Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
Teddy's rolling now most every night
Skatin' backwards at the speed of light
He's changed - in a thousand little ways
He's changed - yes indeed
You know he's movin' on metal, yes he's
Hanging tight with the Jack of Speed
Sheena's party - there's a case in point
That right-wing hooey sure stunk up the joint
He's gone - he walks through the old routines
But he's gone - guaranteed
He may be sittin' in the kitchen, but he's
Steppin' out with the Jack of Speed
You maybe got lucky for a few good years
But there's no way back from there to here
He's a one way rider
On the shriek express
And his new best friend is at the throttle more or less
He can't hear you honey - that's alright
Pack some things and head up into the light
Don't stop - he'll be callin' out your name
But don't stop when you hear him plead
You better move now little darlin' or you'll be
Trading fours with the Jack of Speed
Skatin' backwards at the speed of light
He's changed - in a thousand little ways
He's changed - yes indeed
You know he's movin' on metal, yes he's
Hanging tight with the Jack of Speed
Sheena's party - there's a case in point
That right-wing hooey sure stunk up the joint
He's gone - he walks through the old routines
But he's gone - guaranteed
He may be sittin' in the kitchen, but he's
Steppin' out with the Jack of Speed
You maybe got lucky for a few good years
But there's no way back from there to here
He's a one way rider
On the shriek express
And his new best friend is at the throttle more or less
He can't hear you honey - that's alright
Pack some things and head up into the light
Don't stop - he'll be callin' out your name
But don't stop when you hear him plead
You better move now little darlin' or you'll be
Trading fours with the Jack of Speed
Lyrics submitted by blackiswhite
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
The last verse is a warning to the loved ones to save yourselves, before it's too late. The attraction as well as the sure destruction of the drugs are so strong and bewitching, that anyone wishing to make it had better just plug their ears and run, as fast as you can, in the other direction.
Nice explanation.
Today I can see how Tina could have seduced me. I'm sad I have to do without now and can't be as slickly social anymore, and I mourn it's not QUITE as easy to stay stick thin without her (though she stays in your system forever and you will eat less after having used her awhile - ED folks stay away, do not see this as an endorsement), but rather that than become her drooling slave hiding behind lowered blinds, shut curtains and paranoia. When Fagen sings "He's changed - in a thousand little ways, he's changed" BOY does he ever nail it. You do not realize how drastically and fully crystal changes you unless you're lacking the addiction gene and can keep your sanity and objectivity afterward, and until you're miles away from the shit.
Trust me, the Dan, despite being unrepentant cokeheads both, nailed speed on this song.
Envious perhaps because our high is 3x better and costs 10x less? :D
"Skating backward at the speed of light" - I would guess this is talking about devolving socially as a result of a drug habit.
"He's changed - in a thousand little ways
He's changed - yes indeed
You know he's movin' on metal, yes he's
Hanging tight with the Jack of Speed"
The addiction has changed him subtly, and hugely. Moving on metal just kinda reminds me of someone who's wired. Jack of Speed = drug
"one way rider" theres no coming back
"new best friend is at the throttle more or less" the drugs has control
"don't stop, he'll be calling out your name but dont stop" -he will try to convince or reason with you but you can't trust a word of it.
he is destined for the shriek express, and if she doesn't get out now then she'll be trading fours with him. i.e., first he will shriek for four bars, and then she will shriek for four bars, because the meth will have made them both insane..
he's on a set course that can't be altered
I loved when Walter sang this on the 90's tours.
I think close enough to thedurable1' version.
Is metal=meth?