Even though Kid Charlemagne was a paen to Owsley, not actually LSD itself, I think the acid interpretations are way off. The line "after my dime-dancing is through, I run to you," always reminded me of a scene in a film noir, where a guy has to entertain some rich tourists, but finds refuge in a woman who is another entertainer at the resort. This is a literal interpretation, but didn't Fagan say it was a tribute to a beautiful woman, an Asian lady he knew? It is also a tribute to the exotic ways of the East, whether it is in feminine Asian beauty or Zen Buddhism itself. Opium would be the drug alluded to here, not acid; do you really think Fagen and Becker were still tripping in the late 70's? Despite the literal interpretations, the good thing about their lyrics is they evoke other interpretations, too. Had never thought about the double helix as cumshots, but the "hardware" could be a pun on hard wear (a condom). It could also be that Chinese music is a reference to jazz. I just don't go for trying to link all of this to acid and the hill up in the Bay Area.
Even though Kid Charlemagne was a paen to Owsley, not actually LSD itself, I think the acid interpretations are way off. The line "after my dime-dancing is through, I run to you," always reminded me of a scene in a film noir, where a guy has to entertain some rich tourists, but finds refuge in a woman who is another entertainer at the resort. This is a literal interpretation, but didn't Fagan say it was a tribute to a beautiful woman, an Asian lady he knew? It is also a tribute to the exotic ways of the East, whether it is in feminine Asian beauty or Zen Buddhism itself. Opium would be the drug alluded to here, not acid; do you really think Fagen and Becker were still tripping in the late 70's? Despite the literal interpretations, the good thing about their lyrics is they evoke other interpretations, too. Had never thought about the double helix as cumshots, but the "hardware" could be a pun on hard wear (a condom). It could also be that Chinese music is a reference to jazz. I just don't go for trying to link all of this to acid and the hill up in the Bay Area.
[Edit: misspelling]