Lyrics for Dirty Work as interpreted by dewdrop

Dirty Work Lyrics
DIRTY WORK

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

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

Light the candle
Put the lock upon the door
You have sent the maid home early
Like a thousand times before
Like the castle in its corner
In a medieval game
I foresee terrible trouble
And I stay here just the same

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

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  • 9 Comments
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dcat
12-12-2005

Rated 0 
About a back-door man who feels guilty yet trapped in his sex relationship with a taken woman.

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grenparptar
02-24-2006

Rated 0 
man, that guy can sing, his name be david palmer. dcat's right

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avs2006
06-19-2006

Rated 0 
my favorite steely dan song, though i didnt realize it was them until a few days ago...

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ikefox
08-12-2006

Rated 0 
This is the first song I remember hearing in my life. The horns at the beginning are so subtle, it's beautiful.

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GreyBlueEyes
08-24-2006

Rated 0 
And what about that soulful, simmering organ...

I think the back-door man is in love with her and can't break away, yet knows he's being used.

Ah, love...

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WritingIsMyReligion
08-31-2006

Rated 0 
Quite obviously this is a gorgeous bit about a "back-door man" who is aware every moment of how he is being used, and yet submits to this strange woman's every will.

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A_Mick
05-15-2007

Rated 0 
The vocals are heavenly, so soft.

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Oh well
01-05-2008

Rated 0 
Dirty work = sex, specifically sex that results in her orgasm.

The song's about a guy who is the man she cheats on her husband with (when he's out of town, she lights a candle for romance, sends the maid home early), and the moral dilemma - sex or cuckold the hubby. He's unable to overcome his desire for her, despite the terrible risk, every time - thousands of times before.

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Bazooka27
05-17-2009

Rated 0 
Does anyone else think that this song could not be about a woman? In my opinion, it continues to play on the drug/alcohol abuse trend that is so present in Steely Dan's music. Think about it, he is addicted, knows its bad, doesn't know why he keeps doing it, and can't stop even though he knows the consequences. Hey, it's a stretch, but I sure would continue an ever present theme. Thoughts?

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