STEELY DAN-DEACON BLUES-REACTION

#steelydan #MUSIC #reaction

[@stevenrussell2431]

Walter said this was an ode to "loserdom." It is about a musician who lives a life of alcohol, drugs, women, etc. He says Alabama (winning college football team) is called the Crimson Tide, so call him Deacon Blues. The Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University are an annual losing football team. His life is a disaster, so he is going to die in a DUI crash. He is a loser, and you can't talk him out of his dream of being a famous jazz musician.

[@LiberalsArePoop]

I never really knew what this song was about, but having lived in North Carolina for a short time, I always caught the Crimson Tide/Deacon Blue reference.

[@SaBoRhbg]

Either that or a man who has lived a "boring life" working 9 to 5. Now he is opting out of it and wants to go back to being a musician, playing saxophone. This may also be adressed to his wife/girlfriend whom he is leaving along with his former life.

[@kilgoretrout3966]

Correct

[@kilgoretrout3966]

Copt hes. not a Musician, that is the type of loserdom he aspires to...thus LEARN to work the saxophone

[@johnlawler2455]

@@SaBoRhbg Yes - the attractiveness of a free, but loser life of a half-broke musician over the 9 to 5.

[@davidsurgick2670]

These are jazz musicians. This whole album, "Aja", was recorded with many of the top jazz musicians of the day. A masterpiece.

[@johnlawler2455]

Almost an ode to them. Jazz music no longer sold, so they had to make $$ in clubs or in the studio.

[@PJ-wm9nq]

My best advice is to take yourself on a Steely Dan journey. Go with the music. I first heard them in 1973 and rarely do I not play their music each day!

[@ADVJunkie]

They are some of the very best studio musicians that have ever played. So glad you found these guys

[@poweredbyjoymusic]

Everyone is different but with Steely Dan you might want to focus on the music on your first listen as the lyrics are very layered and open to interpretation. You might miss the beauty of the song by trying to figure out the lyrics on the first pass. A song like this requires some time and patience to more fully appreciate it. And dude mysteries can be cool as they can help us expand our understanding and awareness

[@joelliebler5690]

So true!

[@smprather]

Fagen: When Walter came over, we started on the music, then started filling in more lyrics to fit the story. At that time, there had been a lineman with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers, Deacon Jones. We weren’t serious football fans, but Deacon Jones’s name was in the news a lot in the 1960s and 1970s, and we liked how it sounded. It also had two syllables, which was convenient, like ‘Crimson.’ The name had nothing to do with Wake Forest’s Demon Deacons or any other team with a losing record. The only Deacon I was familiar with in football at the time was Deacon Jones.”

[@scottstewart5784]

thank you

[@johnlawler2455]

@@scottstewart5784 I sat though one half of a Wake Forest - Duke football game. Probably the worst college football game ever played. We left at halftime to watch basketball practice.

[@robertlear2712]

I have been listening to this song since 1977 I still don’t know what all the lyrics mean. Maybe no one does.

[@MyPromixdirt]

best band ever

[@stevekake3359]

These lyrics don't need to be analyzed line by line. Just let it flow over you.

[@Ou81gi812]

🎉 When it comes to Steely Dan, the music and the vibe are first and foremost…the lyrics are secondary. When it comes to their sound; it’s sophisticated, pleasing, moving, etc., etc. “It’s obvious!” When it comes to the lyrics; they’re mysterious, they’re intriguing…and only one man knows EXACTLY what they mean…and that’s not you or me, only the author knows for sure. Sometimes words are used because of the way they sound, as opposed to what they mean. Finally, if you’re going to beat yourself up because you don’t understand the lyrics…you just squandered a BEAUTIFUL musical experience‼️ If the author’s message was SOOO important, do you think he’d hide its meaning? No. Part of Steely Dan’s beauty is the “playful nature” in which their lyrics are “crafted.” EVERYTHING they do has purpose; and that purpose is to create a “recipe” that is pleasing to the ear and soul. Donuts taste great…but if you break it down to just salt (yuk), flower (yuk), butter (yuk), it would taste horrible…but, put together with LOVE…now you’re talking!!! Tasty!!! So, if you’re going to enjoy your Steely Dan like you enjoy your donuts…don’t break it down to its main ingredients…it’ll go down a lot smoooother. Enjoy this rabbit hole…because THIS is what real musicians aspire to be. Another group that’ll inspire you is Supertramp. Try on some “Goodbye Stranger.” You won’t be disappointed.

[@ronaldwilliams6927]

You nailed it brother! Great advice!

[@m.ericwatson968]

Guy puts on his favorite jazz vinyl album, audiophile stereo system, a highball with some Scotch, neat, (his only vice) and drifts away from his dull and repetitive suburban existence and dreams of being a whole other person, one of the jazz greats who forge their own paths, live by their own rules and punch their own ticket on the way out.

[@guitarattempter71]

I always took this song to be about the difference between the perception and reality of being a working musician. It may look glamorous from the outside, but working 5 or 6 nights a week, you watch friends and bandmates lives fall apart over time. The "regulars" in a club, who get drunk every single day aren't there because they're happy. It's not a pleasant thing to watch.

[@stevenperry4466]

Having skill and chops is way more rewarding than the nightclub circuit experience. I played for 5yrs. straight up to 6 nights a week. We all had day jobs too. It is a depressing atmosphere after a while because of the constant alcohol and troubled people. You nailed it buddy, not as fun as it looks after a while. I'd rather enjoy playing in a fun setting.

