I remember Christmas morning
Back in 1954
When we moved up to Mount Savage
As if it mattered anymore
Mama always said
How the air can clear her head

We were colder and much higher
Than we ever were before
I recall her tailored jersey
And the flowers that she wore
Years ago I tried to tell her
What was in my heart
But she was part of the city

[Chorus]
She took a little with sugar
She took the money from my old man
She took a little with sugar
She took the money from my old man

All the years that she was with us
You could count them on one hand
I was taken with her showboat style
But too young to understand
She was all alone
Ahead of her time
She was first generation

[Chorus]


Lyrics submitted by AbFab

A Little With Sugar Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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A Little With Sugar song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I think the mother died, and a nurse came and stayed with them in her 'showboat style', and she was hip to drugs, 'first generation', this was probably the 50's. And the writer had a crush on her. And she pinched the money from the father.

    mikee2015on June 18, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Mount Savage is a small town in Western Maryland of about 850 or so residents. I know this because I grew up in Frostburg, which is 3 1/2 miles "up the hill" on Route 36. This is coal mining country, think "Norma Jean", about 2,000 ft above sea level.

    It is beautiful there, very lush with woodlands and steep mountains. Absolutely poor, cheap houses, no real industry to speak of, and cold as hell in the winter. (Hey, it's Appalachia!) So the line "We were colder and much higher" really rings true with me.

    Cheers,

    --R.

    birdmiteon September 10, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    NO clue what it's about, but the man I am seeing loves Steely Dan so I need to know. (His one curse...Steely Dan...ick).

    Jeffreystumpon August 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like the way he sets the mood with the cold and the 'Mt. Savage, as if it mattered'. Then he brings in this flash of color and describes her in the most winsome and infatuated tones.

    mikee2015on June 18, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've been a SD fan since the start and I have a 256 song playlist that puts me to sleep every night. The local hospital plays the Muzak version in their elevators. How cool is that elevator music?

    I keep hearing "a little meshuggah" these days

    Tuzon Thumeon September 30, 2022   Link

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