Thread by @rudepundit

I've been thinking a lot about a conversation I had with a dear Canadian friend in Calgary in January. We were talking about images of the United States and he brought up the Simon and Garfunkel song "America."

"I've always loved the hope in it," he said, "when they sing...

'They've all come to look for America.' That's how the world wants to see your country."

I said that was a lovely line, but the one that resonates most for me is "'Kathy, I'm lost,' I said though I knew she was sleeping/'I'm empty and aching and I don't know why.'"

I explained, "I just see that as the failure of America to live up to what it promises. So we just feel adrift and helpless." I added, "Or maybe that's just how I feel now" before smirking, "But, sure, leave behind the health care and relative stability here to look for America."

He said, "Oh, no. Never." And I couldn't blame him because I've been looking for a half-century and have only found it once or twice before it was lost again.

(By the way, that line never fails to choke me up.)

Anyways, here's @FirstAidKitBand covering it live at a celebration for Paul Simon.