The "Jack of Speed" is an addict under the influence of speed, meth, crystal, etc. Very popular these days, and the downfall of many a good man and woman. Unlike many other drugs which are anti-social right from the beginning, speed seems to fool people into thinking they are productive, initially. Then, one day they're at a party, and spewing political hogwash (speed addicts often come across as arrogant, pompous blow-hards), or intimidating their loved-ones, or simply skating backwards at the speed of light socially, losing friends, property and time in the process. The shreik express represents the swift and unwavering progression of one's demise when under the drug's spell, as fast and predicatable as a speeding locomotive, and with his "new best friend at the throttle", Jack won't be the one deciding when the ride is over .
The last verse is a warning to the loved ones to save yourselves, before it's too late. The attraction as well as the sure destruction of the drugs are so strong and bewitching, that anyone wishing to make it had better just plug their ears and run, as fast as you can, in the other direction.
@thedurable1 Nailed. Former meth user here, hooked for its weight loss and aggression properties. Sadly she delivers on both, which is how she hooks you. I'm clean now but this song absolutely nails it. Fagen's not mincing words in this one. Meth does make you think you're productive at first, and tricks you by making you the antisocial person scared of other people suddenly social and no longer scared; but there is a heavy price. God help the ones who have the addiction gene because they can't hear their brain's and body's alarms warning...
@thedurable1 Nailed. Former meth user here, hooked for its weight loss and aggression properties. Sadly she delivers on both, which is how she hooks you. I'm clean now but this song absolutely nails it. Fagen's not mincing words in this one. Meth does make you think you're productive at first, and tricks you by making you the antisocial person scared of other people suddenly social and no longer scared; but there is a heavy price. God help the ones who have the addiction gene because they can't hear their brain's and body's alarms warning them something's seriously wrong, and escape Tina early. I do not posses the gene and heard the alarms and got out.
Today I can see how Tina could have seduced me. I'm sad I have to do without now and can't be as slickly social anymore, and I mourn it's not QUITE as easy to stay stick thin without her (though she stays in your system forever and you will eat less after having used her awhile - ED folks stay away, do not see this as an endorsement), but rather that than become her drooling slave hiding behind lowered blinds, shut curtains and paranoia. When Fagen sings "He's changed - in a thousand little ways, he's changed" BOY does he ever nail it. You do not realize how drastically and fully crystal changes you unless you're lacking the addiction gene and can keep your sanity and objectivity afterward, and until you're miles away from the shit.
Trust me, the Dan, despite being unrepentant cokeheads both, nailed speed on this song.
Envious perhaps because our high is 3x better and costs 10x less? :D
@thedurable1 Completely wrong. The rest of you are too. Donald Fagen himself said in the "Two Against Nature" songbook: "Jack of Speed" is really just about when one member of a couple starts to lose it in some way. The most obvious question is, Are you talking about actual speed, like the drug "speed"? It's really not that; it has to do with sort of manic stages people get into for one reason or another. The cautionary smile. He's out there; he is living too large.
@thedurable1 Completely wrong. The rest of you are too. Donald Fagen himself said in the "Two Against Nature" songbook: "Jack of Speed" is really just about when one member of a couple starts to lose it in some way. The most obvious question is, Are you talking about actual speed, like the drug "speed"? It's really not that; it has to do with sort of manic stages people get into for one reason or another. The cautionary smile. He's out there; he is living too large.
The "Jack of Speed" is an addict under the influence of speed, meth, crystal, etc. Very popular these days, and the downfall of many a good man and woman. Unlike many other drugs which are anti-social right from the beginning, speed seems to fool people into thinking they are productive, initially. Then, one day they're at a party, and spewing political hogwash (speed addicts often come across as arrogant, pompous blow-hards), or intimidating their loved-ones, or simply skating backwards at the speed of light socially, losing friends, property and time in the process. The shreik express represents the swift and unwavering progression of one's demise when under the drug's spell, as fast and predicatable as a speeding locomotive, and with his "new best friend at the throttle", Jack won't be the one deciding when the ride is over .
The last verse is a warning to the loved ones to save yourselves, before it's too late. The attraction as well as the sure destruction of the drugs are so strong and bewitching, that anyone wishing to make it had better just plug their ears and run, as fast as you can, in the other direction.
Thanks, durable1, Nice explanation.
Thanks, durable1, Nice explanation.
Very eloquently stated. Thanks for sharing.
Very eloquently stated. Thanks for sharing.
Perfectly stated!
Perfectly stated!
@thedurable1 Nailed. Former meth user here, hooked for its weight loss and aggression properties. Sadly she delivers on both, which is how she hooks you. I'm clean now but this song absolutely nails it. Fagen's not mincing words in this one. Meth does make you think you're productive at first, and tricks you by making you the antisocial person scared of other people suddenly social and no longer scared; but there is a heavy price. God help the ones who have the addiction gene because they can't hear their brain's and body's alarms warning...
@thedurable1 Nailed. Former meth user here, hooked for its weight loss and aggression properties. Sadly she delivers on both, which is how she hooks you. I'm clean now but this song absolutely nails it. Fagen's not mincing words in this one. Meth does make you think you're productive at first, and tricks you by making you the antisocial person scared of other people suddenly social and no longer scared; but there is a heavy price. God help the ones who have the addiction gene because they can't hear their brain's and body's alarms warning them something's seriously wrong, and escape Tina early. I do not posses the gene and heard the alarms and got out.
Today I can see how Tina could have seduced me. I'm sad I have to do without now and can't be as slickly social anymore, and I mourn it's not QUITE as easy to stay stick thin without her (though she stays in your system forever and you will eat less after having used her awhile - ED folks stay away, do not see this as an endorsement), but rather that than become her drooling slave hiding behind lowered blinds, shut curtains and paranoia. When Fagen sings "He's changed - in a thousand little ways, he's changed" BOY does he ever nail it. You do not realize how drastically and fully crystal changes you unless you're lacking the addiction gene and can keep your sanity and objectivity afterward, and until you're miles away from the shit.
Trust me, the Dan, despite being unrepentant cokeheads both, nailed speed on this song.
Envious perhaps because our high is 3x better and costs 10x less? :D
@thedurable1 Completely wrong. The rest of you are too. Donald Fagen himself said in the "Two Against Nature" songbook: "Jack of Speed" is really just about when one member of a couple starts to lose it in some way. The most obvious question is, Are you talking about actual speed, like the drug "speed"? It's really not that; it has to do with sort of manic stages people get into for one reason or another. The cautionary smile. He's out there; he is living too large.
@thedurable1 Completely wrong. The rest of you are too. Donald Fagen himself said in the "Two Against Nature" songbook: "Jack of Speed" is really just about when one member of a couple starts to lose it in some way. The most obvious question is, Are you talking about actual speed, like the drug "speed"? It's really not that; it has to do with sort of manic stages people get into for one reason or another. The cautionary smile. He's out there; he is living too large.
@thedurable1 Yes. Well done. Thank you.
@thedurable1 Yes. Well done. Thank you.