This is my tune for the taking/
Take it, don’t turn away.

“Song for the Asking” is a Simon & Garfunkel tune where the lead is sung by Paul Simon. It seems a lot of the most iconic tunes of Simon & Garfunkel are sung by Garfunkel, but perhaps I am wrong. Simon wrote all their songs and played the guitar on all their songs.

At the end of this list, I think we’ll find that his canon is only behind The Beatles and perhaps one other artist. “Song for the Asking” is not a Greatest Hit, but it is a beautiful song that hits all the strengths of a great Paul Simon tune. It also showcases one of the weaknesses.

I’ll get to the weakness first. The song runs under two minutes. Several of his songs are short. Specifically, this and April Come She Will make you really want more. In the world of digital we can just put the song on repeat, but can you imagine the people who had to hover over their vinyl or cassettes to hear this repeatedly?

As for the strengths of “Song for the Asking”, I love Paul Simon’s finger-picking, Simon and Garfunkel harmonizing and the melody. Simon’s songs are always top notch in this regard. I like the connection he makes here between religion and music. Just as we go to communion to receive a bit of grace on Sundays, we also go to Simon to request a song to raise our spirits.

Song For The Asking Lyrics

Here is my song for the asking.
Ask me and I will play
So sweetly, I’ll make you smile.

This is my tune for the taking.
Take it, don’t turn away.
I’ve been waiting all my life.

Thinking it over, I’ve been sad.
Thinking it over, I’d be more than glad,
To change my ways for the asking.

Ask me and I will play
All the love that I hold inside.
Hm
Hm

Songwriters: Paul Simon