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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Fire in the Hole
Steely Dan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To walk the line
They tell me that I'm lazy
Worldly wise
I realize
That everybody's crazy
A woman's voice reminds me
To serve and not to speak
Don't you know
There's fire in the hole
And nothing left to burn
I'd like to run out now
There's nowhere left to turn
With a cough
I shake it off
And work around my yellow stripe
Should I hide
And eat my pride
Or wait until it's good and ripe
My life is boiling over
It's happened once before
I wish someone would open up the door
Don't you know
There's fire in the hole
And nothing left to burn
I'd like to run out now
There's nowhere left to turn
The lyrics in “Fire In The Hole” by Steely Dan are a reflection of the singer's feeling of isolation and detachment from society. The first lines state that the singer is not willing to conform and follow societal norms. They imply that they feel that by doing this they would be lazy, and they are aware that everyone else in society is also crazy. The following lines suggest that the singer is battling with their own identity and purpose. The woman's voice reminding them to serve and not speak suggests that the singer is not fulfilling their duty or calling. They wonder if they are simply a freak or if they are truly being themselves.
The chorus, “Don't you know, there's fire in the hole, and nothing left to burn, I'd like to run out now, there's nowhere left to turn,” suggests that the singer feels like they've reached their limit. They feel like there's nothing left to do or say, and they are surrounded by chaos and destruction which they can no longer withstand. They feel like there's no escape, nowhere to turn.
Line by Line Meaning
I decline
I choose not to conform
To walk the line
To adhere to society's expectations and rules
They tell me that I'm lazy
Others often criticize my choices as being idle or unproductive
Worldly wise
Having worldly experience and knowledge
I realize
I understand
That everybody's crazy
Everyone has their own form of madness or peculiarities
A woman's voice reminds me
I am reminded by a female presence
To serve and not to speak
I should not communicate, only comply
Am I myself or just another freak
I question my own identity and wonder if I am just a societal outcast
Don't you know
Do you not understand
There's fire in the hole
There is danger or conflict approaching
And nothing left to burn
All resources have been depleted
I'd like to run out now
I want to escape the situation
There's nowhere left to turn
There are no options remaining
With a cough
An expression of discomfort or weakness
I shake it off
I try to overcome the distress
And work around my yellow stripe
I navigate around my limitations or fears
Should I hide
Would it be better to conceal myself
And eat my pride
Sacrificing my pride in order to succeed
Or wait until it's good and ripe
To wait for a better opportunity
My life is boiling over
My life is overflowing with stress
It's happened once before
I have gone through this ordeal previously
I wish someone would open up the door
I desire help and guidance to escape the situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER, DONALD FAGEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind