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Gaucho Lyrics

Just when I say
'Boy we can't miss
You are golden'
Then you do this
You say this guy is so cool
Snapping his fingers like a fool
One more expensive kiss-off
Who do you think I am

Lord I know you're a special friend
But you don't seem to understand
We got heavy rollers
I think you should know
Try again tomorrow

Can't you see they're laughing at me
Get rid off him
I don't care what you do at home
Would you care to explain

Who is the gaucho amigo,
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

What I tell you
Back down the line
I'll scratch your back,
You can scratch mine
No he can't sleep on the floor,
What do you think I'm yelling for?
I'll drop him near the freeway
Doesn't he have a home

Lord I know you're a special friend
But you refuse to undrestand
You're a nasty schoolboy
With no place to go
Try again tomorrow

Don't tell me he'll wait in the car,
Look at you,
Holding hands with the man from the Rio
Would you care to explain?

Who is the Gaucho amigo,
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
With the studs that match your eyes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome
Song Info
Submitted by
abfab On Jul 18, 2002
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Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

My first time here, but a long-time fan of Steely Dan. My thoughts--the whole Gaucho Album is about Life in Los Angeles/Hollywood and the Entertainment Business. I see Dan as exploring themes in albums--each song playing on the overall theme/idea--the way a novel does with chapters. So to figure this song, I see it as it is, but also in the context of the overall album.

To me, this has always been fairly obvious song. The narrator is the agent/manager of a high-level(golden) actor or probably athlete (Athlete agent in Glamour Profession--so if the protagonist is the same guy in every song it would be him. An actor wouldn't be so shocking to be bi-sexual as an athlete would, but an athlete wouldn't usually have "elevator shoes" but many actors do.). Either way, the agent knows the client is bi-sexual (special friend), but knows letting it out is good for business, so he's instructed the client to keep things down low. But the client shows up with a flamboyant (obviously gay companion) to some important meeting and the agent is livid because his livelihood depends on what he books for this client (expensive kiss-off). The agent is older, smarter, and has seen it all and knows how to work the system, but the client doesn't get it (don't seem to understand) or is refusing to keep playing the game (refuse to understand). Or more likely, just thinks it's all fun and games and doesn't realize how precarious his existence as a successful actor/athlete is. Think Ari trying to manage Vincent Chase's drug addiction in Entourage.

Whether the agent is gay or not is interesting. I never thought this because he says, "I know you're a special friend." And he asks, "Who is the gaucho, Amigo?" He's not upset (jealous) that the guy has this flamboyant friend, just that he bought him to the meeting with the agent. The reference to the "spangled leather poncho" "elevator shoes" "bodacious cowboys" and "studs that match your eyes" are all sarcastic quips at the outrageous and totally unacceptable way the guy is dressed and behaving.I always took the phrase as the way the gaucho described the poncho ("see the studs match his eyes") b/c it's a flamboyant thing to say. The agent repeating it sarcastically. I always took it to simply be "WTF? Dude, I'm trying to run a business here." (Can't you see their laughing at me? Get rid of him. I don't care what you do at home.) Not caring what the guy does at home indicates there's no love relationship b/t the agent and client.

Apparently, the client realizes his error and is looking for what to do with the gaucho--no doubt so he won't be seen with him and is trying to get the agent to hide him or take care of it. But this is crossing the line. (No, he can't sleep on the floor, what do you think I'm yelling for?) This ain't a joke, dude. (I'll drop him near the freeway.) He won't even take him home, but will get him away from here. The lack of respect seems to indicate the agent finds the homo behavior disgusting--esp. since he calls the client a "nasty schoolboy". Saying he has "No place to go" seems to indicate the client can't be seen anywhere with this guy and he's not going to do whatever he does with the guy at the agent's place. "Try again tomorrow" is the agent's resignation to try to book something else for the client the next day--hopefully without the gaucho.

Finally the agent has convinced the client that the gaucho is f-ing it up for everybody and he will correct his behavior. The agent is still pissed off (Don't tell me he'll wait in the car... Look at you-holding this dude's hand--UGH!) How the hell am I supposed to sell this? Who are you? You're supposed to be the leading man. You're supposed to be the star of the team, etc. This behavior will never sell to the masses--i.e. big leagues, top movies, etc. (Custerdome)--just a generic name for an arena or big venue--Staple's Center, Phillips Arena, Gund Arena.

That's my 2c.

@JasonsLyric If your interpretation is correct, then the phrase, "I know you're a special friend" strikes me as the sort of ego-stroking, glad-handing that agents do to their talent. Just a bit of buttering up in order to get the talent in question to do the agent's bidding, in this case jettison the offensive hanger-on. Others had posited that it's an indication that the narrator is also gay but I don't think that's the case. I think he's just a patronizing father figure.

