Jazbo
(Beautiful Valparaiso IN.) | | Posted: Apr 05, 2013 - 14:25 | |
michaelgmitchell wrote:Fond memories with my daughters, playing this in the car. They were under 10 at the time. I'd be singing it hard, they'd be boppin' in the back seat. THEN. The bass riff near the end. I'd prep them about it coming ... wait for it ... AND there it is! They'd go nuts! Laughter, smiles. Hilarious.
Kids grow up too fast, huh? So true....sweet story.. |
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lemmoth
(NYC) | | Posted: Apr 05, 2013 - 14:23 | |
I've never know a roly poly little bat faced girl, but if I did........................
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michaelgmitchell
(Stirling, ON) | | Posted: Jan 01, 2013 - 11:02 | |
Fond memories with my daughters, playing this in the car. They were under 10 at the time. I'd be singing it hard, they'd be boppin' in the back seat. THEN. The bass riff near the end. I'd prep them about it coming ... wait for it ... AND there it is! They'd go nuts! Laughter, smiles. Hilarious.
Kids grow up too fast, huh?
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Zep
| | Posted: Jul 28, 2012 - 07:47 | |
MiracleDrug wrote:this album is EASILY his best work...
His first 2 solo albums set the standard but Graceland is in its own category. |
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lkovathana
(Chicago, Illinois) | | Posted: May 26, 2012 - 00:53 | |
More annoying than usual ...
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Kenn
(Nelson, BC) | | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 07:31 | |
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MiracleDrug
(Earth) | | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 07:23 | |
this album is EASILY his best work...
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coy
(san antonio) | | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 07:21 | |
love the poetry in this tune
quintessential simon
catchy rhythm 2
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(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas) | | Posted: Mar 23, 2012 - 14:04 | |
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this spring day...
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(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas) | | Posted: Feb 20, 2012 - 21:40 | |
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this winter evening...
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coloradojohn
(Moving in Stereo...to Cherry Creek!) | | Posted: Feb 20, 2012 - 21:30 | |
Just cracked through to an even deeper understanding of this song, this album of fine musicianship, this incredibly gifted man — love it!
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gedhickman
(London) | | Posted: Dec 19, 2011 - 15:50 | |
unclehud wrote:A old-school interpretation: Betty Ford Clinic patients? Asking for anonymity with, "Betty, you can call me Al." When the lyrics are spoken with a backdrop of drug/alcohol intoxication, they kinda lend credence to Betty being their bodyguard as they go through the Clinic's cold-turkey treatment, and their promise to be her best friend when they are given the cure.
Wonder if Mr. Simon and Chevy Chase (from the music video) had any connections with that place?
"The names in the song came from an incident at a party that Simon went to with his then-wife Peggy Harper. French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, who was attending the same party, mistakenly referred to Paul as "Al" and to Peggy as "Betty", inspiring Simon to write a song". (Wikipedia) I remember watching an interview where Paul Simon told this story. the party was at his house and Pierre Boule had asked his people to ask Paul's people so he could be there; despite Paul's misgivings about their different worlds :-) |
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unclehud
(300 feet above the planet) | | Posted: Dec 19, 2011 - 10:08 | |
A old-school interpretation: Betty Ford Clinic patients? Asking for anonymity with, "Betty, you can call me Al." When the lyrics are spoken with a backdrop of drug/alcohol intoxication, they kinda lend credence to Betty being their bodyguard as they go through the Clinic's cold-turkey treatment, and their promise to be her best friend when they are given the cure.
Wonder if Mr. Simon and Chevy Chase (from the music video) had any connections with that place?
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TheMagus
(Memento mori UK) | | Posted: Aug 15, 2011 - 04:24 | |
Single handedly created whole new music genre this his best work.
