In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Who are these children
Who scheme and run wild
Who speak with their wings
And the way that they smile
What are the secrets
They trace in the sky
And why do you tremble
Each time they ride by
CHORUS:
Throw out your gold teeth
And see how they roll
The answer they reveal
Life is unreal
Who are these strangers
Who pass through the door
Who cover your action
And go you one more
If you're feeling lucky
You best not refuse
It's your game the rules
Are your own win or lose
CHORUS
Who scheme and run wild
Who speak with their wings
And the way that they smile
What are the secrets
They trace in the sky
And why do you tremble
Each time they ride by
CHORUS:
Throw out your gold teeth
And see how they roll
The answer they reveal
Life is unreal
Who are these strangers
Who pass through the door
Who cover your action
And go you one more
If you're feeling lucky
You best not refuse
It's your game the rules
Are your own win or lose
CHORUS
Lyrics submitted by stoolhardy
Your Gold Teeth II Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The first verse seems like a description of discovering a new scene and being excited and a little scared by it. Think of an older dude going to a jazz club and having some young musicians just melt his face off with what they're playing. "Who are these children?"
That they "speak with their wings" is probably more jazz slang; players who are really hot are said to "fly" as in "if you can't fly you'll have to move in with the rhythm section." Of course they were huge fans of Charlie "Bird" Parker.
The chorus is just taking what you have, "your gold teeth" and tossing them out to see what happens. "Unreal" was a common hipster superlative in the '60's. Something or other is great, it's freaking unreal. Take your chances, put your stuff out there and you'll find that life is just UNREAL!
Another possible reference is to Buddhism, and the illusion of existence. Life is unreal.
The second verse is a straightforward (by Steely Dan standards) reference to their enthusiasm about starting to use the session musician talent pool.
The "strangers who pass through the door" are the cats who come in to record their parts. The door is the door to the studio, Steely Dan's native habitat.
That they "cover your action and go you one more" means that they not only play the part as written, but bring something of their own to the song.
They had jettisoned the original band on the previous album, and discovered the talents of players like Jeff Porcaro and Michael McDonald.
"If you're feeling lucky you best not refuse" suggests that if you have a good feeling about what a musician might bring to the song, give them a shot at it. Don't ignore how their contribution may improve the song, even if it is not what the composer originally envisioned.
Supposedly, during the recording of the guitar solo by band founder Denny Dias, (paradoxically the farthest from a "stranger" they could get), he was "flying" so high that they extended it. It's an amazing piece of bebop improvisation on electric guitar.
The "rules" and the "game" were Fagen and Becker's, to "win or lose." In the final cut, they and Katz would decide what takes to include and how to use them, and if the record sold or failed to sell, it was all on them.
@Euthymia I think you are spot on with this interpretation. It fits Donald and Walter like a nice glove. If not exact, gotta be pretty damn close.