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We hear you're leaving, that's OK
I thought our little wild time had just begun
I guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and run
But if you have a change of heart
[Chorus]
Rikki don't lose that number
You don't want to call nobody else
Send it off in a letter to yourself
Rikki don't lose that number
It's the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home
I have a friend in town, he's heard your name
We can go out driving on Slow Hand Row
We could stay inside and play games, I don't know
And you could have a change of heart
[Chorus]
You tell yourself you're not my kind
But you don't even know your mind
And you could have a change of heart
[Chorus]
I thought our little wild time had just begun
I guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and run
But if you have a change of heart
[Chorus]
Rikki don't lose that number
You don't want to call nobody else
Send it off in a letter to yourself
Rikki don't lose that number
It's the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home
I have a friend in town, he's heard your name
We can go out driving on Slow Hand Row
We could stay inside and play games, I don't know
And you could have a change of heart
[Chorus]
You tell yourself you're not my kind
But you don't even know your mind
And you could have a change of heart
[Chorus]
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"I have a friend in town (with a reference to Clapton in the next line)- He's heard your name"
Now I've been to Annandale, and the idea that somebody famous or otherwise could be in town that had heard the name of a Bard professor's knocked up/ shotgun wed daughter in 1968/69 is just ridiculous.
Town obviously refers to NYC, where Becker and were after Bard from June 1969. From Becker and Fagen's writings about the sheer desperation of their early years, they wouldn't have held back on a potential commercial success, and thus it's hard to believe that they would sit on this song while releasing "Can't buy a Thrill" and "Countdown to Ecstasy". So it was likely written in 1973 in the form that was recorded on "Pretzel Logic" and the song likely refers to experiences that likely took place in 1971 or 1972.
Rikki D had been living in France for almost 4 years when RDLTN was released. The only reference to Rikki D being THE Rikki comes from Rikki D in an Entertainment Tonight segment. At a time when she just divorced, moved back to the states and started a writing/teaching career. In other words, she had a motive and a convenient background story, to use her old friend's fame to give her a boost. Fagen was probably like: "yeah, whatever"....
It's time to let this go as a dead end meaning for this song.
Also, the underlying theme of the gay seduction of a straight guy is just so there and in your face that it's really hard to imagine this written in a hetero context. Maybe it's me but I just can't hear the song and not pick up on it.
I'm already on record- the song is to Rick Nelson, written in 1972.
Kind of interesting back in the day when they composed madrigals they held it as the purest form of love. Fagen's probably familiar with Sergio de Bergerac and it being present in literature.
Interesting because most people would think it's creepy but I guess if you're a rockstar what do you have to lose.
He walked off the stage in the middle of his set, and withdrew from public life for two years, until he came out with his song- Garden Party- where he relates his feelings about the incident succinctly: "you can't please everyone, so ya got please yourself"
Fagen thinks Nelson (who he's got a mancrush on), will leave the music scene forever. He will never be able to finish making his play for Rick. The number is Fagen's phone number. I have a friend into town refers to Eric Clapton. We can go driving on slowhand road means we can get together and Jam with Eric and maybe work on developing a newer sound in the studio at CBS. If you have a change of heart means, if you decide to come back to music and the scene, etc.
I remember seeing Ricky with my sister, jumping on the bed, laughing. It was crazy days back then. Days filled with hash, and weed, and other things, not sure. But I am sure about my sisters love for Ricky, and I am fucking damn straight sure that she wrote that song for him. So fuck off Steely Dan...not sure how you got the lyrics, but I am sure of where it came from because I have the fucking book!!!!!!
Not coincidentally, I always thought this was a love song from Rikki's first gay lover, from whom Rikki is fleeing, but who is not the only thing Rikki is fleeing. How do you reason with someone not just rejecting you, but rejecting your very sexuality.
I believe RDLTN is about a young boy in this same position. His older crush is moving away and he knows where, has family connections there and wants to help her ease the pain of moving (and try to impress her) by giving her a number of a friend or family member. He just wants to spend more time with her by playing games (too immature for more intimate things) and hopes she will stay and not go. I've been in this situation and this is not too far-fetched.
Also, the timing is about right. The garden party incident happened in 1972, and Rikki came out in 1974. A very obscure reference, but aren't they all?