You Can Call Me Al
Paul Simon
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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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Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Album Placement"You Can Call Me Al" is one of the most popular songs from Paul Simon's seventh studio album, "Graceland," which was released in 1986.
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Chart AchievementsThe song didn't achieve immediate success in the United States but eventually peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Second Wave of Popularity"You Can Call Me Al" saw a rise in its popularity in the UK when it was re-released in 1987. It subsequently peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles chart, bettering its earlier performance when it was first released in 1986.
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Inspiration for the Song TitleThe song's title was inspired by an incident at a party, where a guest mistakenly referred to Paul Simon as “Al” and his wife as “Betty.”
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Lyrical ContentThe song narrates the midlife crisis of its protagonist, who is traveling in Africa – a metaphoric journey to find identity and purpose.
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Music VideoThe music video for the song, features actor Chevy Chase, who lip-synced Paul Simon's vocals, while Simon mimed playing various instruments.
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Bass Solo"You Can Call Me Al" features a distinctive bass solo played by Bakithi Kumalo. The solo is unusual in the way it was produced by reversing the original recording.
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Grammy Nomination"You Can Call Me Al" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in 1987.
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Album InfluenceThe album "Graceland," which includes "You Can Call Me Al," is recognized for introducing African music and aesthetics into the Western pop mainstream. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1987.
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Cultural ImpactThe song has been used in numerous film soundtracks and TV commercial campaigns, thereby sustaining its cultural relevance over the years.
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Cover VersionsVarious artists have covered "You Can Call Me Al," notable among them being British band The Hotpots in 2009, Irish band Hermitage Green in 2015, and indie folk band Skinny Lister in 2017.
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InstrumentationThe song features a variety of instruments apart from bass, such as the saxophone, trumpet, and penny whistle. The richness in instrumentation contributes to its unique sound.
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Citation
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"You Can Call Me Al Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4401515/Paul+Simon/You+Can+Call+Me+Al>.
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