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Throw Back The Little Ones

Steely Dan

Lost in the Barrio I walk like an Injun
So Carlo won't suspect something's wrong here
I dance in place
And paint my face
And act like I belong here

[Chorus]
Throw back the little ones
And pan-fry the big ones
Use tact, poise and reason
And gently squeeze them

Hot licks and rhetoric
Don't count much for nothing
Be glad if you can use what you borrow
So I pawn my crown
For a ride uptown
And buy it back tomorrow

[Chorus]

Done like a matador I pray for the weekend
And hope the little girls still throw roses
Else I'll change my bait
And move upstate
Before the season closes

[Chorus]


Lyrics submitted by cgibbs87

Throw Back the Little Ones Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Throw Back The Little Ones song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +4
    My InterpretationI always interpreted this song as the Dan using a bit of code to describe the awkwardness of the 'pop music' success they were in the midst of, & had achieved with the previous few albums...

    "& act like I belong here" (in the whole pop star world)

    the 2nd verse for me gives the biggest clue, "hot licks & rhetoric don't count much for nothing be glad if you can use what you borrow". Like a comment on the music industry's way of saying to them, 'you don't have to go above & beyond musically & lyrically like you guys are starting to do with this more jazz rock poetry stuff, just be glad if you can ride on the success of previous rock n' rollers.'

    Then 'I pawned my crown for a ride uptown, & buy it back tomorrow' would be their response to that of saying, "yeah I wrote a couple of big hits that went against my ideals. But with that big success, i'm gonna use it for more artistic freedom" (which they obviously did with the next couple albums, taking longer to produce them, even more experimental music etc.)
    CaullyFlower26on May 21, 2015   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI think the song is about fishing - but about fishing as a metaphor for either picking up women (who are the "fish") or running some sort of con (in which case the singers victims are the "fish"). Both interpretations work to some degree (though "throw back" and "pan fry" sound more like what you'd do to a con victim). Anyway the singer goes into some neighborhood where he doesn't belong to try his exploits.
    austinbarryon January 11, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General CommentTo me this song is about an uptown, successful person who goes into the hood to score drugs, heroin in particular. He changes into his street gear and probably adds some swagger to his step to blend in. The chorus involving throwing back the little ones, or bags, and pan frying(in the spoon) the big ones make me think it's not about women. Also the line in which he pawns his crown for a ride uptown i take to mean he hawks his rolex or something for the quick fix knowing he can always come back and buy it later.
    nickysankson September 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think this song is about a doper who snitches on his drug dealer. I think "lost in the barrio" means he is confused, hurt, and worried that he won't get away with it in his hood because is being fake, someone will be able to see it on his face, or might find the wire he is wearing.. Carlo is his dealer. So he paints his face; tries to look as normal as possible. Tries to make himself look like everything is fine, because he couldn't just tell the cops who the dealer was, he has to get evidence for them/hot licks and rhetoric don't count much ....The wire is what is borrowed. What is pawned is his freedom and reputation. Done like a matador/He thinks that he pulled it off and he can go back to his life in the hood and no one will be the wiser. He can just resume life as usual, messing with the same women, living his same life. But if word is out, he will start over somewhere else where nobody knows him.
    The chorus:
    Throw back the little ones. The police don't really want the buyers. They arrest them, negotiate deals with them, and/or threaten to take their freedom away, so they will snitch. "Use tact, poise, and reason and gently squeeze them." Throw them back in their own water to bait the big fish..So they can "Pan fry the big ones." Big ones are dealers. Little ones act as though everything is cool like always, big fish bite, business as usual. Oops! Done.
    Steph1326on November 06, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThe song is, quite simply, about spies. In particular it is about the espionage world of John Le Carre' who wrote Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy among other brilliant George Smiley novels.

    The lyric listed above as: "So Carlo won't suspect something's wrong here" is incorrect, The actual lyric is "So Karla won't suspect something's wrong here". Karla is Russia top agent and George Smiley's nemesis.

    When they "Throw back the little ones and pan fry the big ones. Use tact, poise and reason and gently squeeze them." they are talking about interrogating and getting information from opposing spies. If you don't believe me, read the Smiley books. As an alternative, you can watch the excellent PBS series (online) starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley.

    Also note that "Here in the western world is also about John LeCarre's spy world. Read the books and it all makes sense. It will make your hair stand on end.
    Gadootyon March 19, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General CommentDonald Fagen singing about fish! I don't think so. This song is about a Gang lord losing his respect. 'Barrio' is a hispanic term for the hood.
    kamakiriadon February 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit's about going to town and picking up girls....
    KUUMBAon April 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My OpinionI always thought the bridge at 1:54 had a very Zappa-esque harmony to it. Like something from Hot Rats.
    mumajoron July 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's about an under cover cop, who is looking for dealers in the bario "hood"

    Lost in the Barrio I walk like an Injun
    So Carlo won't suspect something's wrong here
    I dance in place
    And paint my face
    And act like I belong here

    he's not worried about the junkies, because they are little fish.

    Throw back the little ones
    And pan-fry the big ones
    Use tact, poise and reason
    And gently squeeze them(for info)
    BoomhauerDanon July 19, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAs caullyflower26 and phnompencil accurately surmise, this song is about the music biz. Donald and Walter are thumbing their noses at the hand that feeds them.

    Verse one: play the game even if it's not who you really are
    Verse two: it's a trite game anyway. perhaps you do sell out to make it, the ride is worth it if you can keep your dignity intact.

    Verse three: you must put on a good show and please the crowd. If it doesn't take there's always the borscht belt circuit.

    Chorus: small fry or big fish - you're at the mercy of a system that's going to exploit you.
    sspiriton September 14, 2017   Link

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