Radio 83, side B, track 7: “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” by Paul Simon

Oh, Paul Simon, the first time that I heard this one was when I recorded it off of BOB.  So I don’t have much to say about it other than that it’s obviously awesome.  And it does mention Newsweek, which I read religiously as a kid.  My dad subscribed to it, probably to enter the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, and initially, I would just read the political cartoons (because they were cartoons, even though I didn’t understand them), anything about movies or TV and the Newsmakers section because it was mostly pictures and small blurbs, which was about all my brain could handle as a wee lad.  As I got a little older, I started reading the actual articles.  It was my first real exposure to journalism outside of the local station out of Sioux Falls and “20/20”.  I distinctly remember reading an article about Bush I and how he waited to retaliate against Iraq for the Kuwaiti invasion until he was certain that the goodwill from Desert Storm would get him re-elected (spoiler alert:  it didn’t work).  I remember being angry and appalled that someone would manipulate a war for their own political gain and being angry and appalled that more people weren’t angry and appalled.  I was very young, Paul Simon.

Finding a girlfriend would soon overtake my brief foray into being a news junkie and I reverted back to political cartoons and Newsmakers, if that.  I have a feeling my sheltered little mind would not have been able to comprehend what you and Julio were doing down by the schoolyard.

lyrics to “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard”