| Steely Dan – Deacon Blues Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I like many of the interpretations here, particularly the Crimson Tide/Deacons links and Acornlev's ideas of 'die behind the wheel' referring to roulette. As well as those already discussed, my interpretation of 'the day of the expanding man' was always partly to do with evolution, because it reminded me of the standard evolution picture you always see - of the 'ape' ancestor standing and expanding into a modern day man. Though this might seem somewhat contrived I always felt it fit well with the song, since he's feeling like a loser and can no longer fit into the "shape" which "is [his] shade, there where [he] used to stand." (the final evolution on the picture, in this analogy). I did always used to hear that as shame, rather than shade, but either works. Still, it's a thought, even if it wasn't what was originally intended. I guess I always thought it was such a beautiful, poetic song that the first line couldn't possibly be literal. |
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