You're absolutely right, Booyacka. A song about a homeless man is so rare in a pop context, and what's extremely rare, is the way it is told : with so spiritual and deeply moving words, not condescending at all, not filled with conventional pity. Who said that Steely Dan were always cynical ?
I'm still struck by the tragic double meaning of the line "Five nights without a bite" : the horror of both hunger and drug withdrawal.
Then, the musical richness of this 2:45 song is just unbelievable : the dramatic crescendo created by the successive additions of an eerie guitar part, then the sleighbells, and those heartbreaking strings in the final, everything led by a wonderful piano melody.
If one wants to know what "songcraft" means, he must listen to "Charlie Freak"
Thank you for writing what is on my mind every time that I hear this song. Homelessness is a subject that is almost never addressed in music. The only other example I can think of is Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise". While heartfelt and moving, it is not nearly so good a track as "Charlie Freak".
Thank you for writing what is on my mind every time that I hear this song. Homelessness is a subject that is almost never addressed in music. The only other example I can think of is Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise". While heartfelt and moving, it is not nearly so good a track as "Charlie Freak".
@The Dog That Ate... I almost think of this song more as a poem with music. The lyrics feel more poetic to me than musical. It’s some of their best writing for sure.
@The Dog That Ate... I almost think of this song more as a poem with music. The lyrics feel more poetic to me than musical. It’s some of their best writing for sure.
I think Charlie Freak and With A Gun back to back are the best 5 minutes of proof how good they were at writing and composing. CF sounds like a minny Dickens novel and WAG sounds like it was written for Johnny Cash.
I think Charlie Freak and With A Gun back to back are the best 5 minutes of proof how good they were at writing and composing. CF sounds like a minny Dickens novel and WAG sounds like it was written for Johnny Cash.
Incredible song.
You're absolutely right, Booyacka. A song about a homeless man is so rare in a pop context, and what's extremely rare, is the way it is told : with so spiritual and deeply moving words, not condescending at all, not filled with conventional pity. Who said that Steely Dan were always cynical ? I'm still struck by the tragic double meaning of the line "Five nights without a bite" : the horror of both hunger and drug withdrawal.
Then, the musical richness of this 2:45 song is just unbelievable : the dramatic crescendo created by the successive additions of an eerie guitar part, then the sleighbells, and those heartbreaking strings in the final, everything led by a wonderful piano melody. If one wants to know what "songcraft" means, he must listen to "Charlie Freak"
Thank you for writing what is on my mind every time that I hear this song. Homelessness is a subject that is almost never addressed in music. The only other example I can think of is Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise". While heartfelt and moving, it is not nearly so good a track as "Charlie Freak".
Thank you for writing what is on my mind every time that I hear this song. Homelessness is a subject that is almost never addressed in music. The only other example I can think of is Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise". While heartfelt and moving, it is not nearly so good a track as "Charlie Freak".
@The Dog That Ate... I almost think of this song more as a poem with music. The lyrics feel more poetic to me than musical. It’s some of their best writing for sure.
@The Dog That Ate... I almost think of this song more as a poem with music. The lyrics feel more poetic to me than musical. It’s some of their best writing for sure.
I think Charlie Freak and With A Gun back to back are the best 5 minutes of proof how good they were at writing and composing. CF sounds like a minny Dickens novel and WAG sounds like it was written for Johnny Cash.
I think Charlie Freak and With A Gun back to back are the best 5 minutes of proof how good they were at writing and composing. CF sounds like a minny Dickens novel and WAG sounds like it was written for Johnny Cash.
@The Dog That Ate... Yeah it does sound like something Johnny Cash would sing.
@The Dog That Ate... Yeah it does sound like something Johnny Cash would sing.