Your Forgiveness

Album: Seven Psalms (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Paul Simon's 15th solo studio album, Seven Psalms, is an unusual, introspective work released in May 2023. The record is a single continuous piece divided into seven movements, or "psalms." This structure reflects the inspiration drawn from the biblical Book of Psalms.
  • The lyrics of Seven Psalms grapple with themes of mortality, spirituality, and the meaning of life, likely influenced by Simon's age - he was 81 when it was released.

    "Your Forgiveness" is the fourth of the seven "psalms." It finds Simon exploring the search for forgiveness, both human and divine.
  • Seven Psalms features several exotic instruments, including the theorbo, a large plucked-string instrument that originated in Italy during the late 16th century. It belongs to the lute family and is distinguished by its elongated neck and double set of strings.

    "There is a touch of theorbo on a couple of tracks," Simon told Uncut magazine. "I was really attracted to the instrument; it came from some Renaissance music I was listening to. I booked a whole session with Renaissance musicians from London and initially nothing came from its, but you can hear it on the bit called 'Your Forgiveness,' which features an English Renaissance octet, Voces8."

    "There are also these cloud bowls, an instrument invented by the composer Harry Partch," he added. "If you could imagine a giant wine glass held upside down, two or three feet in diameter, placed above four feet of the floor, well the opening of that glass is the cloud bowl."

    Simon previously played Partch's cloud-chamber bowls on the Stranger to Strange track "Insomniac's Lullaby."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.