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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Things I Miss The Most
Steely Dan Lyrics
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Or the lonely nights
I don't miss the funky attitudes
And I don't miss the fights
I lie on the couch 'till suppertime
And hunker down and read the Post
And that's when I remember the things I miss the most:
The sex
Somebody to trust
The Audi TT
The house on the Vineyard
The house on the gulf coast
These are the things I miss the most
I kinda like frying up
My sad cuisine
Gettin' in bed and curling up with a girlie magazine
But sometimes in the corner of my eye
I see that adorable ghost
And then baboom I remember the things I miss the most
The talk
The sex
Somebody to trust
The comfy Eames chair
The good copper pans
The '54 Strat
These are the things I miss the most
I had a little birdy friend
By morning she was gone
Birdy good-bye
Birdy bye-bye
I'm learning how to meditate
So far so good
I'm building the Andrea Doria out of balsa wood
The days really don't last forever
But it's getting pretty damn close
And that's when I remember the things I miss the most:
The talk
The sex
Somebody to trust
The Audi TT
The house on the Vineyard
The house on the gulf coast
These are the things I miss the most
The song "Things I Miss the Most" by Steely Dan is a melancholy tune about missing the intangible things in life, focusing on the things that cannot be bought or replaced. The opening lines express contentment being alone and unaffected by the negative aspects of relationships, such as arguing and fighting. However, as the song progresses, the singer admits to experiencing a sense of loneliness and longing for things like companionship and intimacy.
The lyrics mention specific objects and places, such as the Audi TT, the house on the Vineyard, and the '54 Strat, but these things are not what the singer truly misses. Rather, they serve as symbols of the intangibles he craves, such as trust and connection with others. The song takes a somber turn when the singer mentions a bird that was once his friend, but is now gone, ending with the bleak realization that time is limited and that the things he misses may never return.
Overall, "Things I Miss the Most" is a poignant reflection on the human need for companionship and love, as well as the bittersweet nature of memory and nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind the quiet
I am content with solitude
Or the lonely nights
I am comfortable being alone
I don't miss the funky attitudes
I don't miss the negative vibes
And I don't miss the fights
I don't miss the conflict
I lie on the couch 'till suppertime
I spend my days lounging
And hunker down and read the Post
And occupy myself with mundane activities
And that's when I remember the things I miss the most:
But sometimes I reflect on what I really long for
The talk
Meaningful conversation
The sex
Intimate physical contact
Somebody to trust
A person to confide in
The Audi TT
A luxury car
The house on the Vineyard
A property on Martha's Vineyard
The house on the gulf coast
A property on the Gulf of Mexico
These are the things I miss the most
These are the things that I long for
I kinda like frying up
I enjoy cooking
My sad cuisine
My simple or basic cooking
Gettin' in bed and curling up with a girlie magazine
Finding comfort in reading magazines
But sometimes in the corner of my eye
But every once in a while
I see that adorable ghost
I am reminded of past memories
And then baboom I remember the things I miss the most
And then I suddenly remember what I truly desire
The comfy Eames chair
A comfortable chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames
The good copper pans
Quality copper cooking pans
The '54 Strat
A vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar
I had a little birdy friend
I had a companion
By morning she was gone
But she left or passed away
Birdy good-bye
Farewell to my bird companion
Birdy bye-bye
Saying goodbye to my bird for the last time
I'm learning how to meditate
I am practicing meditation
So far so good
It's going well so far
I'm building the Andrea Doria out of balsa wood
I am engaged in a hobby of building model ships
The days really don't last forever
Life is fleeting
But it's getting pretty damn close
But it feels like it's almost over
And that's when I remember the things I miss the most:
And this is when I recall my desires
The talk
Meaningful conversation
The sex
Intimate physical contact
Somebody to trust
A person to confide in
The Audi TT
A luxury car
The house on the Vineyard
A property on Martha's Vineyard
The house on the gulf coast
A property on the Gulf of Mexico
These are the things I miss the most
These are the things that I truly long for
Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONALD FAGEN, WALTER BECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind