Does anyone else think that this song could not be about a woman? In my opinion, it continues to play on the drug/alcohol abuse trend that is so present in Steely Dan's music. Think about it, he is addicted, knows its bad, doesn't know why he keeps doing it, and can't stop even though he knows the consequences. Hey, it's a stretch, but I sure would continue an ever present theme. Thoughts?
It could be about that, and it would wouldn't be too much of a stretch, at least not conceptually. I think this is true because basically it all boils down to will vs. habit in these scenerios. The question is do we have the power of will needed to overcome our previous choices (our karma...). We might even resent our situation, know we are responsible, and yet feel without power to change it even while we KNOW that we "can" if we only CHOOSE to do the hard work instead of the "dirty" work...
It could be about that, and it would wouldn't be too much of a stretch, at least not conceptually. I think this is true because basically it all boils down to will vs. habit in these scenerios. The question is do we have the power of will needed to overcome our previous choices (our karma...). We might even resent our situation, know we are responsible, and yet feel without power to change it even while we KNOW that we "can" if we only CHOOSE to do the hard work instead of the "dirty" work...
Sex, like...
Sex, like any good drug (good as in powerful, not as in beneficial), has the power to make one lose one's will within a certain context that is highly ecstatic. The challenge of man is to lose his will into an ecstasy that is evolutionarily foward, beneficial in the long AND short term, and in harmony with his ultimate in true nature WITHOUT turning into an ascetic wretch (in my view).
I think the character is not fully forthcoming, btw. He sings only about her and him, leaving the "other man" out of it. The other man is being cuckolded, as someone pointed out. I think there must be a distinct pleasure going back to our ancient and archaic neural programming/evolution which involves taking another man's woman, and I think it is also in women, to be taken by the stronger man (at least symbolically in this case, because the hubby might woop some ass if he came home and caught this guy).
So called "forbidden fruit" is nothing other than the prize which can only be had by danger and will, sometimes in contests with the wills of others. Since all things precious are made more so by being difficult to get, the difficulties associated with having someone else's stuff (whether gained fairly or not) strike a primal chord in all of us, I'm sure not least of all the Pope, who wants to own your body AND soul.
Well, I say some of this from experience. I've known women who were separated from their hubbies, and their hubbies were assholes who were cheating on them anyway, and so this luscious woman is basically all over me, so what do you think I'm going to end up doing with her since I know all these factors? Yet even knowing these things, it was like cuckolding that guy, surely it was to her, and I even told her that I now possessed her and not him (and that turned us both way the hell on). Besides being a turn on, it was the truth. This is different than when I have to sneak in some dudes house to do the "dirty deed" with is wife while he is a faithful and loving husband who still takes care of her and isn't in the middle of trying to divorce her and leave her with nothing while cheating on her. Well, it is logically different, but somehow it was the same in a deep psychological way, to take her for myself... Damn that was good.
i respect the other reply. knowing your a fool to do a deed that could ruin ur life, but the implements of society (a mideval game) leave you knowing that the only way to come up is to do the dirt. I look at it as a person who knows damn well what is wrong and right, and they're stuck doing wrong because its the role in society that they've assumed. Its also like hes gona go sleep with her and he knows her dude is gona come home, but he stays cuz he knows
i respect the other reply. knowing your a fool to do a deed that could ruin ur life, but the implements of society (a mideval game) leave you knowing that the only way to come up is to do the dirt. I look at it as a person who knows damn well what is wrong and right, and they're stuck doing wrong because its the role in society that they've assumed. Its also like hes gona go sleep with her and he knows her dude is gona come home, but he stays cuz he knows
Like so many of Steely Dan's lyrics, I think you're spot-on: These lyrics could obviously apply to the protagonist's addiction to an illicit affair with a married woman, but (without too much of a stretch) one could interpret it as addiction to alcohol, or drugs, or work, or achievement—anything that you know is self-destructive or unhealthy for you, but gives you an incredibly addictive high.
Like so many of Steely Dan's lyrics, I think you're spot-on: These lyrics could obviously apply to the protagonist's addiction to an illicit affair with a married woman, but (without too much of a stretch) one could interpret it as addiction to alcohol, or drugs, or work, or achievement—anything that you know is self-destructive or unhealthy for you, but gives you an incredibly addictive high.
I think it's indicative of Steely Dan's brilliance that, 45 years after the release of Can't Buy A Thrill, people are still not only listening to their music—but finding personal meaning in their...
I think it's indicative of Steely Dan's brilliance that, 45 years after the release of Can't Buy A Thrill, people are still not only listening to their music—but finding personal meaning in their lyrics.
