Cover art for Peace Like a River by Paul Simon

Peace Like a River

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Jan. 24, 19721 viewer9K views

Peace Like a River Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Oh, peace like a river ran through the city
Long past the midnight curfew
we sat starry-eyed
Oh, we were satisfied

[Verse 2]
Oh, and I remember misinformation followed us like a plague
Nobody knew from time to time if the plans were changed

Oh, oh, oh, if the plans were changed

[Bridge]
You can beat us with wires
You can beat us with chains
You can run out your rules
But you know you can’t outrun the history train

I‘ve seen a glorious day, ahee
Hee


[Instrumental break]

[Verse 3]

Oh, four in the morning I woke up from out of my dreams
Nowhere to go but back to sleep
but I’m reconciled
Oh, oh, oh, I’m gonna be up for a while
Oh, oh, oh, I’m gonna be up for a while
Oh, oh, oh, I’m gonna be up for a while

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Genius Annotation

In this song, Paul Simon imagines himself under martial law. The late-1960s and early-1970s were a radically political time in the US. There were mass mobilisations of students around the country where police retaliated violently, such as at Kent State. The government and FBI were also struggling to suppress groups like Weather, who were bombing and rioting against US imperialism. In this sense, it may have been easy for Simon to imagine the government imposing a curfew on areas of the country, as is occasionally done in times of protest. For example, in New York City during the recent BLM protests.

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Credits
Produced By
Written By
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Release Date
January 24, 1972
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