My take on the "Change Of The Guard" is that Fagen and Becker are commenting on the "Counter-culture" of the 1960's. What's more, it sounds like they are painting it in a positive light! This is not exactly the sort of treatment most fans have come to expect from Steely Dan on ANY subject, much less one that is now discounted as essentially a bunch of self-deluded hippies.
Forty-plus years of time has given us a certain perspective on past events, but it has also obscured the passion and feeling of the era. We forget how strongly a great many then-young people felt about changing the world that they were born into but had no power over. It seems that Donald and Walter got caught up in those times; indeed, those times wouldn't have been the same without them.
It is important to note that "Change of the Guard" is not without precedent: the title track to "Old Regime" talks very much about the same thing: i.e. that the time for changing the dominant paradigm has come. Another relevent point is that "Can't Buy A Thrill", while hitting the shelves in 1972, was Steely Dan's first album and, as such, may have contained some worthy material that was concieved and arranged while Fagen and Becker were collaborating in the late 60's when the feelings as are expressed in the song were not yet passe.
@ThreeSongRule
I agree with you. This song is an expression of 60's sense that the world was moving in a positive, peaceful direction. It is atypical for SD who do tend to be cynical (though I love almost all). Unfortunately, an updated version would be about the guard changing back, blood running over your feet, shooting kids with semis,etc. (I also tend to be cynical).
@ThreeSongRule
I agree with you. This song is an expression of 60's sense that the world was moving in a positive, peaceful direction. It is atypical for SD who do tend to be cynical (though I love almost all). Unfortunately, an updated version would be about the guard changing back, blood running over your feet, shooting kids with semis,etc. (I also tend to be cynical).
I think "Kings", which SD denied was political and therefore is political, refers to Richard Nixon and JFK. King Richard (the lionhearted) was considered a hero but, along with others, brought us untold...
I think "Kings", which SD denied was political and therefore is political, refers to Richard Nixon and JFK. King Richard (the lionhearted) was considered a hero but, along with others, brought us untold grief by slaughtering Muslims for centuries in the Crusades, unintentionally invoked after 911...well, the rest is history and politics.
My take on the "Change Of The Guard" is that Fagen and Becker are commenting on the "Counter-culture" of the 1960's. What's more, it sounds like they are painting it in a positive light! This is not exactly the sort of treatment most fans have come to expect from Steely Dan on ANY subject, much less one that is now discounted as essentially a bunch of self-deluded hippies.
Forty-plus years of time has given us a certain perspective on past events, but it has also obscured the passion and feeling of the era. We forget how strongly a great many then-young people felt about changing the world that they were born into but had no power over. It seems that Donald and Walter got caught up in those times; indeed, those times wouldn't have been the same without them.
It is important to note that "Change of the Guard" is not without precedent: the title track to "Old Regime" talks very much about the same thing: i.e. that the time for changing the dominant paradigm has come. Another relevent point is that "Can't Buy A Thrill", while hitting the shelves in 1972, was Steely Dan's first album and, as such, may have contained some worthy material that was concieved and arranged while Fagen and Becker were collaborating in the late 60's when the feelings as are expressed in the song were not yet passe.
@ThreeSongRule I agree with you. This song is an expression of 60's sense that the world was moving in a positive, peaceful direction. It is atypical for SD who do tend to be cynical (though I love almost all). Unfortunately, an updated version would be about the guard changing back, blood running over your feet, shooting kids with semis,etc. (I also tend to be cynical).
@ThreeSongRule I agree with you. This song is an expression of 60's sense that the world was moving in a positive, peaceful direction. It is atypical for SD who do tend to be cynical (though I love almost all). Unfortunately, an updated version would be about the guard changing back, blood running over your feet, shooting kids with semis,etc. (I also tend to be cynical).
I think "Kings", which SD denied was political and therefore is political, refers to Richard Nixon and JFK. King Richard (the lionhearted) was considered a hero but, along with others, brought us untold...
I think "Kings", which SD denied was political and therefore is political, refers to Richard Nixon and JFK. King Richard (the lionhearted) was considered a hero but, along with others, brought us untold grief by slaughtering Muslims for centuries in the Crusades, unintentionally invoked after 911...well, the rest is history and politics.
@ThreeSongRule Who "discounts them as self-deluded"?
@ThreeSongRule Who "discounts them as self-deluded"?