Download Instrumental   Has anybody noticed that the older Paul Simon gets the more he looks like Jimmy Buffett?  Just sayin’…

Many of Simon’s songs are just plain nonsensical. If you’re looking for deep, dark meanings in the lyrics, forget about it.  This is one of those tunes.  Personally, the lyrics to a song are the last thing I listen to when I first hear it.  I’m searching for “the groove” – that mysterious combination of chords, bass and beat that make you tap your feet and pay attention.  Once I decide I like the music, then I give the words a listen.  I’m usually disappointed, but who cares as long as that lovely “groove” is there.

“Me and Julio (Down By the Schoolyard)” is a story (I guess) about two young lads who commit some sort of crime, though we’re never sure what.  “Mama Pajama” (his mother?)  uncovers their dark deed and runs to the police station to report the crime.  Nice.  The father was pretty ticked off too – “Oy, if I get that boy, I’m gonna stick him in the house of detention”.  Even nicer.  The boys are later arrested (thanks, Mom) but released when a radical priest intervenes on their behalf.  Really.  In a Rolling Stone interview, Simon is asked what crime mama saw because the whole world wants to know.  Paul replied, “I have no idea what it is.  Something sexual is what I imagine, but when I say ‘something’, I never bothered to figure out what it was.  Didn’t make any difference to me.”  Mr. Simon knew he had that perfect groove going for him and the lyrics didn’t matter.

The fun begins with two acoustic guitars providing a crisp rhythm throughout the song.  The drum track helps emphasize that rhythm but not overpowering the guitars.  The bass is just there. And I used a sax as a solo instrument instead of whistling (whistling is irritating).  When we perform this one, I like a stronger, more definite beat than Simon used, so I took some liberties with the drum track.  It’s more danceable.  Notice the two-bar drum rift toward the end – big fun.  Groovy.