Does anyone else think that this song could not be about a woman? In my opinion, it continues to play on the drug/alcohol abuse trend that is so present in Steely Dan's music. Think about it, he is addicted, knows its bad, doesn't know why he keeps doing it, and can't stop even though he knows the consequences. Hey, it's a stretch, but I sure would continue an ever present theme. Thoughts?
It could be about that, and it would wouldn't be too much of a stretch, at least not conceptually. I think this is true because basically it all boils down to will vs. habit in these scenerios. The question is do we have the power of will needed to overcome our previous choices (our karma...). We might even resent our situation, know we are responsible, and yet feel without power to change it even while we KNOW that we "can" if we only CHOOSE to do the hard work instead of the "dirty" work...
It could be about that, and it would wouldn't be too much of a stretch, at least not conceptually. I think this is true because basically it all boils down to will vs. habit in these scenerios. The question is do we have the power of will needed to overcome our previous choices (our karma...). We might even resent our situation, know we are responsible, and yet feel without power to change it even while we KNOW that we "can" if we only CHOOSE to do the hard work instead of the "dirty" work...
Sex, like...
Sex, like any good drug (good as in powerful, not as in beneficial), has the power to make one lose one's will within a certain context that is highly ecstatic. The challenge of man is to lose his will into an ecstasy that is evolutionarily foward, beneficial in the long AND short term, and in harmony with his ultimate in true nature WITHOUT turning into an ascetic wretch (in my view).
I think the character is not fully forthcoming, btw. He sings only about her and him, leaving the "other man" out of it. The other man is being cuckolded, as someone pointed out. I think there must be a distinct pleasure going back to our ancient and archaic neural programming/evolution which involves taking another man's woman, and I think it is also in women, to be taken by the stronger man (at least symbolically in this case, because the hubby might woop some ass if he came home and caught this guy).
So called "forbidden fruit" is nothing other than the prize which can only be had by danger and will, sometimes in contests with the wills of others. Since all things precious are made more so by being difficult to get, the difficulties associated with having someone else's stuff (whether gained fairly or not) strike a primal chord in all of us, I'm sure not least of all the Pope, who wants to own your body AND soul.
Well, I say some of this from experience. I've known women who were separated from their hubbies, and their hubbies were assholes who were cheating on them anyway, and so this luscious woman is basically all over me, so what do you think I'm going to end up doing with her since I know all these factors? Yet even knowing these things, it was like cuckolding that guy, surely it was to her, and I even told her that I now possessed her and not him (and that turned us both way the hell on). Besides being a turn on, it was the truth. This is different than when I have to sneak in some dudes house to do the "dirty deed" with is wife while he is a faithful and loving husband who still takes care of her and isn't in the middle of trying to divorce her and leave her with nothing while cheating on her. Well, it is logically different, but somehow it was the same in a deep psychological way, to take her for myself... Damn that was good.
i respect the other reply. knowing your a fool to do a deed that could ruin ur life, but the implements of society (a mideval game) leave you knowing that the only way to come up is to do the dirt. I look at it as a person who knows damn well what is wrong and right, and they're stuck doing wrong because its the role in society that they've assumed. Its also like hes gona go sleep with her and he knows her dude is gona come home, but he stays cuz he knows
i respect the other reply. knowing your a fool to do a deed that could ruin ur life, but the implements of society (a mideval game) leave you knowing that the only way to come up is to do the dirt. I look at it as a person who knows damn well what is wrong and right, and they're stuck doing wrong because its the role in society that they've assumed. Its also like hes gona go sleep with her and he knows her dude is gona come home, but he stays cuz he knows
@Bazooka27
@Bazooka27
Like so many of Steely Dan's lyrics, I think you're spot-on: These lyrics could obviously apply to the protagonist's addiction to an illicit affair with a married woman, but (without too much of a stretch) one could interpret it as addiction to alcohol, or drugs, or work, or achievement—anything that you know is self-destructive or unhealthy for you, but gives you an incredibly addictive high.
Like so many of Steely Dan's lyrics, I think you're spot-on: These lyrics could obviously apply to the protagonist's addiction to an illicit affair with a married woman, but (without too much of a stretch) one could interpret it as addiction to alcohol, or drugs, or work, or achievement—anything that you know is self-destructive or unhealthy for you, but gives you an incredibly addictive high.
I think it's indicative of Steely Dan's brilliance that, 45 years after the release of Can't Buy A Thrill, people are still not only listening to their music—but finding personal meaning in their...
I think it's indicative of Steely Dan's brilliance that, 45 years after the release of Can't Buy A Thrill, people are still not only listening to their music—but finding personal meaning in their lyrics.