With that in mind, I think the second time he starts off with the "special...

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

ya'll just don't understand Steely Dan. This is a love/worried love song from Donald to Walter about Walter's heroin addiction. The gaucho is the drug inside Walter's body. Listen again with that in mind.

Wow, I think you're right! It makes complete sense, especially considering the time when it was written. Compare Gaucho's lyrics with the more recent song 'Jack Of Speed' from SD's Two Against Nature', a bit more obvious but the same thinking.

btw: "We got heavy rollers, I think you should know. Try again tomorrow" could be taken as a warning that he's replacable if he screwed up.

Custardome is explained by SD in an interview: "It exists only in our collective imagination. In the Steely Dan lexicon it serves as an archetype of a building that houses...

Not Valid

Absolutely ... I came here because I've been on a kick to listen to Steely Dan lately, and I've always liked Gaucho cause of the music, but also the lyrics and Donald Fagan's voice modulation is so cool. I couldn't remember what the song was about, so I cruised this blog.

I remember back when the album came out it was rumored Fagan was pretty pissed at Walter's addiction problems, so you are correct on the assessment. While others may be correct about the illusion or comparison to Hollywood or sports stars - like so many of Steely Dan's lyrics...

Absolutely ... I came here because I've been on a kick to listen to Steely Dan lately, and I've always liked Gaucho cause of the music, but also the lyrics and Donald Fagan's voice modulation is so cool. I couldn't remember what the song was about, so I cruised this blog.

I remember back when the album came out it was rumored Fagan was pretty pissed at Walter's addiction problems, so you are correct on the assessment. While others may be correct about the illusion or comparison to Hollywood or sports stars - like so many of Steely Dan's lyrics...

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

GO READ YOUR STEELY DAN HISTORY. Gaucho is about Walter Becker’s heroin habit, and is written by Donald Fagen describing to his buddy Becker how tough it has been recording an LP with heavy roller session musicians laughing at Becker showing up high, sleeping on the floor, snapping his fingers like a fool, and having glassy eyes that matched the glass buttons on his Jean jacket for Gods sake while wearing his elevator shoes that Fagen poked fun about. Steely Dan broke up for a long time after Gaucho was recorded as evidence. The song Black Cow on Aja LP is also written to Becker from Fagen about his drug habit. “Down to Greene Street. There you go. (where their recording studio was located…) Looking so outrageous. And they tell you so.” They were lifelong friends, incredible musicians, but drugs got in the way. Read their history. It’s there. The song Two Against Nature is about their stint in rehab. It’s describing a rehab hospital and the patients they got to know while there. The song “Lunch With Gina” is about drugs and withdrawal. “Every time I walk out she’s right in my face…” Many of Fagen’s songs are about drugs. Time Out Of Mind.

@SteelyDeb STEELY DAN HISTORY : Becker played on one song on the Gaucho LP and was out of commission for the sessions. The song is about Walter and his heroin addiction.

@SteelyDeb It's one thing to put forth an interpretation of a song's lyrics, but quite another to stridently insist that you have the only correct interpretation and that anyone who disagrees is ignorant or stupid. Do you have any concrete source for your factual claims about this song, e.g. that these lyrics are based in "Becker showing up high, sleeping on the floor, snapping his fingers like a fool, and having glassy eyes that matched the glass buttons on his Jean jacket for Gods sake while wearing his elevator shoes that Fagen poked fun about."? I doubt you do. And in that...

@SteelyDeb It's one thing to put forth an interpretation of a song's lyrics, but quite another to stridently insist that you have the only correct interpretation and that anyone who disagrees is ignorant or stupid. Do you have any concrete source for your factual claims about this song, e.g. that these lyrics are based in "Becker showing up high, sleeping on the floor, snapping his fingers like a fool, and having glassy eyes that matched the glass buttons on his Jean jacket for Gods sake while wearing his elevator shoes that Fagen poked fun about."? I doubt you do. And in that...

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

I see the narrator as an agent type and closeted homosexual with an obsession with his client. He is pleading with his client to dump his new lover because it's bad for his career, but really, he is jealous. Reminds me of other manager types who tried to control their client's personal lives - Colonel Tom Parker (Elvis) and Dr. Eugene Landy (Brian Wilson).

The narrator is not in the right here - he is losing his cool and crossing the line with his insults "You're a nasty schoolboy...", "Snapping his fingers like a fool". The client does not understand why his manager is so upset because he's oblivious and the attraction isn't mutual: "What do you think I'm yelling for?".

