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A Simple Desultory Philippic Lyrics by Paul Simon

The Paul Simon Songbook

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[Intro]
A Simple Desultory Philippic
Or How I Was Lyndon Johnson’d Into Submission
[Verse 1]
I was Union Jacked, Kerouac'd
John Birched, stopped and searched
Rolling Stoned and Beatled 'til I'm blind
I've been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist 'cause I'm left-handed
That's the hand I use, well, never mind!
[Verse 2]
I've been Walt Disneyed, Diz Disleyed
John Lennoned, Krishna Menoned
Walter Brennan'd, punched out Cassius Clay
I've heard the truth from Lenny Bruce
And all my wealth won't buy me health
So I smoke a pint of tea a day
[Bridge]
I knew a man his brain so small
He couldn't think of nothin' 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 talkin' about Dylan Thomas
Whoever he is
The man ain't got no culture
But it's alright, Ma
It's just somethin' I learned over in England
[Verse 3]
I've been James Joyced, Rolls Royced
Mick Jaggered, silver daggered
Andy Warhol, won't you please come home?
I've been mother, fathered, aunt and uncled
Tom Wilsoned, Art Garfunkeled
Barry Kornfeld's mother's on the phone
[Outro]
When in London, do as I do
Find yourself a friendly haiku
Go to sleep for ten or fifteen years
Credits
Paul Simon

Paul Simon

About “A Simple Desultory Philippic” by Paul Simon

Read the complete lyrics to "A Simple Desultory Philippic" by Paul Simon from the album "The Paul Simon Songbook ". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock.

"A Simple Desultory Philippic" is performed by Paul Simon. from the album "The Paul Simon Songbook " This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Simple Desultory Philippic", explore more songs by Paul Simon using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Simple Desultory Philippic" is credited to Paul Simon. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Simple Desultory Philippic" appears on "The Paul Simon Songbook ".

Visit the Paul Simon artist page at /artist/paul-simon for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.