This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Pour out the wine, little girl
I've got just two friends in this whole wide world
Here's to reckless lovers
We all need somebody
Stashed in the yellow Jag
I've got my life and laundry in a gladstone bag
You should know the program
Just one red rose and a tender goodbye (one last goodbye)
Then I run to the second arrangement
It's only the natural thing
Who steps out with no regrets
A sparkling conscience, a new address
When I run to the second arrangement
The home of a mutual friend
Now's the time to redefine the first arrangement again
It's a sticky situation
A serious affair
I must explain it to you somehow
Right now, I'll just move back one square
Here comes that noise again
Another scrambled message from my last best friend
Something I can dance to
A song with tears in it
Old friends abandon me
It's just the routine politics of jealousy
Someday we'll remember
That one red rose and one last goodbye (one last goodbye)
Then I run to the second arrangement
It's only the natural thing
Who steps out with no regrets
A sparkling conscience, a new address
When I run to the second arrangement
The home of a mutual friend
Now's the time to redefine the first arrangement again
I've got just two friends in this whole wide world
Here's to reckless lovers
We all need somebody
Stashed in the yellow Jag
I've got my life and laundry in a gladstone bag
You should know the program
Just one red rose and a tender goodbye (one last goodbye)
Then I run to the second arrangement
It's only the natural thing
Who steps out with no regrets
A sparkling conscience, a new address
When I run to the second arrangement
The home of a mutual friend
Now's the time to redefine the first arrangement again
It's a sticky situation
A serious affair
I must explain it to you somehow
Right now, I'll just move back one square
Here comes that noise again
Another scrambled message from my last best friend
Something I can dance to
A song with tears in it
Old friends abandon me
It's just the routine politics of jealousy
Someday we'll remember
That one red rose and one last goodbye (one last goodbye)
Then I run to the second arrangement
It's only the natural thing
Who steps out with no regrets
A sparkling conscience, a new address
When I run to the second arrangement
The home of a mutual friend
Now's the time to redefine the first arrangement again
Lyrics submitted by ansermachin
The Second Arrangement Lyrics as written by Donald Fagen Walter Becker
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
A Gladstone bag is a leather suitcase / duffle bag that kinda looks like a large purse.
A great pity what happened to the song.... I've heard a snippet of a much smoother, cleaner version than the bootleg tape but there's no vocals on it.
@mrose77 "Gladstones" was also a famous restaurant in Malibu, CA where Becker/Fagen lived throughout most of the mid-to-late 1970s. Not sure which meaning he has here, perhaps Fagen is equivocating.
@mrose77 Fans are still working on it, and the search for the lost master track continues: youtube.com/watch