Simon & Garfunkel – A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission) Lyrics

Embed Show song activity
How does this work?
Caution: You are now annotating this song as
I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored
I been John O'Hara'd, McNamara'd
I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I'm blind
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 of my wealth won't buy me health
So I smoke a pint of tea a day

I knew a man, his brain so small
He couldn't think of nothing at all
He's 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 about Dylan Thomas
Whoever he was
The man ain't got no culture
But it's alright, ma
Everybody must get stoned

I been Mick Jaggered, 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 discovered somebody's tapped my phone
Listen
About A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)

“A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission)” is a song written by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. Originally recorded for Simon’s 1965 UK-only debut, The Paul Simon Songbook, it was recorded soon after by Simon and his partner, Art Garfunkel, for the duo’s third album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. It is generally considered a parody of American musician Bob Dylan’s writing style, especially that of “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)”, a lengthy piece released on Dylan’s 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The original version was subtitled “Or how I was Lyndon Johnson’d into Submission” in a spoken introduction at the beginning, after Simon announced the song’s title. The subtitle does not appear on the sleeve or the disc label.

More Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme lyrics
All Simon & Garfunkel lyrics