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coloradojohn
(Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan -- 15 min. west of Shinjuku, center of the freaking Universe) | | Posted: Jul 14, 2011 - 19:45 | |
I've been picking up only snatches here and there over the years, (because it's hard and thick and fast!), and marveling at them in themselves...but seeing it all laid out here, well... Nobel Prize-worthy poetry here, for sure, and then some!
scmerriam wrote:A man walks down the street He says why am I soft in the middle now Why am I soft in the middle The rest of my life is so hard I need a photo-opportunity I want a shot at redemption Don't want to end up a cartoon In a cartoon graveyard Bonedigger Bonedigger Dogs in the moonlight Far away my well-lit door Mr. Beerbelly Beerbelly Get these mutts away from me You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al A man walks down the street
He says why am I short of attention
Got a short little span of attention
And wo my nights are so long
Where's my wife and family
What if I die here
Who'll be my role-model
Now that my role-model is
Gone Gone
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl
All along along
There were incidents and accidents
There were hints and allegations If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man
He is surrounded by the sound
The sound
Cattle in the marketplace
Scatterlings and orphanages
He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says Amen and Hallelujah! If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al |
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(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas) | | Posted: Jul 14, 2011 - 19:30 | |
What a seminal album... and it is very profound for me, because I was born in Graceland...
love this song...
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kaybee
(Lost in the Wilds of Toronto) | | Posted: May 12, 2011 - 17:25 | |
fredriley wrote:
Hey, I'll take Harrison Birtwhistle in place of Paul Simon, every day of the week.
You know, Paul Simon's an excellent musician and his lyricism is exemplary. And yet most of his stuff without Art Garfunkel irritates me. I don't know what it is - maybe his wimpy voice? I don't know. |
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scmerriam
(Moscow, Idaho, USA) | | Posted: May 12, 2011 - 12:48 | |
A man walks down the street He says why am I soft in the middle now Why am I soft in the middle The rest of my life is so hard I need a photo-opportunity I want a shot at redemption Don't want to end up a cartoon In a cartoon graveyard Bonedigger Bonedigger Dogs in the moonlight Far away my well-lit door Mr. Beerbelly Beerbelly Get these mutts away from me You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al A man walks down the street
He says why am I short of attention
Got a short little span of attention
And wo my nights are so long
Where's my wife and family
What if I die here
Who'll be my role-model
Now that my role-model is
Gone Gone
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl
All along along
There were incidents and accidents
There were hints and allegations If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man
He is surrounded by the sound
The sound
Cattle in the marketplace
Scatterlings and orphanages
He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says Amen and Hallelujah! If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al |
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acolt
(Pittsburgh, PA) | | Posted: May 12, 2011 - 12:46 | |
Don't know if I've said this before, but this may be the perfect pop song.
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(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas) | | Posted: May 12, 2011 - 12:46 | |
Cynaera wrote:I know what you mean. "Get these mutts away from me... Y'know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymore..."  I love Paul Simon's music...
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Cynaera
(South of Neanderthal) | | Posted: Mar 21, 2011 - 14:50 | |
fingerpin wrote:Why am I soft in the middle and the rest of my life is so hard?
I've heard this a thousand times but today it made me laugh. 
I know what you mean. "Get these mutts away from me... Y'know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymore..." I love Paul Simon's music... |
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fredriley
(Nottingham, UK) | | Posted: Feb 18, 2011 - 04:49 | |
Bleyfusz wrote:
Give me John Entwistle anytime.
Hey, I'll take Harrison Birtwhistle in place of Paul Simon, every day of the week. |
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Bat
(Austin) | | Posted: Dec 17, 2010 - 13:49 | |
A roly-poly little bat-faced girl.
Yea, I like that.
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gatorade
(Ocean Park, WA) | | Posted: Nov 15, 2010 - 20:20 | |
It gets my vote for Best Musical Video.
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djsarong
| | Posted: Oct 15, 2010 - 03:59 | |
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mandolin
(...drifting...) | | Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 09:22 | |
...i really have no idea what this song's actually about, other than the ebullience it conveys every time i hear it...
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fingerpin
(oHIo) | | Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 09:21 | |
Why am I soft in the middle and the rest of my life is so hard?
I've heard this a thousand times but today it made me laugh. |
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adroc
(T dot O dot) | | Posted: Aug 12, 2010 - 08:50 | |
dvwtwo wrote: Hahaha that's classic! Hope Al found his long lost pal. |
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DanFHiggins
(Mid Maryland) | | Posted: Aug 12, 2010 - 08:39 | |
You have got it fired up this morning my brother. Great Music
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dvwtwo
| | Posted: Aug 12, 2010 - 08:37 | |
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