A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission) Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Jerrybear 

Cover art for A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission) lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

This is a spoof on Bob Dylan, specifically, his song "Subterranean Homesick Blues" which is sung in a similar talking blues/rapping style. The line "It's alright ma, everybody must get stoned" references two different Dylan songs: "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" and "Rainy Day Women" which has the "everybody must get stoned" refrain.

At the end of the song are some additional words that are not shown here: "Folk Rock!" and "I lost my harmonica, Albert!" Folk rock was the genre that Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel were a part of. Albert refers to Albert Grossman, Dylan's manager at the time. Many of Dylan's songs featured harmonica solos.

It's obvious that this song is about Dylan. But throughout the whole album, the are subtle references/ connections to Dylan. I's say the entire album is an homage to Dylan and the influence he had on music - this song just makes it all the more clear.

'Scarborough Fair' - "Remember me to the one who lives there, cause she once was a true love of mine". Granted this is an old folk lyric but Dylan made it popular and brought it into the forefront of the music scene with 'Girl from the North Country' The two poetry songs ('Patterns'...