Maxine
Donald Fagen Lyrics

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Some say that we're reckless
They say we're much too young
Tell us to stop before we've begun
We've got to hold out till graduation
Try to hang on Maxine

While the world is sleeping
We meet at Lincoln Mall

Talk about life the meaning of it all
Try to make sense of the suburban sprawl
Try to hang on Maxine

Mexico City is like another world
Nice this year they say
You'll be my senorita
In jeans and pearls
But first let's get off this highway

We'll move up to Manhattan
And fill the place with friends
Drive to the coast and drive right back again

One day we'll wake up, make love but 'til then
Try to hang on Maxine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Donald Fagen's song Maxine are about young love and the longing to live life to the fullest despite societal pressures to conform. The first verse is an acknowledgment of how others perceive the singer's relationship with Maxine to be reckless due to their age, but they insist on holding out till graduation. The second verse emphasizes the desire to make sense of the world despite the mind-numbing monotony of suburban life. The third verse is about freedom and escapism, with the idea of moving to Mexico City and settling down there temporarily. Finally, the last verse summarizes their aspirations of moving up to Manhattan and living life as they see fit by filling the place with friends and taking road trips.

The lyrics of Maxine are open to interpretation regarding the period when they were written, but they seem to evoke a sense of youthful rebellion and disillusionment with the establishment, which was characteristic of the '60s and '70s. Donald Fagen himself has said that the song's storyline is about two young lovers who find themselves on the cusp of adulthood and who have a strong desire to break away from life's predictability.

Interestingly, Donald Fagen's Maxine is not the only song about a young woman with this name. In Steely Dan's song Peg, a female character is also named Maxine. Steely Dan and Donald Fagen were known for using recurring characters in their songs, so it is plausible that the Maxine in Maxine and Peg could be the same person.

Line by Line Meaning

Some say that we're reckless
There are some who criticize us for our recklessness

They say we're much too young
These critics believe us to be too young

Tell us to stop before we've begun
They advise us against proceeding before it is too late

We've got to hold out till graduation
We must endure until our time of completion

Try to hang on Maxine
We implore Maxine to persevere

While the world is sleeping
As others are asleep

We meet at Lincoln Mall
We rendezvous at the Lincoln Mall

Talk about life the meaning of it all
We discuss the meaning of life itself

Try to make sense of the suburban sprawl
We attempt to understand the sprawling suburbs

Try to hang on Maxine
Once again, we beseech Maxine to persist

Mexico City is like another world
Mexico City is vastly different from our current surroundings