| Steely Dan – Glamour Profession Lyrics | 11 months ago |
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I've always just seen this as a story about a major drug dealer in L.A. "Local boys will spend a quarter Just to shine the silver bowl Living hard will take its toll" To me that means that local kids are willing to do 25 years in prison just to live the high life for awhile. |
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| The Beatles – A Day in the Life Lyrics | 11 months ago |
| @[Urasawa:47157] Had a smoke refers to marijuana. He went into a dream. | |
| The Who – Had Enough Lyrics | 11 months ago |
| Where are the lyrics to "Had Enough" from Who Are You | |
| George Harrison – What Is Life Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| @[mrose83:43939] It's about having spiritual meaning in life with the almighty. No matter what you believe. | |
| Bob Seger – Still The Same Lyrics | 3 years ago |
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@[PaulSouth:35656] Excellent point about the music's role in enhancing the lyrics. I agree it's about love forsaken and an ex-lover observing her after a long time. I also can't help but think it's about an Annie Dukes (No offense meant Annie) type woman who is a professional gambler. It's kinda fun to look at it that way some times. |
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| U2 – New Year's Day Lyrics | 3 years ago |
| https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/u2-new-years-day | |
| George Harrison – Blow Away Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| I think this is spiritual. Maybe an obvious comment. | |
| George Harrison – What Is Life Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[RayMan:34079] He was into Hari Krishna when he wrote this, so I think it's just more about a generic God. | |
| Donald Fagen – I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) Lyrics | 4 years ago |
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@[rikdad:31266] I believe the whole album is about the fantasies of Fagen when he was growing up in NJ. It says that on the back of the album cover, IIRC I.G.Y. is him dreaming of what the future will be like. New Frontier is about having sex with a girl in his dad's bomb shelter. |
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| Steely Dan – Hey Nineteen Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[Brokenflow:31265] IMO,Cuervo Gold is tequila and the fine Columbian is pot. It's about a guy who's being seduced by a much younger girl. Since he was the dandy of Gamma Chi back in 1967 he's a little over forty I'd guess due to when this album was released. She roller skates and he likes it when she gets low on her skates, possibly by spreading her legs wide. As much as she turns him on he has to deny her advances. | |
| Steely Dan – Any Major Dude Will Tell You Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[Noj10:31264] I think a "Major Dude" is a good friend. It could be about a guy who broke up with his girlfriend and is heartbroken or something else traumatic he's dealing with. | |
| Steely Dan – The Caves of Altamira Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[truegrit:31263] Exactly. This song is about a kid who discovered the paintings as a young man and would sit in the cave just marveling at the drawings and using his imagination. Before there was even any Hollywood makes the 1800's reference seem correct. | |
| Steely Dan – Kid Charlemagne Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| Larry Carlton's guitar solo is one of the best ever, of any song. | |
| Steely Dan – Dirty Work Lyrics | 4 years ago |
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Here's my take: Times are hard You're afraid to pay the fee So you find yourself somebody Who can do the job for free When you need a bit of lovin' 'Cause your man is out of town That's the time you get me runnin' And you know I'll be around (A woman, I'm assuming a trophy wife, has a guy who she uses like a boy toy. When her husband is out of town she calls him to come over.) I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah (He wants to stop doing it but he can't bring himself to stop) Light the candle Put the lock upon the door You have sent the maid home early Like a thousand times before (Self explanatory) Like the castle in its corner In a medieval game I foresee terrible trouble And I stay here just the same (Like a castle in its corner in a medieval game refers to chess. Rooks are referred to as castles also. They occupy the corners of the chess board. A chess player can get into a situation where he knows in a couple of moves his opponent will take his castle i.e. rook and he can't do anything about it. He probably thinks that one day her husband is going to find out and the excrement is going to hit the oscillating air moving device.) I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah I don't wanna do your dirty work No more I'm a fool to do your dirty work Oh yeah |
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| Boz Scaggs – Lido Shuffle Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[cmmumu:31262] Great breakdown, especially the part about Angola Prison. The only thing I would differ with is that he managed to escape before getting into prison. "Lido missed the boat that day he left the shack." | |
