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Cousin Dupree Lyrics
Well I've kicked around a lot since high school
I've worked a lot of nowhere gigs
From keyboard man in a rock'n ska band
To haulin' boss crude in the big rigs
Now I've come back home to plan my next move
From the comfort of my Aunt Faye's couch
When I see my little cousin Janine walk in
All I could say was ouch
CHORUS:
Honey how you've grown
Like a rose
Well we used to play
When we were three
How about a kiss for your cousin Dupree
She turned my life into a living hell
In those little tops and tight capris
I pretended to be readin' the National Probe
As I was watchin' her wax her skis
On Saturday night she walked in with her date
And backs him up against the wall
I tumbled off the couch and heard myself sing
In a voice I never knew I had before
CHORUS
I'll teach you everything I know
If you teach me how to do that dance
Life is short and quid pro quo
And what's so strange about a down-home family romance?
One night we're playin' gin by a cracklin' fire
And I figured I'd make my play
I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks
How can you stand it for one more day
She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes
Or that your mind has turned to applesauce
The dreary architecture of your soul
I said-but what is it exactly turns you off?
CHORUS
Quite obvious... it's about a guy who has a crush on his cousin. I liked this that I found on Wikipedia though:
In July 2006, Steely Dan posted a humorous letter on their website, saying that Owen Wilson's film You, Me, and Dupree, is stolen from their song. The film is about a house guest who overstays his welcome. Owen Wilson defended himself in similarly deadpan comic fashion, stating "I have never heard the song 'Cousin Dupree' and I don't even know who this gentleman, Mr. Steely Dan, is. I hope this helps to clear things up and I can get back to concentrating on my new movie, 'HEY 19.'"
@jmason This is the best thing I've heard all week. Thank you for this.
@jmason This is the best thing I've heard all week. Thank you for this.
I love this song. It isn't the only song where Steely Dan is ogling underage or nearly underage girls (in this case fairly close relatives), but it is one where the girl in question gets the only and best dialogue.
"The dreary architecture of your soul." "What is it exactly turns you off?"
Even for someone renowned for cruel, self-directed irony, this is about at the top. Wow.
Pretty straight forward... a guy digs his cousin. Hilarious stuff.
This song as a bit eww.
@whapcapn Then you really won't like Janie Runaway...
@whapcapn Then you really won't like Janie Runaway...
I agree the guy is a real ewww type of guy. It's also funny.
(I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks How can you stand it for one more day She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes Or that your mind has turned to applesauce The dreary architecture of your soul I said-but what is it exactly turns you off?)
This is a clasic Styeely dan song. Full of lust, decadence and rascalness.
"In those little tops and tight capris I pretended to be readin' the National Probe As I was watchin' her wax her skis"
Why is she waxing her skis when she's wearing capris? Either she's preparing waaaay early, or she's a bit of a slut who doesn't know how to dress for winter weather. :p
@__midnightdreary I've wondered for quite some time if that phrase isn't a euphemism for... something else? (Though given she would have to be somewhere he could peep her, and she doesn't at all like him, probably not.) The problem, given that Dupree (as well as Aunt Faye and Janine) is a seriously Louisiana name, is that waxing literal skis is equally unlikely.
@__midnightdreary I've wondered for quite some time if that phrase isn't a euphemism for... something else? (Though given she would have to be somewhere he could peep her, and she doesn't at all like him, probably not.) The problem, given that Dupree (as well as Aunt Faye and Janine) is a seriously Louisiana name, is that waxing literal skis is equally unlikely.
Nice big stab in the back towards Country Music!
incest.. still a rocking good song..
oh yea this is good stuff from the great stealy dan! guitar solo is rocking also! btw I dig my cousin sometimes so I dont find this song completey out of the norm :>