Paul Simon Reveals The Simon & Garfunkel Song That Makes Him Cringe & Performs ‘Seven Psalms’ Cut On ‘Colbert’

Paul Simon appearances are rare these days. So when Stephen Colbert booked the legendary musician for Thursday’s installment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host dedicated the full episode to Simon including a lengthy interview and intimate “Your Forgiveness” performance.

The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee chatted with Stephen Colbert about a wide variety of topics over the course of their +30-minute chat. Simon’s visit came in advance of filmmaker Alex Gibney's In Restless Dreams docuseries premiering on MGM+ this Sunday, March 17. Gibney chronicled the making of Simon’s 2023 album, Seven Psalms, as a way to show off the musician’s creative process while telling his life story.

The 82-year-old discussed his songwriting process towards the start of his conversation with Colbert. Paul Simon’s distaste for the 1966 Simon & Garfunkel classic “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” was brought up by the host. “I loathe that song,” Simon said to laughter from the crowd. “Sometimes in shows, in a made an error in some other song, I’d sing that song as punishment. No, here’s what it is. I come up to the line and I just don’t want to sing, ‘Life, I love you. All is groovy,'” Paul Simon explained.

Next, Stephen Colbert asked Paul Simon to pick the five songs he’d play if he could only choose five of his tunes to perform for an audience. Simon revealed he has a five-song performance at the White House coming up. Colbert clarified he wanted to know the songs he most wanted to do, not the tunes he thinks people most want to hear. Paul Simon selected “Graceland,” “Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard,” “Late In The Evening” and “Mother & Child Reunion.” He then reeled off ballads “Sound Of Silence,” “The Boxer” and “Still Crazy After All These Years” as Simon ignored the “five” part of the question.

Another topic hit upon was his favorite aunexpected cover of one of his songs. The latter was Frank Sinatra’s version of “Mrs. Robinson” of which Simon initially tried to stop from being released but now loves. Paul Simon also discussed “Slip Slidin’ Away,” losing the hearing in his left ear and the dream that led to the creation of Seven Psalms.

The episode ended with Paul Simon delivering a solo acoustic take om Seven Psalms standout “Your Forgiveness.” Watch the performance and interview below: