Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon (Reaction)

[@matthewbecker964]

I grew up in Astoria Queens just a short distance from Corona Queens where this story takes place. The song was all over the radio in NYC when it came out. Simon without Garfunkel was a revelation. The whole album - his first solo album was just so much fun. This song is for all the Puerto Ricans in NY

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Paul is a bona fide genius. Do more, please.

[@AliasMark69]

Back then Paul Simon was among the song writers that were often compared to Dylan and Donovan. All three were exceptional story tellers.

[@jameswiglesworth5004]

personally wouldn't put Donovan on the same level as Simon or Dylan

[@JD_Cool]

Back then? I think we mean "still today." Paul remains one of the GOATS

[@SCVIndy]

Love Paul Simon .. suggest Mother and Child Reunion

[@bobmarley8270]

The crime that Mama Pajama saw, was Paul and Julio smoking weed! The instrument making the hic-cup sound is the Cuíca which is a friction drum. You can hear it in a lot of music, especially in Reggae and African beat. A great example is Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved".

[@matthewbecker964]

Thats not true - Paul himself said he wasn't sure what it was. Back in the seventies in NYC nobody was getting arrested for smokin weed - it was everywhere and no big deal. Nobody needed to get released by a radical priest for marijuana.

[@zwieseler]

@@matthewbecker964Song facts quotes Simon saying it wasn’t weed, but he assumed it was something sexual. Personally I have always thought it was related to homosexuality back in the day when it was a crime. I also thought it was based on reality but Simon says it was just a made up story.

[@mikecaetano]

I always thought that was what the song was about. It fits with "Late in the Evening".

[@jimwilcox2964]

Cuica drum, Herbie Hancock used one of those and in 73-75 we had one of those for the high school jazz band we used in the HH song Watermelon Man

[@bobmarley8270]

@@jimwilcox2964 I love Herbie. Empyrean Isles is one of my favorites. :D

[@americanaforever6725]

"Loves Me Like a Rock" and " Mother and Child Reunion" are more great Paul Simon hits

[@MAC-gx3ji]

Yes , both of these

[@bobschenkel7921]

One of my favorites from Mr. Simon's solo work. Along with, "Late In The Evening", "Graceland", " Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes" and "You Can Call Me Al".

[@oregonchick76]

This is exactly the list I was going to recommend. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" has such an unexpected intro and is just so fun that it's possibly my favorite Paul Simon song.

[@ivansavoie3190]

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes should be next, great reaction

[@stevetanner3019]

Paul Simon “Kodachrome” is one of his best and my fave ❤️ Great groove.

[@godbluffvdgg]

Great song...Paul is a an American icon...I was 12 when this song came out in 72...This and Kodachrome were in the AM radio rotations and they faded a bit when FM started getting legs under it...A half Century of enjoying it...Nice reaction...

[@chaunapierce8678]

A song that would be similar to this that was done by Simon & Garfunkel is Cecilia. It's one of my favorite songs that they get it's just kind of a fun song

[@gkiferonhs]

This is one of the deepest wells in music. Paul has always pushed the edge. Each album is a new sound. Just last week he was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert pushing his 18th album (at 82 yrs old).

[@jessicaleblanc-nh1yl]

Paul Simon is a musical genius. All of his music offers a sense that gets to you. The original video for this piece is pretty amazing. Take a moment to view it, if you can. Thank you for sharing this one.

[@CharCanuck14]

Yes....the video for this is so much fun!

[@acb9231]

Great song, love Paul Simon! I got to tell ya, I watch a lot of reaction channels, but yours is by far one of my favorites! Your reactions are interesting and spot on! Keep on doing what you’re doing! ✌️

[@debjorgo]

Paul shows his basketball skills in the video, with guest baseball great Micky Mantle and football coach John Madden.

[@jkgannon1049]

Feel GREAT official vid! Killer double dutch & the great Spudd Webb, too!

[@MajorDenisBloodnok]

And during his famous match against Connie Hawkins! 😉

[@bugvswindshield]

I LOVE this song! thanks again for sharing more Paul Simon!

[@jeanneraemoyano6987]

I can’t listen to this song without a big ole smile on my face! 😂

[@picolo4102]

Late in the evening

[@jacqueline4514]

I love this song! However, it brings memories of this one kid in Junior High School teasing me because my maiden last name is French and rhymes with “Julio”, so he would sing “Me and (name) down by the schoolyard”; would drive me CRAZY and was embarrassing. Found out as an adult that he liked me 😂.

[@lorriehil4212]

Brillant, love it.

[@31carrier]

Hollies/Long Cool Woman(In A Long Black Dress)

[@mikecaetano]

"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" was a top forty hit for Paul Simon in 1972. Whatever Mama saw the transgression was probably exaggerated the way parents sometimes do when scolding misbehaving children. The "radical priest" could be a nod to Daniel Berrigan, a prominent anti-war activist well known for protesting against the Vietnam War and other military conflicts, or it could be a nod to the trope of the dedicated priest looking out for wayward kids in the neighborhood, dating back to the depression era films such as "Angels with Dirty Faces" and "Boys Town". The great thing about ambiguous lyrics is that leaving room for imagination to fill in the blanks helps to anchor them and the melodies they deliver in the minds of listeners.

[@fatovamingus]

Wow what a great choice! This song is in the Royal Tenenbaums & perfectly timed of course

[@dr.strangelove7788]

I think you’ll like his KODACHROME too!

[@slimpickins9124]

I heard this song dozens of times when it was played on the radio but I never paid attention to the lyrics. Ya, it's a pretty cool tune, lotsa fun.thanks!

[@paulrt3]

Some other great tunes to check out by Paul Simon are: "Kodachrome", "Loves Me Like a Rock" and "American Tune."

[@nelsonx5326]

Happy song.

[@GinMae]

Thanks, JMB! Such a fun song.. tells an actual story... lol...(I never thought it was HIS parents being so upset.. maybe neighborhood "nosey" people... but I could be totally wrong about that!).. appreciate your reaction... (p.s. besides his usual great songwriting and hits, Paul did quite a few "world music" songs... especially with Ladysmith Black Mombasa...)...

[@lisahaverluk4037]

Love this 😀 ❤️ 😍 my childhood 😂❤🎉😢😮😅😊😅

[@dannycasson1551]

Another great little song in his huge repertoire of songs.

[@lorilxn1597]

Pauk Simon is so freaking awesome 😊

[@cindyphifer970]

Always loved this song. Paul is a great songwriter. You should watch the video to this song in the play yard

[@Serai3]

That hooty sound is a _quica,_ a Brazillian instrument. It's basically a wooden drum with a stick attached to the middle of the drumhead on the inside. It's played by rubbing a damp piece of cloth up and down the stick inside the drum. The friction makes that hooting sound. Fun! :)

[@sourisvoleur4854]

100% analysis! It's not meant to be really serious or deep. But it's a lot of fun.

[@MargaretSottile-r2h]

Listen to Late in the Evening and Slip Sliding Away by Paul Simon. Also watch Simon and Garfunkel free concert in Central Park.

[@tomenrico6199]

I saw Paul Simon in concert in 1973. Back then, rock concerts were notorious for starting late. The restless crowd would sometimes pass the time bouncing huge beach balls around the audience while roadies and techs would wander around the stage arranging and testing microphones. Not Paul Simon. There was no movement on the stage as we waited for the show to begin. At 8:00 pm sharp, the entire house went pitch black, and a tiny pin spot lit up a microphone in the middle of the stage. Simon came running out with his guitar, stepped up the mic and began singing “Me and Julio,” without so much as a mic check. It was a great show, and one of the three venues where they recorded for the album “Live Rhymin'” that came out a few months later.

[@karinwolf3645]

I like everything he does!! 💋💖🎉🎉🌵👵🐺🖖

[@JamesJohnson-ig6of]

BRO, Paul Simon along with native Minnesotan Bob Dylan one July evening came to Duluth Minnesota to put on an outdoor concert, right on the banks of big Lake Superior. Both performers are absolutely class acts! Simon brought along his special musicians that provided the music for his "Graceland" CD. There also is a cut he released from that CD that was a chart topper, called "Graceland". ALSO, one of my all-time favorite songs is Carlos Santana featuring Rob Thomas, 1990, along with an Official Video, called "SMOOTH". If you do a reaction to it, I'll Subscribe to your Channel with that hope. THANK YOU! 🤗

[@patticampana9458]

Mother and Child Reunion, Love Me Like a Rock. Got caught smoking weed😁. Still lov in' that smile🙂!

[@jlyc1985]

I like the fact that you play the songs all the way through before commenting. Please react to Pink’s “Family Portrait” official music video. Thanks.

[@bugvswindshield]

You Can Call Me Al. great song!

[@trishriley9681]

❤

[@CuriousGeorge1111]

Hey JM, great song, great reaction. You're right that the song is whimsical and intentionally vague. Simon said he never decided what the crime was, but it was probably something sexual, haha. Simon has many many great records. For something different and beautiful, I suggest Hearts And Bones. All the best!

[@AliasMark69]

"Bridge Over Troubled Water"... Or bad things may happen, says the WIZARD.

[@lorilxn1597]

Need to watch his video You Can Call Me Al. Chevy Chase is in this one, great song and hilarious 😂

[@stevencorreia9193]

You can call me Al..(and I can call you Betty)..My parents names..

[@dahveed72]

Maybe the only simon song where the official video is required

[@cherrypickerguitars]

Julio is a joint.

[@TheJohnnywbred]

Got to do some Meatloaf in future. Paradise by the dashboard.

[@freebirdtony]

Corona is a section of Queens (NYC).

[@AlexanderStHill]

They was smokin weed man 👍

[@ArianaH3ART]

No official video? Dang, was really good too oh well.

[@janetf23]

Paul's wife has a great old song from the 90s that always makes me feel happy. If you wanna watch the video, go here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6KvYnWCr9Nmp8U Edie Brickell - Good Times

[@t.j.payeur5331]

Julio was slang for ganja... Paul McCartney considered Paul Simon to be his greatest competition...

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

I always thought it was a drug buy!

[@beadybaby]

Fun! Check out You Can Call Me Al too!

[@31carrier]

Blue Oyster Cult/Don't Fear The Reaper

[@BetsyDeal-q1p]

"Me and Julio down by the school yard" video by Paul Simon

[@frankiebowie6174]

I know what they were doing down by the schoolyard.

[@colinglen4505]

Have a listen to his song called 'Late in the Evening,' it's at least twice as good as this one.

[@timmgreen165]

I don't know where to leave a request, but i would like you to consider “Monster/America” by Steppenwolf.

[@thomassharmer7127]

Paul just makes up words that fit the track then weaves them into a story that captures aspects of the life and characters he observes in the world around him. Interpreting him in a literal, autobiographical way is rarely accurate, although like all song writers he no doubt draws on his own experience to frame certain thoughts, images and feelings. But the use of 'first person' pronouns (I, me, mine) in a song diesn't necessarily mean it is about the singer themselves. Singer/songwriters often adopt a character, pose or persona to explore a theme or point of view which may not be their own.

[@sweisbrod6109]

Its kinda got a reggae vibe going for it.

[@johnlong9534]

Check out the Mick.

[@crow2able]

Try Sea Level, That's your secret.

[@gailseatonhumbert]

This was so upbeat compared to the rest of what he was known for eg Sounds of Silence.

[@NoahFroio]

You should check out the official music video, lots of interesting cameos from a lot of famous faces, including Mickey Mantle, John Madden, Biz Markie, etc. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGe5o36opJ2XoNk

[@31carrier]

261 likes 866 views posted 4 hours ago

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

People often wonder what it was that was against the law, but Paul Simon said he didn't have anything specific in mind. Other really good Paul Simon songs: Kodachrome Late in the Evening Mother and Child Reunion Still Crazy After All These Years Gone at Last Graceland American Tune You Can Call Me Al I'd love for you to react to American Tune. For some reason it gets overlooked by reactors.

[@timmgreen165]

His mom saw him experimenting with homosexuality. “Goodby Rosie” and “radical ,priest” both point to this. Cecilia is better because it enraged the stuffed shirts with its obvious glorification of sexual promiscuity, when actually it was a lament to the catholic muse of artists about the fickleness of inspiration.

[@mesfromusa]

Why don't you interrupt the songs like all the other reactors do? Because you're the best, that's why! Stay away from music videos for all these older songs - the way we heard them back in the day was either on the radio or off an album. Sometimes we had the lyrics, sometimes not.

[@robbyascher9090]

I always thought it meant that Paul and Julio were caught smoking a joint down by the schoolyard