submissions
| The Doobie Brothers – South City Midnight Lady Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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The song is about a woman he kne in a town called Los Gatos. It's a suburb of San Jose where the band is from. This info came from an interview I read years ago. I also lived in Los Gatos at the time so it was doubly prescient to me. It's a beautiful town nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz mountains. Many millionaires live there now. In 1973 it was a hippie community. |
submissions
| Harry Chapin – Taxi Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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Taxi is one of those songs that raises more questions than it answers. For example: If one does the math, the original event happened late 40's to early 50's. It is presumed Harry the driver must be at least 35-40 years old since he says "a long, long time ago". The song was released in 1972. And surely one must have SOME form of training and experience to get behind the wheel of a cab in a large city. But yhat's just conjecture.
Anyway, the beauty of a well written popular song is the vast interpretations it can invoke. In this case, the original event was a few years after WW2. Times were different. Now he's a stoner who may have picked up the weed habit in the 60's hippie times even though he would have been much older than the hippies.
One thing I never got is why he figures other people would be offended by a sizeable tip from an ex-girlfriend. Maybe it was the only way for her to show her affection after so many years? This is what I mean when saying more questions than answers. Which is why it is such a classic song. Everyone has experience some form of this random meeting. |
submissions
| Supertramp – Even In The Quietest Moments Lyrics
| 8 years ago
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Clearly sounds religious to me. Nuns wear wedding bands. Married to God. The song is a spiritual homage to finding (or re-finding) God.
I am not religious a all. But the spiritualism here is too profound to ignore. It is about his version of being reborn. |
submissions
| Supertramp – Even In The Quietest Moments Lyrics
| 8 years ago
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@[1flyersfan:23715] It's pretty clear that Roger isin fact referring to God. Regardless of his quote about the song where he says it is either a woman or God. Yes he says Dear several times. So what. Nuns wear wedding rings because they are married to God.
I am not a religious type, but the song has always struck me as an upper class, boarding school bred Englishman's idea of what spiritualism is to him. At one point I thought I heard him sing "I'm Born again" at 5.45 or so. Just after the "Don't let the sun fade away series of words. But now I hear something more obscure. It IS interesting that the posted lyrics mention of this little couplet. I guess it depends on the soundsystem. In my car I hear I'm Born Again. On my home system I hear something undecipherable.
But overall, this is a spiritual observation from an Englishman.
And it should be noted that Roger left the band 35 years ago never to return. Sounds like a philosophical/religious split t can't be resumed. |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Rikki Don't Lose That Number Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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Some of these comments are simply preposterous. While it's true human nature compels us to find greater meaning in simple things, the simple truth is this is not the great American nove. It's a rock & roll song. Becker & Fagen may be intellectuals, but when you stop over analyzing the lyrics, All their songs boil down to the same thing every other red blooded American male was writing about: sex, drugs & rock & roll. Or in their case, sex, drugs & jazz.Wake up guys, a cigar is just a cigar!! |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Deacon Blues Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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I've said this before but it bears repeating. The song is actually pretty straightforward. As humans, we search for greater meaning in mundane things. While it's true the song may be a metaphor of a higher meaning to life, it's clear they are once again writing about their first love: 50's & 60's jazz. All good writers use allusions but when you overanalyze things, we come up with preposterous meanings. Which is why Becker and Fagen love to make fun of the silly "meanings" people come up with. |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Show Biz Kids Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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It's so easy to try and overthink Steely Dan lyrics. They purposely use vague references and snide humor to insinuate a variety of meanings. But when you really listen to what they are saying, it's pretty clear most of the time. As humans, we look for deeper meaning in obvious things as an intellectual exercise. I do it too and quite enjoy it. But really, this son along with most other Dan tunes is pretty straightforward if you just stop overanalyzing... |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Dr Wu Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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The above quote is paraphrased from a rather long paragraph found at the bottom of page 91 and the top of page 92. It's called Reelin' In The Years, Omnibus Press, 1994. |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Dr Wu Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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According to the Brian Sweet book from 1994, Fagen says the song is about "a love/dope triangle involving a girl, The dope habit is personified as Dr. Wu, A girl is attracted to someone with a dangerous lifestyle. Then she comes under the domination of someone else and the previous relationship is ended or ammended." Fagen also mentions other songs written in the same style (women coming under the influence of others and causing a split): Haitian Divorce, Through With Buzz and Rikki Don't Lose That Number. |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Dr Wu Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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Becker didn't have drug problems until much later. Around AJA, 1977 more or less. His girlfriend, Karen Stanley, succumbed to Becker's heroin use, became addicted herself and eventually died during the recording of Gaucho. That explains why Gaucho is so listless and dull. Becker wasn't around due a death, drug use and being unable to walk from a car wreck. |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Dr Wu Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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Wow, what a beautiful breakdown of what's happening here. I never thought of the song this way but I think you are on the mark. |
submissions
| Steely Dan – Your Gold Teeth Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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You nailed it. While Dan's music has always been obscure, I think you pretty much are spot on. You may find the book about them, Reelin' In The Years, and interesting read... |
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