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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Throw Back The Little Ones
Steely Dan Lyrics
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So Carlo won't suspect something's wrong here
I dance in place
And paint my face
And act like I belong here
[Chorus]
Throw back the little ones
Use tact, poise and reason
And gently squeeze them
Hot licks and rhetoric
Don't count much for nothing
Be glad if you can use what you borrow
So I pawn my crown
For a ride uptown
And buy it back tomorrow
[Chorus]
Done like a matador I pray for the weekend
And hope the little girls still throw roses
Else I'll change my bait
And move upstate
Before the season closes
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Steely Dan's "Throw Back The Little Ones" explore the complexities of socializing and fitting in. The singer seems to feel out of place, "Lost in the Barrio," and so he acts like an "Injun" to blend in with the crowd. He dances, paints his face, and does whatever he can to seem like he belongs there. This reflects the pressure many people feel to fit in, especially in social situations that are unfamiliar to them.
The chorus, "Throw back the little ones and pan-fry the big ones, use tact, poise, and reason and gently squeeze them," suggests that the singer has learned to navigate these social situations, but he is pragmatic about it. He knows that sometimes it is better to let go of the smaller things and focus on the bigger picture. Similarly, he advises using "tact, poise, and reason," rather than resorting to "hot licks and rhetoric" that ultimately "don’t count much for nothing."
Towards the end of the song, the singer reveals that he is not entirely comfortable with this lifestyle, praying for the weekend and hoping that the "little girls still throw roses." He knows he may have to change his approach eventually and "move upstate" to a new environment. Overall, the song is a commentary on the difficulties of fitting in and the compromises people make to navigate social situations, as well as a reminder to use tact and reason in these situations rather than relying on empty rhetoric.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost in the Barrio I walk like an Injun
I'm in a foreign place and I'm trying to blend in as much as possible.
So Carlo won't suspect something's wrong here
I'm trying to avoid drawing suspicion because I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing.
I dance in place
I pretend like I'm comfortable and familiar with the surroundings around me.
And paint my face
I change my appearance to fit in with the crowd.
And act like I belong here
I try to convince everyone around me that I have a right to be there.
[Chorus]
Throw back the little ones and pan-fry the big ones. Use tact, poise and reason, and gently squeeze them.
Hot licks and rhetoric
Superficial charm and empty promises don't mean anything.
Don't count much for nothing
They're worthless and have no real value.
Be glad if you can use what you borrow
It's a privilege to be able to borrow something and use it to your advantage.
So I pawn my crown
I'm willing to give up something valuable to get what I want.
For a ride uptown
I'm willing to go out of my way to get what I want.
And buy it back tomorrow
I plan to regain possession of what I pawned once I've achieved my goals.
[Chorus]
Throw back the little ones and pan-fry the big ones. Use tact, poise and reason, and gently squeeze them.
Done like a matador I pray for the weekend
I've achieved my objective and now I'm waiting for the right time to escape.
And hope the little girls still throw roses
I hope that my good fortune and popularity don't disappear too quickly.
Else I'll change my bait
If I'm not successful anymore, I'll try a different approach.
And move upstate
I'll go somewhere else to start fresh.
Before the season closes
Before it's too late and I miss my chance.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind