Simon & Garfunkel - A Simple Desultory Philippic: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "A Simple Desultory Philippic" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn A Simple Desultory Philippic Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Simon & Garfunkel

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "A Simple Desultory Philippic" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

        D      C         A       F     D
I been Norman Mailer'd, Maxwell Taylor'd
        D      C       A    F   D
I been John O'Hara'd, McNa mara'd
        G                  F       G        A
I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I'm blind
       D7
I been Ayn Rand'd, nearly branded
G7
Communist, 'cause I'm left-handed
 A7                                 D
That's the hand I use, well, never mind!

I been Phil Spectored, resurrected
I been Lou Adlered, Barry Sadlered
Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay
And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce
And all of my wealth won't buy me health
So I smoke a pint of tea a day

D7                               G7
I knew a man, his brain was so small
                                A7
He couldn't think of nothing at all
                             D7
He's not the same as you and me
                     G7
He doesn't dig poetry. He's so unhip that
              A7
When you say "Dylan",
                                       D7
he thinks you're talking about Dylan Thomas
              G7
Whoever he was
                     A7
The man ain't got no culture
But it's all right, ma
                    D7
Everybody must get stoned

I been Mick Jaggered, been silver daggered
Andy Warhol, won't you please come home?
I been mothered, fathered, aunt and uncled
Been Roy Haleed and Art Garfunkeled
I just discovered somebody's tapped my phone

(Folk rock...)
(I've lost my harmonica, Albert...)


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

A7

Guitar chord A7

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

D7

Guitar chord D7

F

Guitar chord F

G

Guitar chord G

G7

Guitar chord G7

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "A Simple Desultory Philippic" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "A Simple Desultory Philippic" by Simon & Garfunkel.