Garfunkel pushed for new song

NEW YORK, Nev., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Art Garfunkel says he had to push Paul Simon to record the new song, "Citizen of the World," on the duo's "Old Friends Live on Stage."

"Citizen of the World," which Simon first presented to Garfunkel in the early '80s, is the duo's first new studio recording in nearly 30 years. But according to Garfunkel, Simon was skittish about the message of the socio-political song.

"He said I'm worried about the politics. It's not for us to tell the government that they need to hear the voices of reason and peace,'" Garfunkel said. "And I beg to differ. It is not a cliche to say that war is a no-win, horrific choice. It's me who wants to accept proudly the fact that there's a political quality to what we do. It's the old humanism rising."

Simon and Garfunkel last recorded together on 1975's "My Little Town," which each included on solo albums that year.

"Old Friends Live on Stage" was recorded at shows in New York City and New Jersey during the duo's 2003-04 Old Friends reunion tour, Simon & Garfunkel's first tour in 20 years.