anonymous April 4th, 2007 04:03AM  
During the ramp-up for the 2004 remastered re-release from Warner Records, Simon granted a rare interview, excerpts of which were supposed to be included in the liner notes of the album. (Unfortunately, the publishers decided to drop the liner notes and the interview excerpts from the production package just before pressing, as the shipping-case would have to be expanded to hold all the paper note pages.)

Paul said he got the idea for the stanzas' opening line "a man walks down the street . . ." as a reference to the bad jokes that always seemed to start with "a man walks into a bar . . ."--he was trying to say that this whole thing was really just a bad joke, the man trying to find himself.

It seems that Paul was, indeed, referencing a middle-age drunk, unhappy with his current life situation. The first stanza introduces us to the man, bemoaning his fate and foolishly wishing for his "photo opportunity" and "shot at redemption". He has realized that his alcoholism ("Mr. Beerbelly, Beerbelly") and his problems (the "mutts") are quickly doing him in, and that he's "soft in the middle"; he doesn't have the self-will to get out of the situation himself. Also, no one seems to take him seriously "cartoon in a cartoon graveyard", and that his problems (again referenced by the "dogs in the moonlight") will be his ultimate undoing if he doesn't change his ways.

The second stanza takes the man to the far-off land ("far away from my well-lit door", which also could symbolize the poverty and/or crime, of this new land he's now in), but he can't seem to find what he's looking for--he's rushing things, trying to find an answer ("short little attention span"), but worrying all night if he's done the right thing ("wo my nights are so long") by leaving his "wife and family" ("what if I die here?"). What he realizes he really needs is a new "role model", now that his old life is gone. However, instead of doing the *right* thing, he instead "ducks back down the alley" of alcoholism, making the same mistakes again--even falling into hiring prostitiutes (referenced by the "roly-poly little bat-faced girl") to try to assuage his fears and doubts. Many other "incidents and accidents, hints and allegations" follow, worsening his already-dire situation.

The third (and last) stanza finds him in a "strange world". It's completely different than anything he's ever experienced, and he's disconcerted by what he sees: people speaking a language that he can't understand, the sound (and, no doubt, smell) of livestock ("cattle") in the marketplace, and the "scatterlings" of orphan children. Ironically, though, it's in this simplistic setting that he finally seems to find himself, seeing the "angels in the architecture" (a possible double-entendre, with "architecture" referencing both the physical fresco he's looking at and the metephorical *architecture* of his life), causing him to shout "Amen! And Hallelujuh!"

Though not directly, Simon seemed to confirmed that "Betty" and "Al" used in the chorus are both references to alcoholism. "Betty" may represent the Betty Ford Clinic, a well-known alcoholism clinic in the US made famous for its treatment of some well-known celebrities. Betty becomes Al's savior (his "bodygaurd"), and "Al" (a play on the world alcoholic) becomes Betty's long-lost pal (perhaps referencing that this isn't the *first* time this situation has occured to "Al").

Many have speculated that "Betty" and "Al" were actually misnomers given to him and his wife (of the time) Carrie Fisher from a diplomatic party they both attended. Simon confirmed this, saying it started the process for creating the song: The "accidental" names that are sometimes given to us that we don't want. "Al" doesn't want to be seen as an alcoholic, that's why he enlists "Betty's" help, in the first place.

Also, and in a more subtle fashion, the character's names reference the apartheid that was practiced at the time in South Africa, where Simon sojourned for the 3-months that he and Ladysmith Black Mombazo recorded some of the songs.

"Al" (supposedly a white man) needs a "bodyguard", a "role model" in this land he's in. His savior, "Betty" (a black man), is that person. Since it's apartheid South Africa, if anyone asks why they're together, Betty's supposed to say that Al's just a "long lost pal". It was Simon's low-key way criticizing apartheid by highlighting the ridiculous ruse the two men had to fabricate, just so they could sit together, most likely.

anonymous July 28th, 2008 12:05AM  
Al and Betty, while may have a double meaning as a reference to alcoholism, are derived from a party attended by Paul and his then wife Peggy (not Carrie Fisher). The host mistook their names for Al and Betty, and ended up "calling Paul Al".

polarpaul September 6th, 2008 01:44PM  
Does anyone else think this song from a Broadway musical influenced Paul Simon when he wrote, "You can call me Al"?

"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

sma1968 October 9th, 2008 02:38AM  
Paul Simon is a genius. Any and all interpretations of this song are, I'm sure, not far off base.

That said: I was stunned just now, listening to "brother can you spare a dime".

There is no way that can be coincidence.

Maybe it's the current economic situation, banks closing, etc... but wow...

anonymous July 29th, 2010 04:29PM  
I feel like the end of the song gives it away, this song was on "graceland" which was greatly influenced by South America. Paul may have written this about himself going to a "third world" and not speaking the same language? maybe, I don't know.