And he would be her former friend/companion. In the poem, he wants to get to Heaven to meet her, but also to get her to protect him.she could be. He travels through Hell, guided by Virgil, viewing all the sinners being tormented then through Purgatory and finally makes it to Heaven, where he is reunited with Beatrice, his true love in real life, who died very young. You'll recall (if you've read/studied it) that Dante descends into Hell on Christmas Day in the year 1300. This song can be read as a kind of modern/hip updating of Dante's 'Divine Comedy'.

Which seems to explain why, for example, one would want someone named 'Betty' to be one's bodyguard. General CommentI have no reason to doubt any of the explanations given above but I have noticed something about this song of Simon's. As Paul Simon realized, there is so much to be enjoyed by indulging in the language, music, and culture of others. Everything here is so damned Americanized, and we almost force our culture and language upon visitors and immigrants. The Graceland album, along with Paul's follow-up project called The Rhythm of the Saints (recorded in South America), are quite refreshing to one with a wide cultural world view. Listen to authentic African music for a while and you'll understand what I mean. It is so smooth and rhythmic it must have been played by an African. I also love the four measure bass solo towards the end of the song. BTW it was recorded in South Africa, not a thousand miles from where I was living. I realize I may be reading way too much into this, but at that point in my life the song meant so much to me. I especially like the last verse where the man finally sees the good in things, and realizes he doesn't have to be in his familiar surroundings to be comfortable. Believe me, when I moved to a large African city some time ago, this song became my favorite, since I identified so much with it. General CommentThe video notwithstanding, I think of this song as coming from the perspective of a sheltered American lost in another culture. With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl You know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymoreĪnd Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al He says, 'Why am I soft in the middle, now?

Dont call me up lyrics