The album was a commercial and critical success upon its release. Its hit single "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" helped restore Steely Dan's radio presence after the disappointing performance of their 1973 album Countdown to Ecstasy. Pretzel Logic was reissued in 1999 to retrospective acclaim from critics.
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Steely Dan Lyrics
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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
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
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
You tell yourself you're not my kind
But you don't even know your mind
And you could have a change of heart
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
"Rikki Don't Lose That Number" appears to be a love song with playful lyrics about a woman named Rikki, but a deeper interpretation reveals elements of confusion, regret, and longing. The first few lines are self-explanatory - the singer hears that Rikki is leaving, but he doesn't seem to be as bothered by it as he should be. He thought he and Rikki were just beginning a wild romance, but it seems she got scared and decided to leave. Nonetheless, he tells Rikki not to lose his number and to send it off in a letter to herself, so that she'll still have a way of contacting him if she changes her mind. This can be seen as desperation on the singer's part, as he wants to keep Rikki close to him even though she's leaving.
In the second verse, the singer implies that he has a mutual friend with Rikki who has heard about her departure. He invites Rikki to go out on Slow Hand Row, which is possibly a reference to a notorious street in Mississippi known for its lively nightlife, bars, and brothels. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as a metaphor for a place where lovers go to lose themselves in each other's company. The singer also suggests that he and Rikki can stay indoors and play games, hinting at a more intimate encounter. Once again, he insists that Rikki not lose his number and that she could use it to contact him if she feels better.
The final verse seems to address Rikki directly, telling her that she doesn't even know her own mind and that she could have a change of heart. The implication is that Rikki may regret leaving the singer and that she might want to come back to him. The chorus repeats the same message again and again, as if the singer is trying to emphasize the importance of Rikki not losing his number.
Line by Line Meaning
We hear you're leaving, that's okay
I heard you're leaving, and that's fine. I assumed our fun was just beginning, but maybe you got scared and ran away. However, if you change your mind,
Rikki don't lose that number
Don't forget to keep that phone number, Rikki. It's the only one you need, and you shouldn't call anyone else.
You don't want to call nobody else
You don't want to call anybody else.
Send it off in a letter to yourself
Write it down somewhere safe, like in a letter to yourself, so you don't lose it.
It's the only one you own
It's the only phone number you have, so don't lose it.
You might use it if you feel better
If you're feeling better about us, you might want to use that number to call me.
When you get home
Once you're home, you might want to use that number to reach out to me.
I have a friend in town, he's heard your name
I have a friend in town who knows your name.
We can go out driving on Slow Hand Row
We could drive around on Slow Hand Row together.
We could stay inside and play games, I don't know
Or we could stay indoors and play games, if you'd like.
And you could have a change of heart
And maybe you'll change your mind and want to be with me after all.
You tell yourself you're not my kind
You believe that you and I aren't compatible.
But you don't even know your mind
But you might not really understand what you want.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind