Up on the hill
People never stare
They just don't care
Chinese music under banyan trees
Here at the dude ranch above the sea
Aja
When all my dime dancin' is through
I run to you

Up on the hill
They've got time to burn
There's no return
Double helix in the sky tonight
Throw out the hardware
Let's do it right
Aja
When all my dime dancin' is through
I run to you

Up on the hill
They think I'm okay
Or so they say
Chinese music always sets me free
Angular banjoes
Sound good to me
Aja
When all my dime dancin' is through
I run to you


Lyrics submitted by AbFab

Aja Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Aja song meanings
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  • +1
    Song Meaning

    'Up on the hill' is intentionally vague, could be any hill where one can be above it all. This song is a celebration of music, each verse refers to music. 'Throw out the hardware' refers to playing acoustic music, like the Chinese banjo, which is doing it the right way, the natural way.

    The song refers also to getting away from the material world, dime dancing (work) and returning to the mytho-poetic land of Aja. It's not Asia in particular, it's an impression of that feeling. Then they stop singing, play, and Wayne Shorter and Steve Gaddis do their legendary work.

    Boodabillon February 17, 2011   Link

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