You Can Call Me Al

Paul Simon

About You Can Call Me Al

"You Can Call Me Al" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the lead single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. Written by Simon, its lyrics follow an individual seemingly experiencing a midlife crisis. Its lyrics were partially inspired by Simon's trip to South Africa and experience with its culture. Released in September 1986, "You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's biggest solo hits, reaching the top five in seven countries.  


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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 in 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, whoa, 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
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
Scatterings 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

Na na na na, na na na na
Na na na na, na na na-na na-na
Na na na na, na-na na-na na na
Na na na na, na na na na

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can call you Betty
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can call you Betty
If you'll be my bodyguard

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Paul Simon

Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an award-winning musician whose talents in composing, performing, and vocal harmony placed him at the forefront of the singer-songwriters on an international scale. Simon's fame, influence and commercial success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts: "The Sounds of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The duo split up in 1970 at the height of their popularity, and Simon began a successful solo career, recording three highly acclaimed albums over the next five years. In 1986, he released Graceland, an album inspired by South African… more »

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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.
Chart Achievements
The song didn't achieve immediate success in the United States but eventually peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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.
Inspiration for the Song Title
The 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.”
Lyrical Content
The song narrates the midlife crisis of its protagonist, who is traveling in Africa – a metaphoric journey to find identity and purpose.
Music Video
The music video for the song, features actor Chevy Chase, who lip-synced Paul Simon's vocals, while Simon mimed playing various instruments.
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.
Grammy Nomination
"You Can Call Me Al" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in 1987.
Album Influence
The 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.
Cultural Impact
The song has been used in numerous film soundtracks and TV commercial campaigns, thereby sustaining its cultural relevance over the years.
Cover Versions
Various 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.
Instrumentation
The 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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    You Can Call Me Al

    94.4M
    449.2K     22,577

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1987

    Billboard #23


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