You Can Call Me Al Ukulele Chords – Paul Simon. This song uses the chords: F, C, Bb. You can change the key for free, as needed.
(This is a simplified way of playing the song, there is guitar chord movement under the vocals that is too complex to be written here.)
You Can Call Me Al Ukulele Chords – Paul Simon
INTRO:
F C Bb F C F x4
VERSE 1:
FA man walks Cdown the street
He says, Bb “Why am I sCoft in the middle now?
FWhy am I Csoft in the middle?
BbThe rest of my Clife is so hard
FI need a phCoto opportunity
BbI want a shot at redCemption
FDon’t want to end up a cCartoon
In Bba cartoon grCaveyard”
BFonedigger, bConedigger
BbDogs in the moConlight
FFar aCway my wBbell-lit dCoor
Mr. BFeerbelly, BCeerbelly
BbGet these mCutts away from me
You knFow I don’t Cfind this stuff
ABbmusing anyCmore
CHORUS 1:
FIf you’ll be my bCodyguard
BbI can be your lCong-lFost CpalBb C
FI can call you BCetty
And BBbetty, when you Ccall me
You can Fcall me AlC Bb C
VERSE 2:
FA man walks Cdown the street
He says, Bb “Why am I Cshort of attention?
FGot a short Clittle span of attention
And, woe Bbmy nights Care so long
FWhere’s my wifCe and family?
What if Bb I die here?C
FWho’ll be my rCole model
Now thBbat my role Cmodel is
FGone gone?”C
He duckBbed back dowCn the alley
FWith some rolCy-poly little Bb bat-faced Cgirl
FAll along alCong
There were inciBbdents and acCcidents
There were Fhints and alleCgationsBb C
CHORUS 2:
FIf you’ll be my bCodyguard
BbI can be your lCong-lFost CpalBb C
FI can call you BCetty
And BBbetty, when you Ccall me
You can Fcall me AlC Bb C
Call me FAlC Bb C
SOLO:
F C Bb F C F x8
VERSE 3:
FA man walks Cdown the street
It’s a Bbstreet in a Cstrange world
FMaybe it’s the C third world
Maybe Bbit’s his first Ctime around
FHe doesn’t speCak the language
He holBbds no currenCcy
FHe is a foreiCgn man
He is sBburrounded Cby Fthe sound, Cthe sound
Cattle Bbin the marCketplace
FScatterlings Cand orphanagesBb C
FHe looks arouCnd, around
He sees Bb angels in Cthe architecture
FSpinning in Cinfinity
He says, Bb “Amen!” and “HCallelujah!”
CHORUS 3:
FIf you’ll be my bCodyguard
BbI can be your lCong-lFost CpalBb C
FI can call you BCetty
And BBbetty, when you Ccall me
You can Fcall me AlC Bb C
Call meF C Bb C
FNa na Cna na na Bbna na Cna na na…
Check out more ukulele songs here.
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“You Can Call Me Al” History:
🎵 Basic Facts
- Released: 1986
- Album: Graceland
- Writer/Producer: Paul Simon
- Style: A blend of pop, rock, and African-inspired “worldbeat” rhythms
- It became one of Simon’s biggest solo hits, reaching the Top 5 in multiple countries
🎧 Listen & context
🧠 Meaning and Themes
At its core, the song is about identity, aging, and self-doubt—often interpreted as a midlife crisis.
- The narrator asks questions like “Where’s my wife and family?” and “What if I die here?”—reflecting anxiety about purpose and direction
- There’s a sense of dislocation, as if the character is trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs
- The tone mixes serious existential questions with playful, almost surreal imagery
Paul Simon himself described the structure as starting simple and becoming more abstract as the song progresses.
🌍 African influence
The song—and the entire Graceland album—was inspired by Simon’s trip to South Africa, which deeply influenced:
- The rhythm and instrumentation
- The feeling of cultural exploration and renewal
Some interpretations suggest the journey represents a spiritual or emotional awakening
😄 The “Al” and “Betty” Story
That famous line:
“You can call me Al”
…comes from a real-life mix-up.
At a party, French composer Pierre Boulez accidentally called:
- Paul → “Al”
- His wife → “Betty”
Simon found it amusing and turned it into a lyric
🎺 Musical Highlights
This track is deceptively complex under its catchy surface:
- Iconic bass solo by Bakithi Kumalo
- Half of it is actually played backward in the recording
- Bright horn section arranged by Rob Mounsey
- A distinctive penny whistle solo
- Layered rhythms influenced by African pop styles
The result is a song that feels light and fun—but is intricately constructed.
🎬 Music Video
The official video is legendary for its humor:
- Features actor Chevy Chase lip-syncing the lead vocals
- Simon stands beside him, occasionally miming instruments
- Their height difference (Chase much taller) adds to the comedy
It became one of the most memorable music videos of the MTV era.
🎯 Why It Endures
“You Can Call Me Al” works on multiple levels:
- 🎶 Catchy, upbeat groove
- 🧠 Thoughtful, introspective lyrics
- 🌍 Groundbreaking fusion of global sounds
- 😄 Playful sense of humor
It’s a rare song that can feel lighthearted and deep at the same time—which is very much Paul Simon’s trademark.
