| Steely Dan – Show Biz Kids Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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The Guernsey Fair is a county fair that has been held in Old Washington, OH for 158 years (1847 - 2005). I only know this from a google search. I find it interesting that they wouold mention a tiny little county fair in the middle of nowhere...But it also makes me wonder about the "Washington Zoo" line, as the fair is held in Old Washington, OH... Other than that, who the hell knows... |
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| Steely Dan – Deacon Blues Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| The Alabama Crimson Tide were the top team in the nation in 1977, the year this song was released. At the same time, the Wake Forest "Demon Deacons" were 1 - 10, the worst team in the division. "They got a name for the winners in the world, I want a name when I lose. They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, Call me Deacon Blues" | |
| Steely Dan – Haitian Divorce Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Dead on, Law. Just to go into some detail: Babs and Willie were very much in love, to the point where their kiss at the altar was a little much for the priest (Babs and Clean Willie were in love they said/So in love the preacher's face turned red) But, the marriage fell apart into one of domestic violence (Soon everybody knew the thing was dead/ He shouts, she bites, they wrangle through the night) So, babs decides she has to get away, but instead of divorcing Willie, with all the emotional and financial difficulties a divorce brings, she decides to run away to Haiti (She go crazy/Got to make a getaway, Papa say: Oh - no hesitation/No tears and no hearts breakin', No remorse/Oh - congratulations This is your Haitian Divorce) She runs off with all their money, and lives the high life "for free": Bon Marche = "good buy" (She takes the taxi to the good hotel/Bon marché as far as she can tell/She drinks the zombie from the cocoa shell She feels alright, she get it on tonight/Mister driver Take me where the music play/Papa say) So, she goes to The Grotto, and picks up a local and takes him home to REALLY get back at Willie. I love the fade to black reference, as if we are watching a movie... (At the Grotto, In the greasy chair/Sits the Charlie with the lotion and the kinky hair/When she smiled, she said it all/The band was hot so/They danced the famous Merengue/Now we dolly back/Now we fade to black) So, having gotten all this out of her system, Babs goes back to Willie, and theymove on with their lives together: (Tearful reunion in the USA/Day by day those memories fade away) But Babs is carrying a child. In denial, Willie comes up with all kinds of reasons to believe that the baby is his (Some babies grow in a peculiar way), although everyone else knows the real situation (It changed, it grew, and everybody knew: Semi-mojo) Until the baby is born, and Willie sees his kinky hair, and is confronted, and confronts Babs, with the truth (Who's this kinky so-and-so?) Fantastic song. |
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| Steely Dan – Dr Wu Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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This is possibly my favorite Dan tune, and I have always wanted to figure out its meaning. All I know is that Dr. Wu is actually a racial slur for jews (and considering fagen's religeon, I don;t know if that is the meaning he intended), and I think there is some drug.cocaine referencing: "Don't seem right I've been strung out here all night I've been waiting for the taste You said you'd bring to me" "Biscayne Bay Where the Cuban gentlemen sleep all day" Anyone with other thoughts, I'd love to hear them! |
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| Steely Dan – Dont Take Me Alive Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Relatively obviously (for Dan), this is the story of a "Mad Dog" a criminal who is holed up inside a bank or something, surrounded by police. He grabbed a hostage off the street (luckless pedestrian). Perhaps he is on a crime spree that started with him shooting his father in Oregon, and now he is planning to blow himself up rather than be taken into custody... |
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| Steely Dan – Do It Again Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Although I like prof's interpretation, I disagree on some points. the song is, yet again, Fagen speaking of a cheating woman, and a man who keeps going back to her and getting hurt. "The man who stole your water" in the first verse is referencing the man who slept with Jack's woman, who Jack shoots. "The hangman isn't hangin' and they put you on the street," for whatever reason, Jack gets acquitted, and is released. He knows that his woman is a cheater (You know she's no high climber) but he has no one else to go to (Then you find your only friend). He keeps saying he's through with her, but inevitably goes back to this cheating woman (In a room with your two timer And you're sure you're near the end Then you love a little wild one And she brings you only sorrow All the time you know she's smilin' You'll be on your knees tomorrow) Although she continually runs around on him, Jack keeps going back, and Doing It Again. The last verse is just a metaphor for his decision every time to gamble on the chance that his woman may have changed. Every time, he says he's through with her (Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man) But he goes back anyway (Then you find you're back in Vegas) He becomes an alcoholic (With a handle in your hand) Honestly, I have yet to figure out my interpretation of the rest of the last verse... |
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| Steely Dan – Charlie Freak Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| I agree with everything except for the idea that the speaker is talking to another homless man. I think "Now come my friend I'll take your hand And lead you home" is addressed to Charlie, and "home" is referencing that he can finally rest. | |
| Steely Dan – Any Major Dude Will Tell You Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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What are SQUONK'S TEARS??? Legendary in Pennsylvania, the Squonk is small, shy beast, with loose skin that has many warts and moles on it. Squonks are very unhappy and cry all the time. Hunters can follow the trail of tears, and find the Squonk under hemlock trees. If cornered, the Squonk's tears might dissolve it (hence the pseudo-Latin name Lachrimacorpus dissolvens.) Supposedly, one person caught a Squonk in a sack one time, but when the sack was opened later, there were only tears and bubbles in it. Described by William T. Cox, in his book "Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, with a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts. " http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/squonk.htm |
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