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Barrytown Lyrics
I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
Barrytown people got to be from another world
Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
From the "Me, Myself, and Irene" soundtrack.
also a Steely Dan cover...the whole soundtrack to "Me, Myself, and Irene" is comprised of Steely Dan covers. This song and Brian Setzer's version of "Bodhisattva" are quite good but the majority of the rest suck ass. for example, Smashmouth's cover of "Do It Again" was so terrible that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker refused to let the singer and guitarist from Smashmouth in to a Steely Dan show.
I think the song is either about gay people or people of ethnic minority. But being that Steely Dan wrote the song at a time when ethnic minorities were getting some respect, I'm going to guess that he's singing it to a gay guy from the perspective of a more "closed" individual.
Barrrytown refers to Barrytown, NY. It's a small artsy, literary town with lots of old and new money. Barrytown is the next town over from Bad College where Walter Becker and Danny fagan went to college. Guess they didn't like the people who lived there in the 70's.
F***ing awesome cover. I suggest watching the performance they did of it on Letterman, it's on youtube :)