"A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission)" is a song written by Paul Simon. Robert McNamara in 1964 Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9, 1916) is an American business executive and a former United States Secretary of Defense. ... Publicity still for Youre the One, released in 2000 This article is about the musician; for other Paul Simons, see Paul Simon (disambiguation). ...

The song has two versions. The original version was performed and recorded by him with one microphone and an acoustic guitar on his solo album The Paul Simon Song Book in 1965. The original version was subtitled "(or how I was Lyndon Johnsoned into Submission)". At the beginning of this recording, Simon announces the song's title. The Paul Simon Song Book is an album by Paul Simon. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

In 1966, together with Art Garfunkel (as Simon and Garfunkel) Simon re-recorded the song for the duo's chart-topping Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album, with several lyric changes. The song is considered to be a mocking parody of Bob Dylan's work, especially of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" released in 1965. 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Art Garfunkel in Bad Timing (1980) Arthur Ira Garfunkel is an American singer and actor, best known as half of the folk duo Simon and Garfunkel. ... Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends. ... Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is an album by Simon and Garfunkel released October 10, 1966. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and poet whose enduring contributions to American song are often compared, in fame and influence, to those of Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie, and Hank Williams. ... Subterranean Homesick Blues is a song written by Bob Dylan originally released on the album Bringing It All Back Home in 1965. ...

The song seems to be poking fun of all things British. When Simon originally wrote the song in 1964 or very early 1965, he was in the midst of a period in which he was going back and forth between the United States and Great Britain. Eventually he came to spend most of the year 1965 in Britain (he recorded The Paul Simon Song Book in London) and continental Europe, also visiting Paris and Copenhagen. Most of this time, however, he spent singing in folk clubs in Britain to make a living. Presumably, the song is mostly about Simon's adjustment to British culture and surroundings after having spent the first twenty-three years of his life living in the United States. Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... The Eiffel Tower, the international symbol of the city, with the skyscrapers of La Défense business district 5 km/ 3 mi behind. ... Copenhagen ( (help· info) IPA: ) is the capital of Denmark, and the name of the municipality (Danish, kommune) in which it resides. ...

Names dropped in the 1966 version include:

• Norman Mailer - an American writer
• Maxwell Taylor - an American soldier and diplomat
• John O'Hara - an American writer
• Robert McNamara - an American military leader
• The Rolling Stones - a British rock group
• The Beatles - a British pop and rock group
• Ayn Rand - a political philosopher
• Phil Spector - a record producer
• Lou Adler - a record producer
• Barry Sadler - an American soldier and musician
• Lenny Bruce - a stand-up comedian
• Dylan Thomas - a Welsh poet and writer
• Mick Jagger - a British singer
• Andy Warhol - an American painter
• Roy Halee - a record producer
• Art Garfunkel - an American singer for Simon and Garfunkel

Names and phrases used in the 1965 version include: Norman Mailer, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1948 Norman Kingsley Mailer (born January 31, 1923) is an American writer and, along with Truman Capote, is considered an innovator of Creative nonfiction. ... General Maxwell Davenport Taylor (August 26, 1901 – April 19, 1987) was an American soldier and diplomat of the mid-20th century. ... John Henry OHara (31 January 1905 – 11 April 1970) was an American writer who was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. ... Robert McNamara in 1964 Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9, 1916) is an American business executive and a former United States Secretary of Defense. ... The Rolling Stones are a British rock band that rose to prominence during the British Invasion in the 1960s. ... The Beatles were a pop and rock music group from Liverpool, England, who continue to be held in the very highest regard for their artistic achievements, their huge commercial success, and their groundbreaking role in the history of popular music. ... Ayn Rand (IPA: , Ayn rhyming with fine; February 2 [O.S. January 20] 1905 – March 6, 1982), born Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum, was a Russian-American author and philosopher best known for developing the philosophy of Objectivism and for writing the novels We the Living, Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. ... Harvey Phillip Phil Spector (born December 26, 1940) is a highly influential American record producer who turned out some of the best-known popular music of the 1960s and 1970s. ... Lou Adler (born on December 13, 1935) is an American-born, legendary record producer. ... SSgt. ... Arrested after impersonating a priest in 1951. ... Dylan Marlais Thomas, (October 27, 1914 – November 9, 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer. ... Mick Jagger 1995 Sir Michael Philip Mick Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English rock musician, actor, songwriter, record and film producer and businessman. ... Andy Warhol, photographed by Helmut Newton. ... Roy Halee was a record producer and engineer best known for producing several albums with Simon and Garfunkel, including the Grammy-winning Bridge Over Troubled Water. ... Art Garfunkel in Bad Timing (1980) Arthur Ira Garfunkel is an American singer and actor, best known as half of the folk duo Simon and Garfunkel. ...

