Paul Simon: A simple desultory philippic

[brotherbuttcrack]

I thought this was recorded in 66? If it is 64, that's crazy awesome. Song's punk as shit

[nauset7]

Where did you find this version, and when was it recorded.

[Niouni]

@nauset7 It's from the LP "The Paul Simon Songbook", recorded in 1964. The CD is available, you can buy it in any music store or on Amazon.

[spurtong]

Yes. A lot of bite in this song.  Oh, those were the days.

[paulkweathermen]

It's alright Ma......;these folks deserve it.

[paulthemilkman]

paultheweatherman, meet paulthemilkman

[homelessmanebay]

@paulkweathermen Hmmmm.....wonder where Simon got the idea for this song. :)

[artemiowild]

@homelessmanebay from Lenny Bruce my friend.

[wungabunga]

I think Michael Stipe must've been influenced by this: 'it's the end of the world as we know it', in general, follows a similar desultory path, and he also sings "dreaming of Maria Callas (whoever she is)" in 'E-Bow the letter'.

[SirHayler]

i love both versions but this is missing that immense driving bass line.

[SteerforthBinoculars]

I don't think he gives Dylan fans in '65 enough credit... when Dylan can make a joke onstage about TS Eliot or Carl Sandburg and get a huge response, those aren't a bunch of philistines (though not necessarily intellectuals or whatever).

But this is the first time I've heard this song and it's immediately a favourite. Holy snikeys haha

[dunnedeal1]

This song, like most of Simon's work is genius, i think he was annoyed at the idea of Dylan selling himself out (obvious from the song), but i think his main focus is the audience who listened to Dylan.

I think this was a bit harsh, because for many who had seriously not heard of poets such as Dylan Thomas, Bob Dylan was a true poet for them

[spurtong]

what happened to "i lost my harmonica, albert?"

[Niouni]

That line is from the second version of the song, this is the first one.

[MusicbyBenjamin]

That's what I just told spurtong!

[MusicbyBenjamin]

That's in the 1966 Simon & Garfunkel version. This is from a 2 years ago. In

[MusicbyBenjamin]

Sorry, I wasn't finished my sentence. Anyway, In this version, it says: "When your in london just do what I do. Go find your self a freindly Haiku.... Go to sleep for 10 or 15 years!"

[Yrrats]

I once saw an interview with Bob Dylan. Actually he didn't have a lot to say, which surprised me. In the same program I saw an interview with Johnny Rotten, who proved to be very sharp and intelligent. Which surprised me too. Prejudice...

Is Paul Simon taking on my first described experience here...?

[dunnedeal1]

Dylan is more intelligent than he comes across in interview, he notoriously didn't like giving them, and so didn't prepare quips.

Johnny rotten on the other hand seems ironically media friendly, and willing to interview to get his views across.

If you don't agree that Dylan is intelligent there is two videos to check out.

One is his interview with time magazine where he roasts the reporter, and the other is his poem "last thoughts on woody gutherie".

They should certainly prove something.

[Yrrats]

Thanks for your reaction. I am listening to the interview right now. He's obviously very irritated about something, but he doesn't say anything I couldn't come up with when I'm really irritated about something, and believe me: I'm not brilliant. He's allowing himself to get pissed off. By that he loses this conversation.

[Yrrats]

The interviewer doesn't get roasted, he just gets moaned at. But he is very calm and keeps asking questions he doesn't get real answers to, just insults. In fact, I think this is the interview I was referring to. It dissapoints me. Maybe also because he lacks every slight presumption of humour.

[dunnedeal1]

Yeah, i think he was/is quite paranoid of how he was being portrayed.

But i find whenever i watch him/ listen to his songs, there is a thought process that is so complex (or at least appears that way).

I know the reporter keeps asking questions, but i don't think he can respond to what Dylans saying.

Admittedly i don't like the music media.

[dunnedeal1]

I might have picked a poor example with that interview giving my bias, but please listen to that poem, and his songs, i personally think he is a genius.

Not to say Paul simon isn't.

