It's a very straightforward song, and it's a commonly occurring theme.
As with a lot of Fagen's lyrics , there's a lot of New York references.
The narrator is a failed novelist, during the day he works at The Strand , a famous bookstore in NYC, doing boring work - "I was grinding through my day gig , stacking cutouts at The Strand".
In walks Franny , she and the narrator used to be an item when they were at NYU. She is a famous Hollywood star, the group they used to hang out with have all been successful in various professions - Bobby , Alan and Barry. She asks if he ever sees any of them and said she heard in the early eighties he was going to the The Next Big Thing - ie he showed early promise (as a novelist) and everyone predicted he would really take off.
Well he didn't. He's still working on that novel but he's an addict - drugs or booze , and is slowly coming out of rehab.
He remembers how they used to be, one particular morning - maybe the first time they slept together and she was the 'goddess on the fire escape' .
The conversation trails off - he was about to say 'have a nice life' - a very poor line for someone who was going to be a great novelist , when she thinks maybe for old times sake they could go back to her hotel and pretend it was like it was before.
However , he gives her a reality check - she's gorgeous , he's a wreck - he's a ghost , 'what a shame about me' ...
It's a very straightforward song, and it's a commonly occurring theme.
As with a lot of Fagen's lyrics , there's a lot of New York references.
The narrator is a failed novelist, during the day he works at The Strand , a famous bookstore in NYC, doing boring work - "I was grinding through my day gig , stacking cutouts at The Strand".
In walks Franny , she and the narrator used to be an item when they were at NYU. She is a famous Hollywood star, the group they used to hang out with have all been successful in various professions - Bobby , Alan and Barry. She asks if he ever sees any of them and said she heard in the early eighties he was going to the The Next Big Thing - ie he showed early promise (as a novelist) and everyone predicted he would really take off.
Well he didn't. He's still working on that novel but he's an addict - drugs or booze , and is slowly coming out of rehab.
He remembers how they used to be, one particular morning - maybe the first time they slept together and she was the 'goddess on the fire escape' .
The conversation trails off - he was about to say 'have a nice life' - a very poor line for someone who was going to be a great novelist , when she thinks maybe for old times sake they could go back to her hotel and pretend it was like it was before.
However , he gives her a reality check - she's gorgeous , he's a wreck - he's a ghost , 'what a shame about me' ...
@jrspigot To be honest, he's not even a failed novelist, more of a failed would-be novelist.
@jrspigot To be honest, he's not even a failed novelist, more of a failed would-be novelist.