![]() ![]() “The Lord is the ocean rising / The Lord is a terrible swift sword,” he warns on the second of the three “Lords” on the album. But - perhaps because two of the three “Lords” are instrumental reprises - Simon counts them as a single composition. ![]() That brings the total number of songs to nine, not seven. “The Lord” is a recurring presence, literally and figuratively, on “Psalms.” A song titled “The Lord” appears three times, anchored by “Anji’s” lattice-like guitar figure, but with different verses each time and different musical twists. “Memory leaves us,” Simon observes on the suitably contemplative “The Lord,” which opens “Seven Psalms.” This classical rondo approach serves as a fitting nostalgic tool for the elder Simon to revisit his work as a young musician, while reflecting on the intervening decades and life moments that are either still treasured or fading with the passing of time. “Anji” anchors three songs, all with the same title and melody. On “Psalms,” it serves as a musical bookend of sorts. “Anji” would later appear as an instrumental interlude at the end of side one on “The Sounds of Silence,” Simon & Garfunkel’s second album. The New York-born Simon was working as an obscure solo artist at the time and living in England, where he wrote the future Simon & Garfunkel hit, “Homeward Bound,” while waiting for a London-bound train. He was just 23 in 1965 when he learned to play “Anji,” an intricate, finger-picked Davy Graham guitar piece now rightly regarded as a classic. He also is happy to draw from the early days of his career as a source of new/old musical inspiration. Two years after selling his song catalog in 2021 for a reported $250 million, this 16-time Grammy Award-winner seems more reflective than ever. Although he retired from touring in 2018, Simon does not appear ready to deliver his swan song just yet. A veteran observer of the human condition, he appears acutely aware that time is no longer on his side. ![]() Today, four decades later, Simon still retains a boyish sense of wonder on parts of “Psalms,” while also sounding fragile at times. In his classic 1986 song, “The Boy in the Bubble,” he exulted: “These are the days of miracle and wonder.” He has outlived many of his past peers, including Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, Laura Nyro, Marvin Gaye, Violeta Parra and George Harrison, one of Simon’s periodic collaborators.Ī secular Jew, Simon has long sung about matters of faith and transcendence, the scared and the secular. One of the most acclaimed and resourceful singer-songwriters of his generation, Simon counts Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Randy Newman among his contemporaries. “Psalms” captures his restless spirit and introspective mood with masterful restraint and eloquence. Whatever its inspiration, the impermanence of life and the uncertainty of what lies ahead loom large for Simon. Billed as a “33-minute, seven-movement composition,” “Psalms” was created by Simon to be heard as “a single continuous piece” that “transcends the concept of the ‘album’.” It was inspired by a dream he had in early 2019 that is described by him later in this article. ![]()
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![]() ![]() The inseparable bond that was created became the driving force for her being a voice for giraffes. She hand-reared Buddy, the male giraffe twin. “Forty percent of all giraffe subspecies have been lost in the last 30 years,” says Tiffany Soechting, resident animal specialist at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. The park is also home to a rare pair of giraffe twins born in 2013, only the ninth known living set in the world. Faith is the third generation of giraffes born on the property. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is proud of its successful giraffe breeding program, which recently welcomed its 32nd baby giraffe, Faith, on Nov. NBWR has a successful giraffe breeding program and Faith is their 32nd giraffe! New addition to the giraffe family at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, baby Faith, and her mother. Giraffe Conservation Efforts at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch You’ll find a range of items on the menu, from pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, to personal pizzas, to burgers. If you’re feeling a little munchy after the safari, stop by the park’s Safari Camp Grill to grab some grub and fuel up. Lemur Island is in the middle of a koi fish feeding pond, and there are a few more animal enclosures to see while you’re in the area. If you have extra feed after your drive through the safari, use it here and give your kiddos one more chance to get up close and personal with the animals. There’s a petting barnyard with some lively goats. There’s also a Sweet Stop and restrooms, so this is the perfect place for a quick break before you head over to the zebras and rhinos.Īt the end of the safari, you can stop back at the base camp for more fun. If you decide to turn into Tower Creek, about halfway through the main path, you’ll get to see another gorgeous herd of giraffes (called a tower), along with ostriches and other fun animals. Just be careful to steer clear of anyone else on the road–be it vehicle or animal.Ĭheck out Lemur Island before leaving and feed some of the koi fish in the pond surrounding them. If you’ve finished at your stop, you are free to drive around those who are still parked. Cars will be lined up on the side of the road for picture-taking and feeding the visiting wildebeests, zebras, and other animal friends. The drive can take from an hour to two hours, depending on how long you linger with the animals. If you don’t stop to walk along the giraffe barns and enclosure, I recommend beginning by driving straight to the safari. From there, you can choose between a few options: start by checking out the petting zoo and Lemur Island, visit with the giraffes at the front, or head straight onto the adventurous safari. Once you get to the admissions booth, you’ll get a bag of feed for the car (with the option to buy more) and a safari map. While you’re waiting in line, you can just stare at them in awe. The newest star and addition to the family, darling Faith, is often standing with her mama at the front to greet visitors. Just beyond the entrance lies a giraffe enclosure and barn. The fun starts before you even get to the admissions booth. There are over 500 animals at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, most of which you can feed straight from your car as you drive through the safariīuckle up because you’re in for the ride of your life. Animals are free-roaming throughout the drive and come up to your vehicle to get food. The fun part of this adventure? You experience it all from the comfort of your car. The main attraction at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is its Texas-style African safari, which spans six miles of trail throughout the property. ![]() Some of the beautiful animals you’ll see are giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lemurs, wildebeests, and ostriches. The ranch is inhabited by over 500 animals in a “home away from home.” More than 40 species from all over the world are represented, including native, exotic, and endangered wildlife. It’s the longest running and most visited safari in Texas. The ranch originally spanned 200 acres, but has grown to cover a whopping 450 acres. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch was created in 1984, after the family owners visited similar parks in the northeast and decided they wanted to add diversity to the area around Natural Bridge Caverns. Get up close and personal on your safari as resident animals roam the property, straight up to your vehicle ![]() |