Reno Dakota, there's not an iota of kindness in you
You know you enthrall me and yet you don't call me
It's making me blue, Pantone 292
Reno Dakota, I'm reaching my quota of tears for the year
Alas and alack! you just don't call me back
You have just disappeared, it makes me drink beer
I know you're a recluse
You know that's no excuse
Reno, that's just a ruse
Do not play fast and loose with my heart
Reno Dakota, I'm no Nino Rota, I don't know the score
Have I annoyed you or is there a boy who
Well, he's just a whore
I've had him before
It makes me drink more


Lyrics submitted by Anne Arbour, edited by TheSatah

Reno Dakota Lyrics as written by Stephin Raymond Merritt

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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Reno Dakota song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +3
    Link(s)

    Reno Dakota made a video with the back-story behind the song. Kind of a sad story. youtu.be/k_BMu1ljwiM

    bfgarzilla9kon August 23, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    A song that uses Pantone colors to describe blue....

    outstanding!

    Kola_tea_timeon June 27, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think Claudia sang this song because it would probably sound better with a higher voice then a lower one. I think that's all.

    MXMissleson June 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Nino Rota was an Italian composer that produced music for many famous films, including Fellini's "8 1/2" and the "Godfather" series.

    _mycritiqueon February 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Talk about a picture painted - poor drunk bastard in his dark 5th floor apartment...

    likeahawkon November 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm not big on copy/pasting things, but 69lovesongs.info/wiki/index.cgi explains a bit about the references in the song.

    dd59714on September 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I absolutely love the rhymes in this song. Recluse/Excuse being my favourite. Good stuff.

    WendyPopson February 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wrote soundtracks, therefore knew "the score"...brilliant.

    there's actually a little diagram of Pantone colors somewhere in the liner notes or booklet or something. stephin talks about trying to find a suitable blue also with a Pantone number which would rhyme. he must know a graphic designer, assuming he doesn't have that background himself (i mean, he IS multitalented)

    foreverdroneon June 17, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    I wonder if Claudia sang this because of the 'he's just a whore, I've had him before' line. Stephen being gay, may not wish to openly sing about it? Just a theory.

    shockdelicaon January 03, 2005   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Hmm... I seem to remeber a D.J. on some radio named Reno Dakota... I wonder if there's a connection.

    I don't think Claudia whould be singing this because Stepen is not openly gay. He sings "I thought you we're my boyfriend" on the album i.

    RainbowNinjaDinoon January 03, 2007   Link

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