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.
I walked into Lindey's
Tired and tight
Me and my Julie
Been fighting all night
Bankroll don't like it
When I come in late
We got a big beef
With the small concern
We must liquidate
We cab down to the St. Mart
For a lookie-lou
They all lounging in the lobby
Then we do what we come to do
Lotsy goes down easy
Moe takes it in the face
Weinberg Brothers
Run for cover
Squirtin' metal all over the place
There's a special satisfaction
When a job comes off so right
Better break out the good stuff
The boss wants to party all night
My Julies in the chorus
On Mr. Zigfields stage
My little canary
In a golden cage
I'm goofy on the girlie
But she runs hot and cold
Its a relief to get marchin' orders
And just do just what I'm told
Tonight we jack the convoy
Two hundred barrel run
Trucked in from a brewery
In East Patterson
Rolled in around midnight
Delivered to the Speaks
All out bubble, no trouble
Whole crew gets to dip their beaks
There's a special satisfaction
When a job comes off so right
Better break out the good stuff
The boss wants to party all night
It's just about dawn
When I finally get home
I find my twist
With that punk Johnny Rome
So I popped the both
And I ankle downtown
To a hop-house in the Tenderloin
Need to kick that gong around
There's a special satisfaction
When a job comes off so right
Better break out the good stuff
The boss wants to party all night
Tired and tight
Me and my Julie
Been fighting all night
Bankroll don't like it
When I come in late
We got a big beef
With the small concern
We must liquidate
We cab down to the St. Mart
For a lookie-lou
They all lounging in the lobby
Then we do what we come to do
Lotsy goes down easy
Moe takes it in the face
Weinberg Brothers
Run for cover
Squirtin' metal all over the place
There's a special satisfaction
When a job comes off so right
Better break out the good stuff
The boss wants to party all night
My Julies in the chorus
On Mr. Zigfields stage
My little canary
In a golden cage
I'm goofy on the girlie
But she runs hot and cold
Its a relief to get marchin' orders
And just do just what I'm told
Tonight we jack the convoy
Two hundred barrel run
Trucked in from a brewery
In East Patterson
Rolled in around midnight
Delivered to the Speaks
All out bubble, no trouble
Whole crew gets to dip their beaks
There's a special satisfaction
When a job comes off so right
Better break out the good stuff
The boss wants to party all night
It's just about dawn
When I finally get home
I find my twist
With that punk Johnny Rome
So I popped the both
And I ankle downtown
To a hop-house in the Tenderloin
Need to kick that gong around
There's a special satisfaction
When a job comes off so right
Better break out the good stuff
The boss wants to party all night
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by GeoJoe1000
Good Stuff Lyrics as written by Donald Fagen
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@onthevergeof Could you please explain the meaning of thr verse,"To a hophouse in the Tenderloin, need to kick that gong around"? I know the district of the Tenderloin, but what is a hophouse, and needing to kick that gong around, could it be a whorehouse and he wants to go kick one around?
@onthevergeof A hophouse is a brewery or bar. To kick that gong around is smoking opium.
Pretty uneasy in relation to women if you ask me: he pops the both, in other words: he kills Julie and Johnny. Donald is a master in shaping the most horrible scenery in the nicest soundscapes.
@onthevergeof <br /> <br /> I totally agree with you on this. It's one of my favorite Fagan solo songs as well, though you never hear much about it. The Chorus: "There's a special satisfaction when a job turns out so right. Better break out the good stuff the boss wants to party all night" is great. It's so beautiful. with the wonderful female voices in the background. It contrasts so profoundly with the horrible violence that preceded such an after-party attitude. It reminds me of the old Donald Fagan. <br /> <br /> I think the album as a whole is pretty weak, given what we know Fagan is capable of. But when you get to the last two songs on the album - "Good Stuff" and "Planet D'Rhonda", it's all worth it!