again. 
 

I'm on the opposite end of that.  I liked Paul before Graceland but I didn't really pay him much attention before it.

I really enjoy his experiments and they've been a gateway for me to listen to a wider mix of music than I likely would have without the experiments pointing me in a few directions.
Posted 5 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
 Sloggydog wrote:
Only yesterday I found out that Mr Simon who I will be seeing for the first time ever in a couple of weeks is going to play the album Graceland from cover to cover.  I simply don't remember being this excited.  Then as if that wasn't enough Alisson Krauss and Union Station have Jerry "the man of constant sorrows" Douglas with them for Mr Simon's warm up.  I had to take my pants off with a spatula I was so excited. 
 

I don't wish to piss on your chips, but I think the version of Man of Constant Sorrow you referred to was sung by Dan Tyminski of Union Station. :/
Posted 5 years ago by jsjunk    [ Reply ]
I wish Paul would end his "experimenting with the music of other cultures" and become a simple singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar again. 
Posted 5 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
now those are great lyrics
Posted 6 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
Only yesterday I found out that Mr Simon who I will be seeing for the first time ever in a couple of weeks is going to play the album Graceland from cover to cover.  I simply don't remember being this excited.  Then as if that wasn't enough Alisson Krauss and Union Station have Jerry "the man of constant sorrows" Douglas with them for Mr Simon's warm up.  I had to take my pants off with a spatula I was so excited. 
Posted 12 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
Quick glimpse to see who this was I thought I read After the Fire.  Ouch...Time to go back to work.... 
Posted 12 years ago by 25demayo    [ Reply ]
Man, I think Paul has truly become a dog that's lost his bite.  I really think this last album is weak - I've been tempted to "sucko-barfo more than just this track.

Come on Paul clever up!!!  I still believe in you.
Posted 12 years ago by idavido    [ Reply ]
{#Jump} its going to the beat!


Posted 12 years ago by Snoopy2    [ Reply ]
Surprisingly annoying.
Posted 12 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:

Hope Paul Simon's next album is better...  he set standards too high for himself with all his magnificent previous albums...
 
Goodness gracious, romeotuma! Are you feeling a bit under the weather today? This is the first negative comment I have ever seen you write. Hope you feel better soon.
For the record, I like this album a lot.
pax 
Posted 12 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
Great tune from an excellent album.  A bit shocked by the average rating for this tune?
Posted 12 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
This album made a very long trip to the PRC bearable.  Thanks for playing it.
Posted 12 years ago by Egrey    [ Reply ]
Finally heard all the lyrics tonight - hilarious riff on this subject! Love it, Paul's got the perfect sardonic touch.
Posted 13 years ago by ferwoman    [ Reply ]
The instruments, sound & production value here are a lot better than the actual song or Paul's singing...

Posted 13 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
Love this album.  He's still got it.
Posted 13 years ago by lshinkawa    [ Reply ]
I like this album a good deal and he was on sparkling form when he played here in Tel Aviv last month. He seemed to be enjoying his band and the scorching evening heat. Not bad for a man in his 70s.
Posted 13 years ago by GuiltyFeat    [ Reply ]
And here I thought Vampire Weekend had some new Paul Simonish stuff up again. Huh.
Posted 13 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
..bull
Posted 13 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
This one is quickly getting old.  {#Yawn}
Posted 13 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
Lord is it Be Bop A Lu La or Ooh Poppa Do* ?

*I think this is a lyric transcription error, and should be Ooh Poo Pah Doo
Posted 13 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:

Paul Simon and Woody Allen meet up in Midtown and compare notes...
 
...in a bar, where they run into a pirate, who is drinking beers with Franz Kafka and an Irish-Catholic priest.

Posted 13 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 handyrae wrote:
I like it, but I'd like it more if it weren't so darned perfectly polished. 
 

That's Paul's way. 

Actually, this is quite catchy. Maybe not groundbreaking but I love the rhythm and electric guitar work.  
Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 
Right - so live it up while you're here

vandal wrote:

I had not envisioned the afterlife as being quite so pedestrian and boring. . . 
 
 


Posted 13 years ago by DoofusGeezer    [ Reply ]
 Dgradeworkunit wrote:
I had not envisioned the afterlife as being quite so... umm... bureaucratic. 
 
I had not envisioned the afterlife as being quite so pedestrian and boring. . . 
 
Posted 13 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
So the afterlife is a lot like this life, then. Perfect.
Posted 13 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
I had not envisioned the afterlife as being quite so... umm... bureaucratic. 
Posted 13 years ago by Dgradeworkunit    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:
So this is the new album!!! excellent.

the lyrics speak to me: "you gotta fill out a form first, and then you wait in line"
 
Paul Simon and Woody Allen meet up in Midtown and compare notes.


Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
I like it, but I'd like it more if it weren't so darned perfectly polished. 
Posted 13 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
thanks for sharing that insight lol  black321 wrote:
never really been a fan. 
 


Posted 13 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
 jayoung1000 wrote:
When you get around 70 you'll know. rp1125 wrote:
how can sound so good on record and so god awful live?
 
 
:shrug: Age has nothing necessarily to do with it.  George Winston knocked my socks off (and his own! :)) in concert last year with material he wrote thirty years ago.

Posted 13 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
Digging this.
Posted 13 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:
It sounds a bit like he is imitating his great imitators Vampire Weekend.
 
Good observation

Posted 13 years ago by CalOF    [ Reply ]
What GREAT lyrics - never thought about it like that.

I look foward to April 12 - the NEW ALBUM


Posted 13 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
I've just got to bust a puff with this dude some day...
Posted 13 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
This song is really growing on me...nice one, Paul!
Posted 13 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
Isn't this song really "Land of a Thousand Dances"? Only slower and not exciting.

Posted 13 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
never really been a fan. 
Posted 13 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
It sounds a bit like he is imitating his great imitators Vampire Weekend.
Posted 13 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
*yawn*, next song please!
Posted 13 years ago by jlind    [ Reply ]
New album from Paul and 2 new from Edie in 2011. Bout' time...
Posted 13 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]
I have a feeling that the knowledgeable musicians out there would say this is pretty formulaic, but I really like it!  Real foot tapper.

And who can't relate to 'you gotta fill out a form first and then stand in line'?
Posted 13 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
Yeah!!!  Paul's back
Posted 13 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]

Good to see something new.

{#Smile}


Posted 13 years ago by pk53    [ Reply ]
I have serious problems with him, but he makes some very cool music, I think
I love this!
Posted 13 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
When you get around 70 you'll know. rp1125 wrote:
how can sound so good on record and so god awful live?
 


Posted 13 years ago by jayoung1000    [ Reply ]
Nothing new or different from PS here.

Sounds like something left over from one his more recent earlier albums.{#Yawn}
Posted 13 years ago by mapman    [ Reply ]
So this is the new album!!! excellent.

the lyrics speak to me: "you gotta fill out a form first, and then you wait in line"
Posted 13 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Great feel .. but you wouldn't expect any less from Mr. Simon. I do miss the amazing
harmonies he and Art put down. (so long long ago)
Posted 13 years ago by That_SOB    [ Reply ]
how can sound so good on record and so god awful live?
Posted 13 years ago by rp1125    [ Reply ]
Agreed. Me likey. haljordan wrote:
Hooray!  New Paul Simon!
 


Posted 13 years ago by DanO-1    [ Reply ]
didn't think I recognized this song.

Posted 13 years ago by GawgaBoy    [ Reply ]
Hooray!  New Paul Simon!
Posted 13 years ago by haljordan    [ Reply ]