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You Can Call Me Al

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

original key   F    C  Bb  
[Intro]
  G    D       C   C   D     G4x
[Verse]
GA man walks dDown the street,
he says Cwhy am I sDoft in the middle now,
Gwhy am I sDoft in the middle,
Cthe rest of my lDife is so hard,
GI need a phDoto-opportunity,
CI want a shot at redDemption,
Gdont want to end up a cDartoon,
in a Ccartoon grDaveyard,
bGonedigger, bDonedigger,
Cdogs in the moDonlight,
Gfar awDay my wCell-lit dDoor,
Mr. BGeerbelly, BDeerbelly,
gCet these mutts awDay from me,
you knGow I don't fDind this stuff amCusing anymDore.
[Chorus]
GIf youll be my bDodyguard
CI can be your lDong lGost pDal,C  D  
GI can call you BDetty,
and BCetty when you cDall me
you can cGall me Al.D  C  D  
[Verse]
GA man walks dDown the street,
he says Cwhy am I sDhort of attention,
Ggot a short lDittle span of attention,
and wo Cmy nights aDre so long,
Gwheres my wifDe and family,
what if CI die hereD,
Gwholl be my rDole-model,
now thaCt my role-mDodel is
Ggone, gone,D  
he duckCed back dowDn the alley
Gwith some rolDy-poly little Cbat-faced Dgirl,
Gall along, alDong
there were inciCdents and acDcidents,
there were Ghints and alleDgations.C  D  
[Chorus]
GIf youll be my bDodyguard
CI can be your lDong lGost pDal,C  D  
GI can call you BDetty,
and BCetty when you cDall me
you can cGall mDe  ACl.D  
call me GAl.D  C  D  
[Solo]
 G   C   D   G   C     G8x
[Verse]
GA man walks dDown the street,
its a sCtreet in a Dstrange world,
Gmaybe its the DThird World,
maybe iCts his firsDt time around,
Ghe doesnt speDak the language,
he holdCs no currenDcy,
Ghe is a foreiDgn man,
he is sCurrounded bDy
Gthe sound, thDe sound,
cattle Cin the markDetplace,
Gscatterlings Dand orphanages,C  D  
Ghe looks arouDnd, around,
he sees Cangels in Dthe architecture,
Gspinning in iDnfinity,
he says CAmen and HDallelujah!
[Chorus]
GIf youll be my bDodyguard
CI can be your lDong lGost pDal,C  D  
GI can call you BDetty,
and BCetty when you cDall me
you can cGall me Al.D  C  D  

All chords in this song (5)

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You Can Call Me Al

by Paul Simon

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F C Bb

original key

[Intro]

G D C C D G

[Verse]

G D

A man walks down the street,

C D

he says why am I soft in the middle now,

G D

why am I soft in the middle,

C D

the rest of my life is so hard,

G D

I need a photo-opportunity,

C D

I want a shot at redemption,

G D

dont want to end up a cartoon,

C D

in a cartoon graveyard,

G D

bonedigger, bonedigger,

C D

dogs in the moonlight,

G D C D

far away my well-lit door,

G D

Mr. Beerbelly, Beerbelly,

C D

get these mutts away from me,

G D C D

you know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore.

[Chorus]

G D

If youll be my bodyguard

C D G D C D

I can be your long lost pal,

G D

I can call you Betty,

C D

and Betty when you call me

G D C D

you can call me Al.

[Verse]

G D

A man walks down the street,

C D

he says why am I short of attention,

G D

got a short little span of attention,

C D

and wo my nights are so long,

G D

wheres my wife and family,

C D

what if I die here,

G D

wholl be my role-model,

C D

now that my role-model is

G D

gone, gone,

C D

he ducked back down the alley

G D C D

with some roly-poly little bat-faced girl,

G D

all along, along

C D

there were incidents and accidents,

G D C D

there were hints and allegations.

[Chorus]

G D

If youll be my bodyguard

C D G D C D

I can be your long lost pal,

G D

I can call you Betty,

C D

and Betty when you call me

G D C D

you can call me Al.

G D C D

call me Al.

[Solo]

G C D G C G

[Verse]

G D

A man walks down the street,

C D

its a street in a strange world,

G D

maybe its the Third World,

C D

maybe its his first time around,

G D

he doesnt speak the language,

C D

he holds no currency,

G D

he is a foreign man,

C D

he is surrounded by

G D

the sound, the sound,

C D

cattle in the marketplace,

G D C D

scatterlings and orphanages,

G D

he looks around, around,

C D

he sees angels in the architecture,

G D

spinning in infinity,

C D

he says Amen and Hallelujah!

[Chorus]

G D

If youll be my bodyguard

C D G D C D

I can be your long lost pal,

G D

I can call you Betty,

C D

and Betty when you call me

G D C D

you can call me Al.

About You Can Call Me Al Chords by Paul Simon

Learn how to play You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “You Can Call Me Al chords”, “You Can Call Me Al guitar chords”, or “Paul Simon You Can Call Me Al chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy You Can Call Me Al chords and for experienced players who want accurate You Can Call Me Al lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, C, Bb, G, D, A.

FAQ — You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon

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What key is "You Can Call Me Al" in?

The chords for "You Can Call Me Al" show the original chord names (including F, C, Bb, G, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.