I'm working on gospel time these days
(The summer this could be the cool part of the summer)

The sloe eyed creature in the reckless room she's so severe
A wise child walks right out of here

I'm so excited I can barely cope
I'm sizzling like an isotope
I'm on fire so cut me some slack

First she's way gone then she comes back
She's all business then she's ready to play
She's almost gothic in a natural way

This house of desire is built foursquare
(The city the cleanest kitten in the city)

When she speaks it's like the slickest song I ever heard
I'm hanging on her every word
As if I'm not already blazed enough
She hits me with the cryptic stuff
That's her style, to jerk me around

First she's all feel then she cools down
She's pure science with a splash of black cat
She's almost gothic and I like it like that

This dark place so thrilling and new
It's kind of like the opposite of an aerial view
Unless I'm totally wrong
I hear her rap and brother it's strong

I'm pretty sure that what she's telling me is mostly lies
But I just stand there hypnotized

I'll just have to make it work somehow
I'm in the amen corner now
It's called love, I spell L -you- V

First she's all buzz then she's noise-free
She's bubbling over then there's nothing to say
She's almost gothic in a natural way

She's old school then she's like young
Little Eva meets the Bleecker Street brat
She's almost gothic but it's better than that


Lyrics submitted by blackiswhite

Almost Gothic Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing

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Almost Gothic song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +5
    Song Meaning

    I think the "black girl" interpretation is off-base. Much of "Two Against Nature" thematically deals with being a man at middle-ish age, growing older but still feeling like a boy in many ways (emotionally), and wanting to relive youth. This is heard in songs like "Janie Runaway", "Cousin Dupree", "Negative Girl" and "Almost Gothic".

    So you have an older man attracted to a 20-something girl - an attraction he knows is silly and can not last, but she makes him feel like a young man again. The references like "I'm working on gospel time" & "a dark place...thrilling & new" are about him and where he's at emotionally. She is young and exciting and makes him feel alive. The "gothic" references are literal - the object of his attraction seems to be a goth girl who is hip, intriguing and fascinating, at the same time young, naive and really just a sweet kid deep own. This is why her "schtick" is sometimes hip and sometimes naive/quaint - she is a nice, wholesome girl trying to find herself and experimenting at being goth. He knows this b/c he's older and has "been there". But she is still a mysterious puzzle for him to figure out, a sexy bundle of contradictions that's intriquing to him (older women are more together/predictable and probably less exciting for him).

    The "amen corner" I think is just his rapturous joy at having found this pretty young girl. "House of desire...4square" I think is him trying to convince himself that his attraction is not just lust, but is built on something real. Great, bitter-sweet song.

    Marshackon October 19, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Sounds like the guy who is into a high class call girl who may be into bondage, sadomasachism, etc. Love this song.

    aic22on August 07, 2007   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    LMAO! Just saw this site. Love the song, but analyses all wrong- it's about going to a dominatrix (for the first time), comparing "submission" to her as "submission" to G-d, and "She's all business then she's ready to play"- I'm guessing you have to pay and sign releases... wouldn't know personally!

    My favorite lines, "Cleanest kitten in the city"- NOT referring to a cat, but a part of a woman's body that's apparently "the most well protected" in the city!

    "It's kind of like the opposite of an aerial view..."- being tied up, looking up at the ceiling!

    "I'm in the amen corner now"- thanking the woman as either they are being required to, or are genuinely appreciative (or both!)-it's literally the part of the church where the most "fervent, vocal" people are shouting out praise

    and, of course, it's LUV not love.... recognizing and differentiating physical and psychological responses to a genuine, loving emotional one.

    Don't know if I've ever seen an isotope sizzle, but I've seen guys do so,... trying to "keep it stable" a bit longer when feeling the "kinetic isotope effect!"

    AstroLogicon January 17, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Sounds like an older white dude dating a young black girl for the first time.

    "I'm working on gospel time/I'm in the amen corner" - which may be references to black chruches.

    "love - I spell L U V" - like how a city girl from the hood would spell it out.

    "I hear her rap, and brother it's strong" - -maybe more reference to black culture?

    "Little Eva" a reference to Eva Boyd....

    I don't know. I could be all wrong...

    franklinpeachon February 06, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This and Negative Girl are the two best cuts off the cd...I get Negative Girl real easy, but this song's meaning eludes me totally. I don't think the girl is black... not with "almost Gothic". What is very puzzling for me is how any girl can be "almost gothic in a natural way". That is really funny. The lyric is sloe-eyed creature references a bluish-black or plum color coming from a plum like fruit ( they vary). Most "Gothic Chics" have that black eyeliner all around the eyes which it what makes them "Gothic" and she is "severe"... which is a cool adjective meaning perhaps intense? Great song, but I need to run into walter or donald to find out what this one means...but I am sizzling like an Isotope at that prospect...

    underbanyantreeson March 01, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Sounds like this girl has some sort of bi-polar personality and the narrator likes it - meantime.

    pconlon March 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it is about a exotic chic that he is into, even though he know she is no good for him,,, he is still crazy about her. That's the story of my life! lol

    bravoceoon April 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This has to be my most favorite SD song, ever.

    And Leonhart's solo is probably one of the most inspired of his repertoire.

    GreyBlueEyeson August 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Haha. I adore this song. It's funky and upbeat. Love it much.

    xmakesherflyxon June 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree Franklin. I was a sloed eyed creature once at a cooperate party, I had a white man following me around in awe. Art imitates life

    kamakiriadon February 14, 2008   Link

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