Razor Boy

My interpretation of this song is that no matter how high a level of happiness or success we may achieve within our own lives, we never know if something might be lurking around the corner that could jeopardize all of it.

The 'Razor Boy' symbolizes that 'something' whether it be a loss of a job, bankruptcy, illness, death, natural disaster...etc. He represents the unexpected turn of events in life that can 'cut' us down to where we're at our most vulnerable.

The lines referring to 'women in cages' could refer to those in abusive relationships as mentioned in some of the other comments I've read. But less specifically, I think 'women in cages' could also refer to anyone who's spent any length of time trying to work through a personal struggle or hardship - anyone who's never known the pleasure of owning 'fancy things'.

To me, 'Razor Boy' is song about having to face humility. It poses the questions: Would you be able to carry on if your life were to be turned completely upside down? and Could you go from having it all one day, to losing everything the next?

I think the Razor Boy is a bad partner, an abusive partner. Our Hero is in love with a woman who is in an abusive relationship. The lady is attracted to this unsavory fellow because he is higher up in the social hierarchy -- more "popular" -- than Our Hero ('You'd gamble or give anything/To be in with the better half/ But how many friends must I have/ To Begin with to make you laugh' ) I think the lady's "fancy things" that the Razor boy is taking away are her dreams and hopes and pretty fantasies, as the abusive partner slashes away at them like a razor while all Our Hapless Hero can do is look on and watch this woman destroy herself with this relationship.

I think its Becker and Fagen being cynical again. Perhaps they're singing about a successful guy who needs to be moved down a peg or two and they're saying yeah well what happens when you lose it all (the razor boy will take it). I think a razor boy is a Spanish street urchin who steals by way of threats with a razor blade. God I love this song! The latin feel and the vibes are just perfect!

I'm fairly certain that this song is about cocaine. You use a razor to make a line, you know, and it will take your fancy things away. My dad had a buddy who pawned his parents stuff to buy blow.

Also, the lyrics are wrong. It's "To be in with the better half, not begin with the better hand.

I think all you folks have wonderful minds and spirits, and that you love listening to this song. I would submit to start with the simplest interpretation and go forward from there.

I like the recognition of the "women in cages" phrase, I agree that it likely has to do with a stripper/dancer.

But to me "Razor Boy" has always unequivocally meant the Grim Reaper. Seems very appropriate to Steely Dan's well-known sardonic wit that they would come up a nickname for Death himself seems silly and completely appropriate at the same time.

I think that no matter what profession the girl is in that Don & Walt seem to be singing "to", the Razor Boy will be visiting her very soon unless she changes her ways.

I can see where a listener may interpret this to be about drugs or suicide but my impression was simple "I hear you are singing a song of the past, I see no tears" She's reflecting back on the relationship and she feels alright about it ending but he knows this and he cant refuse the fact she's leaving tomorrow. She left for a "better" life with the "better" half of society. I find it would be very contradicting lyrically if it were about drugs, unless he was the one doing drugs. Still a beautiful bitter-sweet song either way!

"Polite" tribute to Summerset Maugham's "The Razors Edge". As in this novel the author in there, reporting. At times it seems this is the wat the Steely Dn writes. As reporters who keep journals turning them into prose.

I continue to see all sorts of literature in the lyrics of the Dan's tracks. Especially the "beats"...

The Razor Boy is Lucien Carr. He stabbed an admirer who stalked him from East St Louis to a college in Mass and finally to NYC and murdered him in the park. Baba Lu went to jail and Kerouac and Boroughs also aided and abetted the lad. Boroughs was also in 'luv' with Lucien. Carr later introduced Neal Cassady to the group.

The Razors Edge title comes from a translation of a verse in the Katha Upanishad, paraphrased in the book's epigraph as: "The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard."

As always the style of bop, spontaneous prose or pretzel logic is present here as well. Telling 3 tales that can fit into most all humans life's. Boroughs chopped up Naked Lunch into 3.

Someone is dealing drugs to everyone. Poor folks trade and barter due to lack of actual funds.

Cocaine. You use a razor to cut and line up your coke, and yes, that stuff has a habit of taking your fancy things away

I was kind of wondering what this song meant to everyone else because it makes little sense to me. Except that the Razor Boy could be some sort of grim reaper. Also the second verse up there should be 'You'd gamble or give anything/To be in with the better half/ But how many friends must I have/ To Begin with to make you laugh'

CuteSparkina, that is pretty astute.

I love the imagery of "women in cages" as if he's referring to her as a "kept woman."

Note the use of acoustic upright bass on this track. Solid.