Their music is characterized by dark, witty lyrical narratives, obscure lyrical allusions and complex, jazz-influenced instrumentation and chord sequences, overlying more ordinary popular song structures. Their fastidious standards in the studio and use of world-class sessions players has also been a hallmark of their work. For this, special credit should be given to their long-time producer Gary Katz and engineer Roger Nichols.
The band was originally a six-piece consisting of Fagen, Becker, David Palmer (vocals), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (guitar), Denny Dias (guitar) and Jim Hodder (drums), but by 1975, only Fagen and Becker remained.
The band's history can be divided into three stages. In its original conception, the group was a relatively conventional rock band that toured from 1972 to 1974, releasing the singles-chart successes, 'Do It Again', 'Reelin' in the Years', 'My Old School' and 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'. The group's name was derived from a series of dildos in the 1959 novel, 'Naked Lunch' by the avant-garde writer, William S. Burroughs; the phrase first used in the lyrics of an early, pre-Steely Dan Fagen/Becker song, Soul Ram.
In its second stage (1975 - 1980) the group, now consisting solely of Fagen and Becker, became a purely studio-based act, their album releases showing a growing obsession with polished production values, and whose output became increasingly jazz-orientated, culminating in the highly successful 'Aja' (1977) and 'Gaucho' (1980). The two split in 1981 following a tumultuous recording process for the latter album, and personal problems for both members.
In the Eighties, Fagen released his seminal debut album, 'The Nightfly', and took time away from the music industry, whilst Becker, after recovering from drug dependence, was in frequent work as a producer.
The third stage came when Fagen and Becker reunited in 1993, followed by a world tour (their first touring dates in 20 years). In 2000, the Grammy-award-winning 'Two Against Nature' was released to critical and surprising commercial success. Its successor followed swiftly, 'Everything Must Go' being released in 2003. The two albums show a more relaxed attitude to production, less morbid lyrical themes and an upbeat jazz pop sound, but with the characteristic wit and musical complexity of their 20th century work remaining.
Walter Becker passed away on September 3, 2017. This was followed by legal action between Becker's estate and Fagen over ownership of material. Fagen with additional bandmates continues to tour as Steely Dan.
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Bad Sneakers
Steely Dan Lyrics
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Including yours and mine
And one more chimp who isn't here
I can see the ladies talking
How the times are getting hard
And that fearsome excavation
On Magnolia Boulevard
And I'm laughing at the frozen rain
Well I'm so alone
Honey when they gonna send me home
Bad sneakers and a Pina Colada my friend
Stompin' on the avenue
By Radio City with a
Transistor and a large sum of money to spend
You fellah, you tearin' up the street
You wear that white tuxedo
How you gonna beat the heat
Do you take me for a fool
Do you think that I don't see
That ditch out in the valley
That they're digging just for me
Yes I've gone insane
You know I'm laughing at the frozen rain
I feel like I'm so alone
Honey when they gonna send me home
Bad sneakers and a Pina Colada my friend
Stompin' on the avenue
By Radio City with a
Transistor and a large sum of money to spend
You know I'm going insane
Yes I'm laughing at the frozen rain
And I'm so alone
Honey when they gonna send me home
Bad sneakers and a Pina Colada my friend
Stompin' on the avenue
By Radio City with a
Transistor and a large sum of money to spend
The lyrics to Steely Dan's song Bad Sneakers are complex and layered, referencing various themes and ideas throughout. The singer begins by acknowledging five names that they can hardly bear to hear, including their own and a chimp who is not present. The implication here is that the singer is struggling with self-identity and societal pressures. They then observe a group of women discussing the difficulties of the times and an excavation taking place on Magnolia Boulevard, suggestive of larger social or political issues.
The singer then acknowledges that they are going insane but finding humor in their situation, laughing at the frozen rain. They express a sense of loneliness and longing to be sent home. And yet, they seem to find some solace or distraction in their bad sneakers and a Pina Colada, enjoying the simple pleasures of life despite their inner turmoil. The reference to Radio City and a transistor, as well as the suggestion of a large sum of money, suggests a desire for escape or distraction from the pressures of the world.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the complexities of the human experience, combining humor, irony, and social commentary to create a rich and textured world.
Line by Line Meaning
Five names that I can hardly stand to hear
There are five names that I absolutely abhor hearing
Including yours and mine
Including my own name and the name of the person singing this song
And one more chimp who isn't here
And another person who is not present whom I dislike
I can see the ladies talking
I can observe women conversing
How the times are getting hard
The difficult times that we live in are being discussed by the women
And that fearsome excavation
The dreaded digging operation
On Magnolia Boulevard
Taking place on a specific street called Magnolia Boulevard
Yes I'm going insane
The artist is starting to lose their mind
And I'm laughing at the frozen rain
Despite this, the artist finds humor in the cold precipitation
Well I'm so alone
The artist feels extremely isolated
Honey when they gonna send me home
Expressing the desire to be sent back to where the singer considers home
Bad sneakers and a Pina Colada my friend
The artist is wearing unappealing footwear and drinking a tropical drink
Stompin' on the avenue
Walking on a busy street with forceful steps
By Radio City with a
Located close to a famous entertainment venue called Radio City
Transistor and a large sum of money to spend
Possessing a handheld radio and a hefty amount of spending cash
You fellah, you tearin' up the street
Addressing another person causing commotion on the street
You wear that white tuxedo
Commenting on the other person's fashion choice
How you gonna beat the heat
Questioning how the person intends to stay cool in warm weather
Do you take me for a fool
Asking if the person speaking is being taken advantage of
Do you think that I don't see
Questioning whether the other person believes that the artist is not informed
That ditch out in the valley
Referring to a hole dug in a nearby area
That they're digging just for me
Speculating that the hole was made specifically for the artist's benefit/punishment
Yes I've gone insane
The singer's mental state continues to deteriorate
You know I'm laughing at the frozen rain
Despite this, the artist still finds humor in the cold precipitation
And I'm so alone
The singer still feels extremely isolated
Honey when they gonna send me home
Reiterating the desire to be sent back to the singer's perceived home
Bad sneakers and a Pina Colada my friend
Repeating the unappealing footwear and tropical drink combination
Stompin' on the avenue
Repeating the forceful walking on a busy street
By Radio City with a
Repeating the proximity to Radio City
Transistor and a large sum of money to spend
Repeating the possession of a handheld radio and considerable cash
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind