10 Classic Songs That Aren't As Serious As You Think
3. Simple Desultory Philippic - Simon and Garfunkel
Over the years, Paul Simon has built up a resume as one of the most thoughtful songwriters of the classic era of rock and roll. No one since Bob Dylan has really managed to capture the perfect amount of poetic justice in song, whether it be the wayward balladeer of Bridge Over Troubled Water or the strange relationship of Mrs. Robinson. When Simon got dirty though, things weren't as mind-melting as you might have thought.
Taken from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, a Simple Desultory Philippic is anything but a simple title, leading everyone to believe we're in for something a little bit complex. As the song unfolds to a garage rock guitar though, the song seems to be just a bunch of satirical nonsense thrown together by Simon, going so far as being called a communist for being left handed and turning the Beatles and the Rolling Stones into verbs for no apparent reason.
When talking about the song later, Simon was quick to clarify the song's use as a bit of a jab at Bob Dylan's style of writing, trying to reach his counterparts level of sarcasm and then falling completely fat in the process. Before you ever got the impression of Simon getting a bit too comfortable in his folk rock lane, this at least was proof that he had a little bit of humor about him.