[Yrrats]

You obviously know a lot more about Dylan than I do, it's wrong to base my conclusions on just one interview of course. I will read the poem (already printed it), but it's quite long and English isn't my own language (I'm Dutch) so it will take some time. Thanks for the information, you definitely made me curious.

[dunnedeal1]

Cheers, i appreciate that i am speaking to someone who doesn't just make wild assumptions based on only one thing.

Thanks for the conversation, it's been interesting thinking about how people are percieved etc.

[zilvisj]

that's the only Simon song i hate. it's too offensive and it's not funny at all.

when i reach this song in my playlist, i turn off simon and garfunkel and turn on dylan.

[dunnedeal1]

Good shout, i prefer dylan, though i think Simon is a genius.

[TressaJT]

so larky! :)

[dm76dm]

this song is awesome

[mattbell8808]

I dont think it's a paradoy more of a pastiche, more of a tribute

[lostintherain65]

why does paul simon take the mick out of bob dylan?

were they not friends at this time?

maybe jealousy comes into it but come on most people would be jealous of paul simon

[gazgazgazhoops]

I think its light hearted. They have performed together since so its clearly not too serious. And to be fair there are a lot of Dylan references in both versions of this song so Simon obviously listened to a great deal of Dylan.

[takeitorleaveit]

this is my favorite song of all time.

[lylelangford]

oh it's nothin, it's just somethin i learned in england. is paul simon actually taking the piss out of dylan here?

[SamBlob]

Yes.

He is.

He does so rather more acidly in the second version of the song, as heard on side 2 of the "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" album.

[cottonearbud]

i've got the original parsely sage rosemary and thyme vinyl and it's titled (how i was robert macnamara'd into submission. it's identical to this. Whats the difference?

[jacobehrlich]

Nothing, I think it's just something Paul says sometimes.

[Niouni]

the lyrics should be different.

Here are the lyrics of Robert mcnamara'd:

I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored,

I been John O'Hara'd, McNamara'd.

I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled 'til I'm blind.

[Niouni]

I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded Communist,

Cause I'm left-handed.

That's the hand I use, well, never mind!

I been Phil Spectored, resurrected.

I been Lou Adlered, Barry Sadlered.

Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay.

And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce,

And all my wealth won't buy me health,

So I smoke a pint of tea a day.

[Niouni]

I knew a man, his brain's so small,

He couldn't think of nothing at all,

Not the same as you and me.

He doesn't dig poetry.

He's so unhip that when you say Dylan,

He thinks you're talking 'bout Dylan Thomas,

Whoever he was.

The man ain't got no culture,

But it's alright, Ma, everybody must get stoned.

[Niouni]

I been Mick Jaggered, been silver daggered.

Andy Warhol, won't you please come home?

I been Mothered, Fathered, Aunt and Uncled,

Been Roy Haleed and Art Garfunkeled.

I just a-discovered somebody's tapped my phone.

Folk rock --

I've lost my harmonica, Albert...

[Niouni]

so you see there's a little difference

[SamBlob]

There are some minor differences, including Simon going electric the way Dylan did. The ending is slightly different, and the part about "It's just somethin' I learned over in England" is replaced by "Everybody must get stoned". Also, Norman Mailer and Maxwell Taylor get mentioned and Lyndon Johnson doesn't (Neither does MacNamara, except in the title...) There are other minor differences not mentioned here.

[Denton91]

this is what connects bob dylan and walt disney, right here!!

[Niouni]

Now that I watch that video again, I'm afraid that the picture between "England" and "James Joyce" is a picture of Ed Simon and not of Paul. What do you think?

[wolfpup64]

Ohhh I think you may be right. Hard to tell sometimes though, huh?

[undineee]

Thank you, the video went right to my playlist.

[Niouni]

I'm glad you like it. And thank you very much for your subscription and your good rating. I guess you must be a great Simon fan (just like me) :)

[IDLERACER]

I take it you couldn't find a picture of Diz Disley, who is mentioned at 0:35

[Niouni]

That's right. Nor could I find a (good) picture of John Birch, Tom Wilson and Barry Kornfeld's mother, who are also mentioned in the song.

[ealter95]

Great Video dude, thanks for posting it.