Steely Dan – Throw Back The Little Ones

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  General Comment:To me this song is about an uptown, successful person who goes into the hood to score drugs, heroin in particular. He changes into his street gear and probably adds some swagger to his step to blend in. The chorus involving throwing back the little ones, or bags, and pan frying(in the spoon) the big ones make me think it's not about women. Also the line in which he pawns his crown for a ride uptown i take to mean he hawks his rolex or something for the quick fix knowing he can always come back and buy it later.

  Flag nickysankson September 01, 2010   Link

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    Nailed It!!

    Flag Lafcadio1on March 11, 2013  

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    I think it's about an undercover cop acting a junky so "Carlo won't suspect something's wrong here."
    
    They release the little dealers they arrest, but grill the big guys, and "squeeze them" for more info/to turn on other dealers. "Pawning his crown" is taking off the uniform/policeman's pointed cap before he goes uptown to go to 'work.'
    
    Praying for the weekend is getting the job done, nailing the kingpin, and being able to put back on the uniform for a parade (the little girls throwing roses.) Being able to take off his disguise and be normal again.
    
    Or... he will have to move to a different town "upstate", go undercover again, and hunt another drug dealer.

    Flag caescheon March 29, 2013  
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  My Opinion:I always thought the bridge at 1:54 had a very Zappa-esque harmony to it. Like something from Hot Rats.

  Flag mumajoron July 25, 2009   Link

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    It does does sound a lot like something Zappa would write, and that's why it's one of my favorite SD songs. Frank Zappa and Steely Dan are the top 2 Rock groups of all time, but I personally like FZ more.

    Flag ThingFish79on September 10, 2009  

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    So weird. I was listening to Gumbo Variations on Hot Rats right before I turned this one on. I don't think it means anything, but still weird.

    Flag barifkinon June 19, 2012  
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  General Comment:it's about going to town and picking up girls....

  Flag KUUMBAon April 12, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I think the song is about fishing - but about fishing as a metaphor for either picking up women (who are the "fish") or running some sort of con (in which case the singers victims are the "fish"). Both interpretations work to some degree (though "throw back" and "pan fry" sound more like what you'd do to a con victim). Anyway the singer goes into some neighborhood where he doesn't belong to try his exploits.

  Flag austinbarryon January 11, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:Donald Fagen singing about fish! I don't think so. This song is about a Gang lord losing his respect. 'Barrio' is a hispanic term for the hood.

  Flag kamakiriadon February 15, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:This song is about fishing and about a fisher who would like to get the best fish out there.

  Flag Warren67on December 30, 2007   Link

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