• Lyndon Johnson - an American President
• Union Jack - the British flag
• Jack Kerouac - an American novelist
• John Birch - an American intelligence officer
• The Rolling Stones
• The Beatles
• Ayn Rand
• Walt Disney - an American film producer
• Dis Disley
• John Lennon - a singer for The Beatles
• Krishna Menon - an Indian politician
• Walter Brennan - an American actor
• Cassius Clay - an American boxer
• Lenny Bruce
• Dylan Thomas
• James Joyce - a writer and poet, of whom Simon is very fond
• Rolls Royce - a brand of luxury automobiles
• Mick Jagger
• Andy Warhol
• Tom Wilson - a black record producer
• Barry Kornfeld - played second guitar on Simon and Garfunkel's Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. album

At the end of the 1966 recording Simon says, "Folk Rock," and, after an audible noise, "I've lost my harmonica, Albert" --presumably referring to Dylan's manager Albert Grossman. The version recorded in 1965, however, has Simon singing, "When in London, do as I do: find yourself a friendly haiku... Go to sleep for ten or fifteen years." Which could be a reference to his girlfriend at that time, Kathy Chitty (who also appears on the album cover), who people used to acredit 'The Haiku'. Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908–January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 Union Jack is the common name for the Union Flag (official name) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac (March 12, 1922, Lowell, Massachusetts – October 21, 1969, St. ... John Morrison Birch (May 8, 1918–August 25, 1945) was an American Military Intelligence Officer and a Baptist Missionary in World War II who was murdered by armed supporters of the Communist Party of China. ... The Rolling Stones are a British rock band that rose to prominence during the British Invasion in the 1960s. ... The Beatles were a pop and rock music group from Liverpool, England, who continue to be held in the very highest regard for their artistic achievements, their huge commercial success, and their groundbreaking role in the history of popular music. ... Ayn Rand (IPA: , Ayn rhyming with fine; February 2 [O.S. January 20] 1905 – March 6, 1982), born Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum, was a Russian-American author and philosopher best known for developing the philosophy of Objectivism and for writing the novels We the Living, Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. ... For the company founded by Disney, see The Walt Disney Company. ... John Winston Ono Lennon (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was best known as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist for The Beatles. ... Vengalil Krishnan (V.K.) Krishna Menon (May 3, 1897 - October 6, 1974) was an Indian nationalist and politician. ... Walter Brennan Walter Brennan, (b. ... Muhammad Ali-Haj (born January 17, 1942 as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. ... Arrested after impersonating a priest in 1951. ... Dylan Marlais Thomas, (October 27, 1914 – November 9, 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer. ... James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (Irish name Séamas Seoighe; 2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an expatriate Irish writer and poet, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. ... Rolls-Royce is a set of companies derived from the British car and aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Henry Royce and C.S. Rolls in 1906. ... Mick Jagger 1995 Sir Michael Philip Mick Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English rock musician, actor, songwriter, record and film producer and businessman. ... Andy Warhol, photographed by Helmut Newton. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. is an album by Simon and Garfunkel released October 19, 1964. ...

See also

• List of songs with historical references

Criteria for inclusion: Not intended to be used in an educational environment Not about a then-current political event or political view (instead see List of protest songs, List of songs about politicians) Made the top 100 on any music chart Songs which are primarily a rapid-fire string of...

External links

• Lyrics for the 1965 version
• Lyrics for the 1966 version
• Commentary on the Dylan satire