My Rival Lyrics

Lyric discussion by clamcontrol 

Cover art for My Rival lyrics by Steely Dan

This song is about a father's newborn son. The son is the father's "Rival" for the wife/mother's affections.

"Milk truck" is the mother's breast. The baby "screamed." The father goes out to drink and whine.

The "detective on his case" -- with the scar and hearing aid -- is a grandfather with a video camera taking movies of the new baby.

The "tiny hand" is the baby's hand. The father loves him, but has now become jealous.

The baby boy's "crime" is his taking the mother's attention away from the father, so the father will "match him whim for whim," which means the father will act pretty much like a baby.

So there it is.