| The Who – My Wife Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Pretty easy to figure out. One of my Faves from The Who. It's pretty funny. I always thought the one lyric was "I gotta rest some more so I get to Baltimore." | |
| The Who – Who Are You? Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| @[Conn8:25778] Thanks! | |
| Roxy Music – More Than This Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| @[ququrico:25324] Good analysis. | |
| Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Luna Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| This is the most underrated TP&TH song. JMO | |
| Blondie – Rip Her to Shreds Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| @[windycityguy:25162] I believe Debbie Harry said that they named the group "Blondie" because it's what construction workers used to yell to her. "HEY BLONDIE!!" | |
| Blondie – Heart of Glass Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| @[DanVitaleRocks:25161] Spot on! | |
| Blondie – One Way or Another Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| @[Just_Some_Asian:25160] It was acceptable because so many guys, myself included, would love to be the obsession of Debbie Harry. ; ) | |
| Steely Dan – Your Gold Teeth Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[rainwalk:8384] Great interpretation. I've always wondered what this meant. | |
| Steely Dan – I.G.Y. Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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I.G.Y stands for the International Geophysical Year. (1957) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Geophysical_Year Fagen says on the album notes that the album is about him growing up. The sixty seven countries that participated in it seemed to give Fagen the idea that a bright future was on the horizon. |
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| Steely Dan – Lunch With Gina Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[kamakiriad:8383] Yep, my interpretation too. A stalker that he finds easier to give in to than call the cops. | |
| Steely Dan – Here At The Western World Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[LucklessPedestrian:8382] That's how I interpret it too, pretty much. | |
| Steely Dan – Deacon Blues Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[b4nt:8380] I also think that on the making of Aja Becker says that the guy can't even play the sax, but sees it as aspiring to the highest point of loserdom. (Something like that.) | |
| Steely Dan – Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[ImaniOU:8379] Good theory. | |
| Steely Dan – Show Biz Kids Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[nuke2033:8378] I think El Supremo is referring to the biggest bigwig in Hollywood or Vegas. | |
| Steely Dan – Show Biz Kids Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| I think the Washington Zoo line is referring to Washington D.C. and all the Senators and Congressman who don't give a fuck about anybody else. | |
| Steely Dan – Godwhacker Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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@[thebassman95:3525] I was just coming to post this. It seems that Fagen was devastated by the loss of his mother. I guess he felt anyone that allowed the amount of suffering she went through, and the suffering of those who loved her went through, was evil. You're right it is an excellent read. |
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| Steely Dan – Do It Again Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I've always thought this was a story about a guy who's in the old west. A neighbor cuts off his water (building a dam or something for his crops) He gets pissed and goes and kills the guy. He makes a run for the border, but they catch him and bring him back. He gets off on a technicality and moves on. He comes back home and finds that his girlfriend never loved him as much as he thought and his best friend isn't his best friend. They're in bed together. At his wits end he goes to a brothel or finds a loose woman. He has sex with her, but he really wanted love. The woman is so nice to him, but has ulterior motives and uses his need of love to get him to beg. He tells some people he doesn't gamble, but ends up Vega playing the slots and playing poker. (with their money?) He tries to hide the valuable cards. He makes a lot of money, but is discovered cheating. (You go back Jack, do it again, wheels turning round and round.) I think means he'll always a lying cheat, and never stop making the same mistakes. |
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| Steely Dan – Dirty Work Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[dcat:2090] Nailed it. I couldn't have said it better. | |
| Steely Dan – Cousin Dupree Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I agree the guy is a real ewww type of guy. It's also funny. (I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks How can you stand it for one more day She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes Or that your mind has turned to applesauce The dreary architecture of your soul I said-but what is it exactly turns you off?) |
