They're throwin' a party
For big Ida Lee
The man from the skyway
The Chinaman and me
There's so much affection
It's making me crazy
I've run out of reasons
For keeping it neat
Everybody's laughin'
Everybody's makin' love
Ida Lee
It's you I'm thinkin' of
Threw out the favours
The hooters and the hats
Put out the candle
And blew out the cat
My temperature's rising
We're all on the chaise lounge now
Big Ida Lee
She's nowhere to be found

They open the air shaft
As Ida walks in
She comes up to me and whispers
Honey, where have you been?
I'm stripping my gears
I'm blowing my fuse
'Cause Ida Lee's giving me somewhat more than I can use


Lyrics submitted by AbFab

Ida Lee Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network

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Ida Lee song meanings
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    General Comment

    Donald Fagen had a song on his solo album, The Nightfly, titled "New Frontier"- about the Cold War and a party in a fallout shelter. I think "Ida Lee" was the first attempt at this same theme. The bit about opening up the air shaft leads me to this conclusion, as well as the fact that many very early Becker/Fagen songs used phrases and themes that were later recycled on other songs. Even the word "skyway" on "Ida Lee" was later used on Fagens song, "Trans Island Skyway".

    bud33on February 27, 2010   Link

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