Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more
He don't celebrate Sunday on a Saturday night
No more
Daddy don't need no lock and key
For the piece he stowed
Out on Avenue D
Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more
Daddy don't drive in that Eldorado
No more
He don't travel on down to the neighborhood
Liquor store
Lucy still loves her coke and rum
But she sits alone
Cause her daddy can't come
Daddy don't drive in that Eldorado
No more

Driving like a fool out to Hackensack
Drinking his dinner from a paper sack
He says I gotta see a joker
And I'll be right back

Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more
He can't get tight every night
Pass out on the barroom floor
Daddy can't get no fine cigar
But we know you're smoking
Wherever you are
Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more


Lyrics submitted by thermo4

Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More song meanings
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  • +3
    My Interpretation

    The whole song about a man who ran guns, drank a lot, and died in a car crash while driving under the influence. I have several reasons that point to this conclusion.

    Point 1: Look at the lines...

    Driving like a fool out to Hackensack Drinkin' his dinner from a paper sack He says "I gotta see a joker and I'll be right back"

    What was a routine run to a client, which he did while driving maniacally and drinking, turned out to be a fatal crash.

    Point 2: Steely Dan often uses music to help emphasize a point. Right after singing this line, there's a heavier guitar riff that appears nowhere else in the song.

    Point 3: Right after this line, the repeated lyric has an emphatic "no" added to it (No, my daddy don't live in that New York City no more").

    Point 4: The whole song is mostly dealing with both his Eldorado (Cadillac) and his heavy use of alcohol.

    My case rests.

    ImaniOUon April 27, 2011   Link

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