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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
 Posted - 03/08/2006 : 01:42:40
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This is one of the catchiest tunes from my childhood, and I have no idea what it is about.
Anyone knows the meaning of this song?
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
Bone digger, bone digger
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, whoa, 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
Doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man
He is surrounded by the
Sound, 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
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 02:03:37
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Sorry monsieur, i can't offer any insights.
I just wanted to agree with the "one of the catchiest tunes" part of your post.
That backward bass solo was the funkiest piece of music my young ears ever did hear.
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 02:16:00
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The whole album is ace, Paul Simon's a dude.
 I have joined the Cult Of Frank/And I have dearly paid |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 02:22:31
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| The playing on 'Graceland' (the song) is awesome. I wish I could play like him. So damn cool. |
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starmekitten
-= Forum Pistolera =-
United Kingdom
6370 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 03:36:58
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The video is brilliant and I have enough trouble keeping this song out of my head at the best of times.
I think it's about mid-life-crisis. |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 04:51:12
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I think it's a story about a tourist, away from home, feeling lost in a third world country, kind of rethinking his life. But many parts do not fit with this explanation, especially this "Betty".
The last verse is so well written.
It is one of the most perfect pop songs I've ever heard.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 05:04:43
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so sorry to drop a link on you when it's probably more interesting to hear our opinions on the subject, but I found this. From the horse's mouth, so to speak:
http://www.speakeasy.org/~prohibit/index.cgi/2003/10/29 |
Edited by - fbc on 03/08/2006 05:05:47 |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 05:05:47
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Yeah, I googled that 5 minutes ago. It doesn't really explain the song, though.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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Homers_pet_monkey
= Official forum monkey =
United Kingdom
17125 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 06:08:29
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quote:
Originally posted by starmekitten
The video is brilliant and I have enough trouble keeping this song out of my head at the best of times.
I think it's about mid-life-crisis.
Damn straight sister. It DOES have Chevy Chase in it after all.
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 09:23:22
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Why aging men visit prostitutes (they may choose to call her Betty):
Why am I soft in the middle, the rest of my life is so hard?
Does Paul Simon have some continuing guilt (The Boxer):
Just a come-on from the whores On Seventh Avenue. I do declare,
There were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 09:27:16
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| i think it's about human trafficking |
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 09:32:05
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Cattle in the marketplace
Scatterlings and orphanages
That's not a nice way to look at prostitutes, and neither is this:
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says Amen! and Hallelujah! |
Edited by - hammerhands on 03/08/2006 09:32:34 |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 10:00:42
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Does Mr. Simon he have a short...span of attention?
nudge nudge, wink wink
A short span...of attention, eh?
Say no more, say no more...
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zub_the_goat
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 14:41:58
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| didnt they make a softmints advert with this song once? think that was the first time i heard the song! |
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 16:50:46
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The bass break is indeed damn good. It's kind of a shame that Al Gore had to rape this song for his campaign though. Now it's in that category of good songs that unforunately make me think about products. I can't hear "Let the Good Times Roll" any more without thinking of toilet paper rolls going down the stairs. So now when I hear "Call me Al" I think of boring robots!
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"And that's when Abe Lincoln said ..'Don't diss my homies'." |
Edited by - HeywoodJablome on 03/08/2006 16:51:41 |
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 20:01:54
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thank you for posting this Monsieur
the lyrics are news to me
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 20:19:16
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if a song's first line mentions a street, and the act of walking, you know it's shit, lyrically. because that's how i freestyled about a million songs as a kid.
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 20:57:38
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yeah um, i'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree.
hell lumberg f#kced her
office space get it?
uh boy |
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 21:00:21
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what
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 21:04:00
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anyway i think the song is about words and life with beer guts and beauty.
Signature checkbox
checked by default? |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 00:51:55
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I bought Graceland yesterday. I'll try and listen to it tonight if I find some time.
Actually, I saw a part of the video on Sunday. They were showing it on tv in the UK (another shitty Canary Wharf weekend). It was some kind of tv show with music videos from the 80s - I only watched it for 10 minutes, and saw this video that I had forgotten. It reminded me of the song, so I downloaded it as soon as I came back home. It's so damn catchy!
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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starmekitten
-= Forum Pistolera =-
United Kingdom
6370 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 01:56:31
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| Was it the 100 greatest pop videos program? |
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 02:13:42
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Graceland is beautiful, Call Me Al is one of those songs made a big impression on me as a kid. Too, there´s one track I love where the bass plays lead, maybe the first.
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Gravy boat! Stay in the now! |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 02:21:27
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quote:
Originally posted by starmekitten
Was it the 100 greatest pop videos program?
I think so.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 07:01:56
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Graceland has got to be a top ten all time album for me.
and you are ill prepared to fight
living in a world of soft and white
in air conditioned battle zones
I pity you!
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therewererumours
* Dog in the Sand *
Ireland
1240 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 07:39:26
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quote:
Originally posted by speedy_m
Graceland has got to be a top ten all time album for me.
and you are ill prepared to fight
living in a world of soft and white
in air conditioned battle zones
I pity you!
My folks used to play Graceland all the time when I was growing up. Great song, great album.
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:02:15
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Wow, I think everyone's folks played that record growing up.
__________
Don't believe the hype. |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:04:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Carolynanna
Wow, I think everyone's folks played that record growing up.
__________
Don't believe the hype.
You're all very lucky, my parents were into disco / Boney M.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:06:49
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I also love Boney M because of my parents.
And Neil Diamond too.
__________
Don't believe the hype. |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:08:59
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My parents played a lot of Graceland, the Beatles and Boney M and I love them all because of that. Every memory I have a road trips as a child is related to a song from Graceland.
and you are ill prepared to fight
living in a world of soft and white
in air conditioned battle zones
I pity you!
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offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:42:05
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Same here with the Boney M and Diamond listening family members.
Ladysmith Mambazo featured hugely on Graceland. Paul Simon made them international stars for a while. One of their main members, Jockey Shabalala died last month. He sports a huge grin on the Diamonds on the sole of her shoes vid (heh, they all do)
wilhelm |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:43:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Carolynanna
Wow, I think everyone's folks played that record growing up.
__________
Don't believe the hype.
I'm too old for that. My folks played Simon & Garfunkle, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Diamond's Hot August Night. |
Edited by - darwin on 03/09/2006 10:44:41 |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:48:20
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| i think it's unfortunate that this song overshadowed the underrated "I'd prefer you not to call me Al" released around the same time |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:48:26
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I have so many memories of road trips with my parents...but they all have lousy soundtracks.
One of my dearest memories is circa 1989, while traveling with my parents through Switzerland. I told them I would be bored so they bought me a game of darts, with a wooden target. I kept playing with it and listening to Snap (you know, "I got the power") in my walkman. My parents knew Switzerland pretty well and the trip was supposed to show me what the country looked like, but I only remember toilets near the highway and my darts.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
Edited by - Monsieur on 03/09/2006 10:50:07 |
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 19:26:00
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Incidentally, one of the best songs I heard all last year was "Father Daughter" by Paul. I think they used it in a kids movie a few years back. At any rate, a beautiful tune.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"And that's when Abe Lincoln said ..'Don't diss my homies'." |
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You can call me Al
