You Can Call Me Al
Paul Simon Lyrics

A man walks down the street
The song begins by introducing a man walking down a street, possibly reflecting on his life and his place in the world.

He says, 'why am I soft in the middle, now?
The man questions why he is physically out of shape and weak, possibly wondering why he has let himself go.

Why am I soft in the middle?
He continues to ponder why he lacks physical strength, questioning his own abilities and strength of character.

The rest of my life is so hard
He contrasts his personal and physical weakness with the difficulties and challenges he faces in the rest of his life, hinting at possible struggles he is experiencing.

I need a photo-opportunity
The man wants to take a picture, perhaps to show the world a different side of himself or to capture a special moment.

I want a shot at redemption
He desires a chance to redeem himself, likely due to a perceived failure or a missed opportunity in his life.

Don't want to end up a cartoon
The man does not want to be a caricature or a joke, indicating that he takes himself and his life seriously.

In a cartoon graveyard
He vividly describes an imaginary place where cartoons go to die, suggesting his desire to avoid being a cartoonish character in life.

Bonedigger, Bonedigger
The song changes tone and introduces a chorus that is meant to be catchy and memorable with its repeated phrases of 'Bonedigger'.

Dogs in the moonlight
This line adds to the nonsensical chorus, using imagery of dogs in the moonlight to create a dreamlike atmosphere.

Far away in my well-lit door
The song returns to describing the man's thoughts and feelings, as he sees the world outside while standing in the safety of his home.

Mr. Beerbelly, Beerbelly
The song uses alliteration to playfully describe the man's physical condition with the repeated phrase of 'Beerbelly'.

Get these mutts away from me
The man is frustrated with the dogs and wants them to be removed from his presence, perhaps because they are distracting him or causing him stress.

You know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymore
The man is no longer amused by the situation, indicating that he is growing tired of feeling weak and ineffective, and wants to move on from it.

If you'll be my bodyguard
The man seeks protection and support from another person, revealing his vulnerability and need for help.

I can be your long lost pal
In exchange for this help, the man offers to be a faithful and loyal friend, highlighting that even people in need have something valuable to offer.

I can call you Betty
The man extends an offer to call the person he is asking for help by a nickname, establishing a friendly relationship between them.

And Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al
The man plays with more nicknames to make the relationship feel comfortable and informal, inviting the person to call him Al if they choose to do so.

He says, 'why am I short of attention?
The man once again reflects on his personal shortcomings, this time expressing concern about why he does not receive enough attention from those around him.

Got a short little span of attention
He describes his limited ability to focus or pay attention to things, possibly indicating an undiagnosed attention disorder.

And, whoa, my nights are so long
The man reveals that he has trouble sleeping or is plagued by anxieties, which may be related to his feelings of inadequacy.

Where's my wife and family?
He questions his place in the world and the importance of personal relationships, wondering if he is alone and disconnected from loved ones.

What if I die here?
The man's thoughts turn to his own mortality and he becomes fearful of dying without having made a meaningful impact on the world.

Who'll be my role model
He laments the loss of someone who was once important to him and wonders who will fill the void in his life.

Now that my role model is gone, gone?
The man wonders how he will continue on without the guidance and support of someone who was once so important to him.

He ducked back down the alley
The song returns to vivid descriptions of the man's surroundings, as he ducks into an alley for safety or privacy.

With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl
The song paints an absurd image of a strange girl with a bat-like appearance, perhaps to convey a sense of discomfort or strangeness in the man's surroundings.

All along, along
The song repeats a nonsensical refrain, possibly meant to break up the more serious and introspective parts of the song and add to its whimsical tone.

There were incidents and accidents
The man is surrounded by chaos and uncertainty, with this line referencing both literal and figurative incidents and accidents that have likely shaped his life.

There were hints and allegations
The man may have experienced or been accused of problematic behavior in the past, and this line references potential wrongdoing or suspicion that hangs over him.

It's a street in a strange world
The song describes the world around the man as strange or foreign, highlighting his feelings of disconnection and lack of belonging.

Maybe it's the third world
The man considers that he may be living in a third world country, adding to his sense of disorientation and confusion.

Maybe it's his first time around
The man wonders if he is experiencing life for the first time, suggesting feelings of newness or unfamiliarity with the world around him.

Doesn't speak the language
The man is unable to communicate with those around him, further highlighting his sense of isolation and disconnection.

He holds no currency
The man is financially destitute or lacks power and influence, contributing to his sense of isolation and vulnerability.

He is a foreign man
The man is an outsider in the world he inhabits, further emphasizing his sense of disorientation and disconnection.

He is surrounded by the sound, the sound
The man is enveloped by the noises of the foreign world around him, which serve to further disorient and confuse him.

Cattle in the marketplace
The song vividly describes the man's surroundings, likely to create a sense of discomfort and confusion in the listener as well.

Scatterings and orphanages
The song references locations that are often associated with poverty, further emphasizing the man's sense of disconnection and vulnerability in this world.

He looks around, around
The man takes in his surroundings, likely feeling overwhelmed by the strangeness of everything he sees.

He sees angels in the architecture
Despite the man's feelings of isolation and discomfort, he is able to find beauty and wonder in the world around him, appreciating the intricacy of the architecture he observes.

Spinning in infinity
This line adds to the sense of wonder and amazement the man feels, as he becomes lost in the beauty of the architecture around him.

He says, 'Amen and Hallelujah'
The man expresses his awe and appreciation of the world around him, invoking religious language to emphasize the sense of transcendence he feels.

Na na na na, na na na na
The song returns to nonsense phrases, likely meant to be catchy and memorable for the listener.

Na na na na, na na na-na na-na
The nonsense phrases continue, adding to the song's whimsical tone and catchy melody.

Na na na na, na-na na-na na na
The chorus repeats again, emphasizing its importance and catchy nature.

Na na na na, na-na na-na na na
The song ends with yet another repetition of the catchy chorus, leaving the listener with its memorable refrain ringing in their ears.