Agents of the law
Luckless pedestrian
I know you're out there
With rage in your eyes and your megaphones
Saying all is forgiven
Mad Dog surrender
How can I answer
A man of my mind can do anything

This is a man (the so called Mad Dog) who has done something wrong. I don't think the song
reveals the nature of the crime, but instead tries to share the psychological experience of
the perpatrator. He is holed up with the law trying to talk him out of his barricade. He
knows that although they say all is forgiven, they want to bring him to justice. But, he
believes that he can think his way out of the situation. I am Not sure if the luckless
pedestrian represents a victim or someone lucklessly caught up in the situation.

CHORUS:
I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't want to shoot no one
Well I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
Got a case of dynamite
I could hold out here all night
Yes I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive

The question here is, who is the old man? His father or the law perhaps? I'm leaning toward it
representing the law because that ties the whole story together as a violation of the law. He
has made up his mind that he will not surrender and has enough resources to make his stand.
He regretfully reflects on his ordinary life and pleads that he does not really want to hurt
anyone. However, he has made up his mind that this will be his last stand and he won't be
taken alive.

(chorus)

Can you hear the evil crowd
The lies and the laughter
I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world
Where no sun is shining
No red light flashing
Here in this darkness
I know what I've done
I know all at once who I am

A crowd has gathered and he knows they are enjoying his precarious situation. The mob is merciless
and assuming about his guilt. The hopelessness of his situation is sinking in and he's losing his
grip on sanity as his state of mind is changing to solitude. The mechanized hum of another world
represents the mormal lives of others and society which he is no longer a part of. He is outside
of society now, and his world is growing dark. However, in spite of his lonliness and his crime,
he is finally in touch with his true self. It is the irony of the story that the evil deed is the
thing that brings him to self realization. What a killer tune. (intended). I wonder if it was
written about a real person / criminal from Oregon that ended up in this situation. Or maybe some
other person that crossed the law in this fashion.

In summary, the lyrics are the thoughts of a fugitive and they reveal something sinister about self
realization when the end is emminent.

Steely Dan created some really great and timeless music. I will listen to them for the rest of my life.

I always thought he stold from his father as he "was a bookkeeper's son". I always invision him taking the loot and blowing it in Vegas cause if you were raised in Oregon like me . . well sometimes you just goota bust out . .WTF is this about Cyborgs . . does anybody over 30 subscribe to this post. to quote "I weep for the future!"

I think it's about someone who got into debt at a casino:
"Can you hear the evil crowd
The lies and the laughter
I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world
Where no sun is shining "

The mechanized hum is the slot machines, there is no light in a casino.

He goes to his father, a bookie for help. The father refuses, and he steals the money.

He is pursued by the law, and takes a hostage, a luckless pedestrian.
He was a normal guy till he got caught up in gambling, and in the dark, with his hostage and the police surrounding him, he realizes just what his life has come to.