Monday September 5, 2022 “At the Zoo” Simon & Garfunkel

In September 1945 George Orwell published his book on animal husbandry, Animal Farm.  OK maybe it is a parable reflecting events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union but for me it will provide the necessary reason for spending the week with musical animals.

And what better place to start than at the zoo, where they have lots of them.

“At the Zoo” was licensed for TV commercials for the Bronx Zoo and the San Francisco Zoo in the late 1970s and used in 1991 a children's book that was published by Paul Simon, titled "Simon and Garfunkel at the Zoo," with rich illustrations by Valerie Michaut. However, the lyrics and concepts had to be altered slightly; for instance, the hamsters were given little headlights on their head to explain why they'd "turn on."

Simon and Garfunkel met in grade school when they both appeared in a production of Alice in Wonderland. Paul was the White Rabbit and Art was the Cheshire Cat. The duo began recording together in high school as Tom and Jerry, which was the name of a cartoon cat and mouse.

Simon was a high school baseball star and I can attest to that having seen him play an effective left field in the annual east end Artists & Writers softball game.

Stay safe and well…and today’s tune provides you with a road map for your next trip to the zoo so you will know just what these animals are all up to…or maybe it’s just a parable like Animal Farm.

Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo

 I do believe it

I do believe it's true

 It's a light and tumble journey

From the East Side to the park

Just a fine and fancy ramble

To the zoo

 But you can take the crosstown bus

If it's raining or it's cold

And the animals will love it if you do

If you do, now

 Somethin' tells me it's all happening at the zoo

 I do believe it

I do believe it's true

 The monkeys stand for honesty

Giraffes are insincere

And the elephants are kindly but they're dumb

Orangutans are skeptical

Of changes in their cages

And the zookeeper is very fond of rum

 Zebras are reactionaries

Antelopes are missionaries

Pigeons plot in secrecy

And hamsters turn on frequently

What a gas, you gotta come and see

At the zoo

At the zoo

At the zoo

At the zoo

At the zoo

At the zoo

At the zoo

At the zoo