Lyrics: Have A Good Time, Paul Simon

I've been listening to Negotiations and Love Songs: The Best of Paul Simon 1971 - 1986. Fabulous tracks, wonderfully simple tunes with engaging lyrics. This tune also has a great bass part to it. Another added to the 'to transcribe' list.

But more than that, Simon is commenting on the 1970's hedonistic, laid-back vacuity. Everything is going to be alright as long as I'm having "a good time". There is some recognition that something that might be wrong, but it doesn't matter, as long as all is well with me. How far have we really moved on?

The song closes with an incredibly complex, fast moving, angular sax solo, contrasting with the laid-back, easy groove. Two worlds collide.

Have A Good Time.
Paul Simon, from the album "Still Crazy After All These Years", 1975

Click the post title to see the all lyrics.
Yesterday it was my birthday.
I hung one more year on the line.
I should be depressed, my life's a mess,
But I'm having a good time.

Ooh, I been loving, loving, loving and loving.
I'm exhausted from loving so well.
I should go to bed, but a voice in my head says,
Aah, what the hell.

Chorus
Have a good time (Good time, baby)
Have a good time (Good time, child)
Have a good time (Have a good time, baby)
Have a good time (Have a good time)

Paranoia strikes deep in the heartland,
But I think its all over done.
Exaggerating this, exaggerating that -
They don't have no fun.

I don't believe what I read in the papers;
They're just out to capture my dime.
I ain't worrying and I ain't scurrying.
I'm having a good time.

Chorus
Have a good time.
Have a good time.
Have a good time.
Have a good time.

Maybe I'm laughing my way to disaster.
Maybe my race has been run.
Maybe I'm blind to the fate of mankind,
But what can be done?

So God bless the goods we were given.
And God bless the U. S. Of A.
And God bless our standing of living.
Lets keep it that way.

And we'll all have a good time

Chorus
Have a good time (Good time, baby)
Have a good time (Good time, child)
Have a good time (Have a good time, baby)
Have a good time (Have a good time)
repeat

mad sax solo