The key line for me that is the second reference to the spangled leather poncho - this time he says "...with the studs that match your eyes." It's not something a straight man would notice or say to another man if there wasn't an attraction there. In the previous verses, his excuses were always along the lines of - this is bad for your career, this makes us [read: ME] look bad - but this is where he becomes so incensed he slips and reveals the true reasons for his irrational anger.

My Interpretation

@mmmmean You nailed it. It's about the "special friend " coming out while the protagonist likely identified as a straight man that has sex with men. So common before our era

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

Ok, so somebody I met recently thinks this song is about a gay man and his lover bringing home a Brazilian hunk he met.

I never thought of it that way until he said that to me. I can see it now, though.

I never liked this tune until I heard Bob Tedde from The Steely Damned (San Diego) sing it. He claims it's one of his favorites. And he sang it with such reverence and love, you couldn't help but adore the song. It was like a lullaby.

Absolutely gay inference. I love that they do this. Steely Dan is all over the map with regard to their lyrics, and I think they're brilliant. It's a wonderful song, and they treat the inference with respect and creativity. What the heck is the Custerdome?

Not Valid
Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

I have always thought the narrator of the song was a manager talking to his client, an athlete... probably a pro wrestler or rodeo star ( i get this from the spangled leather poncho refernce) ... warning him to keep his homosexuality secret so as not to ruin his budding career (just when I say boy we cant miss, you are golden, now you do this) or offend their sponsors (heavy rollers) I agree, this is a highly underrated album... one of my favorites along with Royal Scam

Cojo - Neat idea, but I have to disagree with you. I think the narrator is in love with the man he's speking to. For me, the critical line is, "with the studs that match your eyes", sung kind of wistfully. That's always been my favorite line. I love how it's added as an unexpected addendum to the regular line right at the end. The way I hear this, it's an older male lover who, the entire song, is pretending as though his objections to the gaucho intruder are all essentially unemotional, how the gaucho is ridiculous, embarassing, pathetic,...

Not Valid

Cojo - Neat idea, but I have to disagree with you. I think the narrator is in love with the man he's speking to. For me, the critical line is, "with the studs that match your eyes", sung kind of wistfully. That's always been my favorite line. I love how it's added as an unexpected addendum to the regular line right at the end. The way I hear this, it's an older male lover who, the entire song, is pretending as though his objections to the gaucho intruder are all essentially unemotional, how the gaucho is ridiculous, embarassing, pathetic,...

Not Valid

Cojo - Neat idea, but I have to disagree with you. I think the narrator is in love with the man he's speking to. For me, the critical line is, "with the studs that match your eyes", sung kind of wistfully. That's always been my favorite line. I love how it's added as an unexpected addendum to the regular line right at the end. The way I hear this, it's an older male lover who, the entire song, is pretending as though his objections to the gaucho intruder are all essentially unemotional, how the gaucho is ridiculous, embarassing, pathetic,...

Not Valid
Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

Cojo... I have to tell you I agree with your take on the song 100%. I get the same feeling a manager taking to his "star". This was written while they were in California so I want to say they are taking about a hollywood star, but wrestler or rodeo is possible...it's just that isn't a big money making business with "high rollers"

This is one of SD's best songs musically. Gaucho is for me the best album they recorded... althought they are all great.

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

A custerdome doesnt refer to George Custer, look the SD Dictionary explains : http://www.steelydandictionary.com/ ( scroll down to Custerdome)

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

There has always been another explanation in the back of my mind. When I think of Hey Nineteen some say the protagonist is a middle aged man with a younger woman. Maybe Gaucho is a scene where his wife showes up to a gathering with her younger Latin boy toy, disregarding the agreement they have to keep their indiscretions out of the public eye. It appears that most of the lyrics to the antagonist are masculine so I think this theory is far fetched but what if it's his male assistant showing up to a Hollywood party with this "Gaucho"???

Cover art for Gaucho lyrics by Steely Dan

All fascinating takes on this closet classic. My brother called this I believe correctly many many years ago right after it was released I think all the drug references and agents are kind of on the right track but here's a simple explanation. it's a party and the party has some important people!! Who ever the nasty school boy is. The message is clear. Get this guy who is dressed inappropriately out of here and do it now. You are blowing it for you and me with these people!! Unsaid: cant he just crash here? No get him out of here. Unsaid: he doesnt have ride? Drop him near the freeway. Heavy hitting business types like to socialize with people they are about to conduct biz with. So simply a unwelcome or high party guest making a scene or wearing a pancho when the other guest are in evening attire. Basic and plausible. And yes Becker was strung out during the period. Also of note Walt has really turned it around in his life and we all know the list is long of those that went all the way down. I like them even more with the passing of time.