Ida Lee
Walter Becker & Donald Fagen Lyrics

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They're throwin' a party
For big Ida Lee
The man from the skyway
The Chinaman and me
There's so much affection
It's making me crazy
I've run out of reasons
For keeping it neat

Everybody's laughin'
Everybody's makin' love
Ida Lee
It's you I'm thinkin' of
Threw out the favours
The hooters and the hats
Put out the candle
And blew out the cat
My temperature's rising
We're all on the chaise lounge now
Big Ida Lee
She's nowhere to be found

They open the air shaft
As Ida walks in
She comes up to me and whispers
Honey, where have you been?
I'm stripping my gears

I'm blowing my fuse
'Cause Ida Lee's giving me somewhat more than I can use

Overall Meaning

The song "Ida Lee" by Steely Dan is a tale of a wild party thrown for a woman named Ida Lee, attended by the singer of the song, the "man from the skyway," and a Chinaman. The party seems to be full of laughter, love-making, and overall chaos, which is making the singer go crazy. He has lost track of why he needs to keep everything neat and organized. Ida Lee seems to be the center of attention and even disappears for a while, making the singer worried. When she returns, she approaches him and seems to have some kind of hold over him, as he describes himself as stripping his gears and blowing his fuse.

The lyrics of the song paint a picture of a wild and hedonistic party, where everyone is throwing caution to the wind and letting loose. Ida Lee is the focus of the party, and the singer seems to be completely under her spell. The party could represent the excesses of the 70s or the decadence of the rock and roll lifestyle. The mention of a Chinaman could also allude to the cultural influences of the time.

Line by Line Meaning

They're throwin' a party
A gathering is taking place

For big Ida Lee
To honor Ida Lee's presence and importance

The man from the skyway
The person who is in charge of the transportation system in the sky

The Chinaman and me
Refers to two people joining together in friendship regardless of their differences

There's so much affection
A great deal of love and fondness in the atmosphere

It's making me crazy
The abundance of warmth and kindness is causing me to feel overwhelmed

I've run out of reasons
I can no longer justify or explain the situation rationally

For keeping it neat
For maintaining order and tidiness in the environment

Everybody's laughin'
Everyone is experiencing joy and happiness

Everybody's makin' love
People are engaging in sexual activity

Ida Lee
Ida Lee is the center of attention