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Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

You Can Call Me Al is a song by Paul Simon, the first single released from his album Graceland. The song originally charted in the U.S. at No. 44 in October 1986 but it was reissued with greater promotion in March 1987 and hit No. 23. In the UK it peaked at No. 4, while in Sweden and the Netherlands it reached No. 2.

The lyrics can be interpreted as describing a man experiencing a midlife crisis ("Where's my wife and family? What if I die here? Who'll be my role model?").

However, as Paul Simon himself explained during the Graceland episode of the Classic Albums documentary series, by the third verse the lyrics move from a generic portrait-like perspective to a personal and autobiographical one, as he describes his journey to South Africa which inspired the entire album.

The song features a bass run performed by Bakithi Kumalo; the solo is palindromic as only the first half was recorded, and was then played backwards for the second half.

The pennywhistle solo was performed by jazz musician Morris Goldberg.

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.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo provided the "Mmmm Mmmm" backup vocals in the song, but are uncredited.

Arranger and keyboardist Rob Mounsey wrote and conducted the horn section arrangement, also uncredited.

Music videos

Paul Simon did not like the original music video that was made, which was a performance of the song Simon gave during the monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in the perspective of a video monitor. A replacement video was conceived partly by Lorne Michaels and directed by Gary Weis, wherein Chevy Chase lip-synced all of Simon's vocals in an upbeat presentation, with gestures punctuating the lyrics. Chase, at 6'4", towered over the much shorter (5'3") Simon.

The two men enter a white-walled room, sit down, and shake hands; Simon begins to sing, but stops and looks puzzled when Chase commandeers the vocal line instead. From time to time, Simon steps out of the room to bring in other instruments such as a bass guitar and conga drum for later use. He only sings to provide bass harmony on the "If you'll be my bodyguard" and "I can call you Betty" phrases during the chorus. Simon plays a penny whistle solo following the second chorus, after which the two men perform a rhythmic dance step in unison during the bridge, with Simon and Chase playing alto saxophone and trumpet, respectively. After the third chorus, Simon plays a conga drum solo, then switches to bass guitar for the fade-out instrumental and dance as the two men exit the room. He maintains a bored expression throughout much of the song, only showing enthusiasm when playing an instrument, and he smiles after Chase pivots with the trumpet and almost hits him in the head with its bell.

Appearances in other media

The song was used in the movie trailer for the 1989 comedy film Parenthood.

In the 22nd episode of the 5th season of the American version of The Office, entitled "Heavy Competition", Andy Bernard presents Jim and Pam a recording of his college a cappella group singing "You Can Call Me Al" as a possible processional for their wedding.

In the video for his song "Manijaci", Serbian singer Zdravko Čolić pays tribute to the Chevy Chase version of the video alongside fellow musician Goran Bregović.

In the 5th episode of Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, Max is seen fleeing from a butcher shop called You Can Call Me Halal, when he tries to sell them a pig.

A live performance of "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon is included in the DVD release The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts / Time Life presents, Ravin' Films, Tenth Planet ; directed by Joel Gallen. Imprint New York : Time Life, c2010/. This videodisc features live and previously unseen performances from two New York concerts at Madison Square Garden that aired originally on HBO.

In the closing scene of Disney's 1992 film Aladdin, Aladdin tells Jasmine, "You can call me Al."

The song is used in the Season 10 Family Guy episode "Grumpy Old Man". Peter and Lois engage in what Peter refers to as "Phone sax" (a play on the term phone sex), in which they both play the saxophone to each other over the telephone and Lois plays the famous trumpet ostinato from the song on her saxophone.

The song is used in the Season 2 New Girl episode "Fluffer".

The song is referenced in the fourth issue of Y: The Last Man when Yorick and Agent 355 are walking Yorick references the song. 355 doesn't understand.

The lyrics:

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