This song tells a story of a gang member working for an unnamed "boss". The person seems to be a kind of gunman who doesn't asks questions but just does whatever he is told to do. However, he is uneasy in relation to women, esp. his affair/girlfriend Julie and more confident to get his "marching orders" by the boss and use his skills concerning whatever he needs to do (which includes killing oposing people/hijacking convois).
You would expect this kind of lyrics embedded in a hiphop/gangsta-rap-like pattern. In my opinion the probably well calculated contrast of the grim lyrics and the easy-jazz sound including cheery female backing-vocal and groovy vibraphone makes this song spicy and special. It is one of my favorite Donald Fagan tracks.
@onthevergeof Could you please explain the meaning of thr verse,"To a hophouse in the Tenderloin, need to kick that gong around"? I know the district of the Tenderloin, but what is a hophouse, and needing to kick that gong around, could it be a whorehouse and he wants to go kick one around?
@onthevergeof Could you please explain the meaning of thr verse,"To a hophouse in the Tenderloin, need to kick that gong around"? I know the district of the Tenderloin, but what is a hophouse, and needing to kick that gong around, could it be a whorehouse and he wants to go kick one around?
Pretty uneasy in relation to women if you ask me: he pops the both, in other words: he kills Julie and Johnny. Donald is a master in shaping the most horrible scenery in the nicest soundscapes.
Pretty uneasy in relation to women if you ask me: he pops the both, in other words: he kills Julie and Johnny. Donald is a master in shaping the most horrible scenery in the nicest soundscapes.
I totally agree with you on this. It's one of my favorite Fagan solo songs as well, though you never hear much about it. The Chorus: "There's a special satisfaction when a job turns out so right. Better break out the good stuff the boss wants to party all night" is great. It's so beautiful. with the wonderful female voices in the background. It contrasts so profoundly with the horrible violence that preceded such an after-party attitude. It reminds me of the old Donald Fagan.
I totally agree with you on this. It's one of my favorite Fagan solo songs as well, though you never hear much about it. The Chorus: "There's a special satisfaction when a job turns out so right. Better break out the good stuff the boss wants to party all night" is great. It's so beautiful. with the wonderful female voices in the background. It contrasts so profoundly with the horrible violence that preceded such an after-party attitude. It reminds me of the old Donald Fagan.
I think the album as a whole is pretty weak, given what we know Fagan is capable of. But when you get to the last two songs on the album - "Good Stuff" and "Planet D'Rhonda", it's all worth it!
This song tells a story of a gang member working for an unnamed "boss". The person seems to be a kind of gunman who doesn't asks questions but just does whatever he is told to do. However, he is uneasy in relation to women, esp. his affair/girlfriend Julie and more confident to get his "marching orders" by the boss and use his skills concerning whatever he needs to do (which includes killing oposing people/hijacking convois).
You would expect this kind of lyrics embedded in a hiphop/gangsta-rap-like pattern. In my opinion the probably well calculated contrast of the grim lyrics and the easy-jazz sound including cheery female backing-vocal and groovy vibraphone makes this song spicy and special. It is one of my favorite Donald Fagan tracks.
@onthevergeof Could you please explain the meaning of thr verse,"To a hophouse in the Tenderloin, need to kick that gong around"? I know the district of the Tenderloin, but what is a hophouse, and needing to kick that gong around, could it be a whorehouse and he wants to go kick one around?
@onthevergeof Could you please explain the meaning of thr verse,"To a hophouse in the Tenderloin, need to kick that gong around"? I know the district of the Tenderloin, but what is a hophouse, and needing to kick that gong around, could it be a whorehouse and he wants to go kick one around?
@onthevergeof A hophouse is a brewery or bar. To kick that gong around is smoking opium.
@onthevergeof A hophouse is a brewery or bar. To kick that gong around is smoking opium.
Pretty uneasy in relation to women if you ask me: he pops the both, in other words: he kills Julie and Johnny. Donald is a master in shaping the most horrible scenery in the nicest soundscapes.
Pretty uneasy in relation to women if you ask me: he pops the both, in other words: he kills Julie and Johnny. Donald is a master in shaping the most horrible scenery in the nicest soundscapes.
@onthevergeof
@onthevergeof
I totally agree with you on this. It's one of my favorite Fagan solo songs as well, though you never hear much about it. The Chorus: "There's a special satisfaction when a job turns out so right. Better break out the good stuff the boss wants to party all night" is great. It's so beautiful. with the wonderful female voices in the background. It contrasts so profoundly with the horrible violence that preceded such an after-party attitude. It reminds me of the old Donald Fagan.
I totally agree with you on this. It's one of my favorite Fagan solo songs as well, though you never hear much about it. The Chorus: "There's a special satisfaction when a job turns out so right. Better break out the good stuff the boss wants to party all night" is great. It's so beautiful. with the wonderful female voices in the background. It contrasts so profoundly with the horrible violence that preceded such an after-party attitude. It reminds me of the old Donald Fagan.
I think the album as a whole is pretty weak, given what we know Fagan is capable of. But when you get to the last two songs on the album - "Good Stuff" and "Planet D'Rhonda", it's all worth it!