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| Steely Dan – Charlie Freak Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I see a guy who finds a homeless man in great need of money for some addiction. So the guy takes advantage of him to get something valuable (His ring) for little money. Charlie gets the stuff he needs and OD's and dies. When the guy who bought his ring hears about this he's wracked with guilt. He goes to the hospital to give the ring back to his dead body. Now here's where I'm not sure. "Ill take your hand and lead you home" sounds like the guy commits suicide and joins Charlie in the afterlife. He feels he has to care for Charlie in the afterlife and make sure he gets to heaven. |
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| Steely Dan – Third World Man Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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There are some very good interpretations here. I'll try one. (Johnny's playroom Is a bunker filled with sand He's become a third world man) The bunker is his safe place. A bunker is used to protect people from falling bombs or other attacks. Sand can be defined as - Informal. courage; pluck. So maybe it's a bunker filled with courage. Third World includes parts of Asia., Like Vietnam. So he's probably a Vietnam war veteran. This was 1980 and the war ended 1975, I believe the Vietnam war was the first time Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was recognized as an illness. (Smokey Sunday He's been mobilized since dawn Now he's crouching on the lawn He's a third world man) Smokey Sunday sounds like what the day became known as. It had to be a pretty big deal to get it's own name. This guy is getting ready and lining up his rife, or getting ready to throw hand grenades.. (Soon you'll throw down your disguise We'll see behind those bright eyes By and by When the sidewalks are safe For the little guy) He may have gone on the attack and eventually breaks down when he comes to his senses. (I saw the fireworks I believed that I was dreaming 'Til the neighbours came out screaming He's a third world man) Johnny is running through the neighborhood shooting people.or throwing grenades. [chorus] (When he's crying out I just sing that Ghana Rondo E'lera del terzo mondo He's a third world man) Here's the dictionary definition of Rondo: noun, plural rondos. Music. 1. a work or movement, often the last movement of a sonata, having one principal subject that is stated at least three times in the same key and to which return is made after the introduction of each subordinate theme. So I'm gonna sing that Ghana last movement, so maybe he was in a war in Ghana. war. The Italian has already been roughly translated here.as "He reads of the Third World) Also, Ghanaian music was popular in the seventies. Their artists made some stuff that sold in the U.S. and the U.K. So let me put it all together: Johnny's in his safe place, filled with courage . He's become a guerrilla fighting a righteous war. He's been up since dawn getting ready for the impending assault. He carries out his plan to kill the neighborhood people, because, he believes, they're threatening the less fortunate. When he comes to his senses he breaks down When the narrator sees him breakdown he sees Johnny's final movements.. (I have no idea about Ghana) He commits suicide in an explosive way. Hand Grenade(?) Shooting himself(?) The surviving neighbors came out of their houses Screaming he's gone nuts he thinks he's a soldier or something close. Well, that's my guess, meh. Could be, or could not be. |
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| Steely Dan – Third World Man Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[samstudlyguy:2087] Very informative, good post. | |
| Carly Simon – You're So Vain Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| I've become very convinced that the song is about David Blue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Blue_%28musician%29 Simon has given out clues of A, E and R being in the name. I'm very sure I saw an interview where she said there was a B in the name too. That doesn't seem to cover the letter clues, but if you factor in his real name Stuart David Cohen then it does. They were both recording on Elektra back then and both were part of the Greenwich Village music scene. The only thing that doesn't add up for me is that I can't find any articles linking Blue to her. It sounds like this was a fairly long term affair, so I'd expect to see something about them being together, but I can't find anything. | |
| Carly Simon – You're So Vain Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[Irishmonk:1244] That's the latest theory. Carly gave out a hint on her 2010 album when she backmasked the word "David" as a clue. People immediately jumped to the Geffen as the answer. Simon has said it's definitely not about Geffen. | |
| Richard Harris – MacArthur Park Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| Great writeup. I couldn't have said it any better. The metaphors are absolutely horrible. A precocious second grader could have done better. It should have been put out as an instrumental piece or the producer should have waited to come down from the acid before printing it. | |
| David Bowie – Space Oddity Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Here's a video I made using the heroin addict theme; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCurc-xib0M | |
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