The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: Songs That Changed the World--"Slip Slidin' Away" by Paul Simon

This could be titled "The Copout Song" for it tells of times when we take the path of least resistance (the easy way out) rather than doing what's right.  Paul Simon has written some incredible lyrics over the years but this is perhaps his most powerful.  He indeed changed the world with this song.  

"Slip Slidin' Away"

by Paul Simon

Written by Paul Simon

Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away

Whoah and I know a man, he came from my hometown
He wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown
He said Dolores, I live in fear
My love for you's so overpowering, I'm afraid that I will disappear

[Chorus]

I know a woman, (who) became a wife
These are the very words she uses to describe her life
She said a good day ain't got no rain
She said a bad day is when I lie in the bed
And I think of things that might have been

[Chorus]

And I know a father who had a son
He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he'd done
He came a long way just to explain
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping
Then he turned around and he headed home again

[Chorus]

Whoah God only knows, God makes his plan
The information's unavailable to the mortal man
We're workin' our jobs, collect our pay
Believe we're gliding down the highway, when in fact we're slip sliding away

[Chorus 2x]