[@brianwebb9827]

With Steely Dan, it’s not meant to be understood but rather experienced.

[@ronaldwilliams6927]

You nailed it brother! 😊

[@alansmith7626]

thank you sir!

[@georgetaxi8179]

Steely Dan lyrics may be hard to decipher, but the music is amazing! On future reactions, I suggest just focusing on the music.

[@doplinger1]

Up until a few years ago I thought it was “dine behind the wheel” which makes more sense to me. You know, he’s always on the move, going from gig to gig, no time to sit down to eat so he goes through drive thrus and eat while driving to the next destination, dining behind the wheel.

[@bonya4585]

Good theory there, but nah

[@melissaw704]

That’s what I thought too.

[@exitar33]

Well, the way they have it is "die behind the wheel". I have always thought, and still do, that he's singing about playing too much roulette.

[@paulgxi]

Enjoying this channel. Love the music and your appreciation of it. Also fascinated by your struggle with the lyrics.

[@selectronium]

i just found your channel and am loving some of your questions! i subscribed lol. my personal opinion on this song is this: only one person can win a competition and "make a name for themselves". and the rest are all losers... second place is technically just first loser, after all.
so to me this says: if only a small percentage of humanity ever gets a name because we focus only on naming "winners", that leaves out 99.9% of humanity's stories whose stories will never be told by name. and those stories made up the fabric of what we call "history" and "humanity" as surely as the stories of the very few winners. so he is demanding a name for himself, even if he dies a loser. we should not be forgotten as individuals just because we "didn't make a name for ourselves".
Steely Dan lyrics are pretty deep into heavy philosophy, i think most people just enjoy the pretty words and instrumentation. for me, i am always surprised when i read what the band says what the lyrics meant because i had such different ideas from it.

[@tomchun1968]

Pete Chrislieb played tenor in the Tonight Show Band w/ Johnny Carson. He told me that the solo herein was one take.

[@davidnorman4923]

Lee Ritenour is a classicly trained musician who loves jazz and brazillian music!He has played sessions for Barbra Streisand George Benson Pink Floyd Brothers Johnson! He also formed jazz group Fourplay with Nathan East Bob James and Harvey Mason!

[@robertlear2712]

This a song is about a man who fantasizes about leaving the suburbs and leading the life of a jazz musician.

[@MissAstorDancer]

Close, but no cigar.

[@jmclen7]

This is about the original hipsters. White men (back in the 1940s) would try to harness the mystique or the cool essence of what they thought it meant to be a black man. They would hang out at jazz clubs, get hooked on heroin. They were desperately trying to escape the boredom of white middle class suburban America.
This both describes Steely Dan as two kids growing up in post-war America (in white neighborhoods) and their longing for something more and their love of jazz. It’s also making fun of that entire mentality.
Like so many of their songs, the meaning is not easy to grasp and who knows who is right anyway? But it works on many levels. Even if it’s self-depreciating, they always seem to be poking fun at someone in their music.
So yeah, the protagonist of this song is a dude who wants to lose and lose big because that’s cool. They call those winners in Alabama the Crimson Tide. Call me Deacon Blues. This name was taken from football defensive end Deacon Jones.

[@AgeBetterDotCom]

Wow, this dude has a million dollar voice!!!

[@thomasreid4063]

I`m going with the sax brother killin it on stage...he`s Johnny Carson`s sax player and the " Deacon" SO that`s my story & I`m stickin to it...jazz fusion like Weather Report has to be your next rabbitt hole, CBrother

[@RobertCrickmore]

As a former full time player I used to know lots of guys who were basically this guy in the song. Talented like you wouldn't believe yet they were hard drinking, drug doing idiots in their personal life. On a break they're out in the parking lot toking up, doing a line or whatever. Don't even think about them driving. Certain ladies love guys like that (they're the Candyman) so they got lots of action and would stagger into an afternoon rehearsal all drugged out and hung over with a beer in their hand. And played their asses off. High functioning alcoholics is the term. I have many stories...

[@TruthIsNotTemporary]

Steely Dan songs are about the darker side of humanity

[@bridgetlaw1484]

try Steely Dan "Don't take me alive" I think you will be more in tune with the lyrics ,,,also for a real funky experience "FM (No static at all"

[@bennemer489]

It always takes a few listens to their music to "get it".

[@ericfredenburgh4577]

Deacon blues has its own wiki page it explains all the lyrics. I think you got it!

[@tonyallen4265]

Like good poetry, the meaning is not straight forward. The lyrics are worded in an obtuse way that is open to interpretation. But after several listens the artist's clandestine story finally reveals itself. It takes patience. Relax and take in the lyrical creativity with an unhurried mindset. No one fully understands such poetic lyrics the first time through. Just experience the song a few times and let it slowly sink in. Patience is a virtue in art.

[@seansavage4766]

I think the Drink Whiskey all night long and die behind the wheel line is about taking chances. He wants to be a jazz player but is just dreaming at this point. The age of the expanding man...This time, I need to really go do this instead of sitting here thinking about it

[@rodolfogonzales6818]

Life and times of musicians.

[@garybuseyfan4]

“Die Behind The Wheel” could be interpreted in a very literal sense but I always figured he was talking about drinking all through the jazz gig and vibing all night after hours and getting faded. ‘Die Behind the Wheel’, as in your mind. Just letting go of holding on so tight to being sober and succumb to the effects of the liquor. ‘The Engine’s Running But There’s Nobody Behind The Wheel.’ Sober vs. Black-Out Drunk.

[@marcusjaybrode2129]

Church Bro - Yeah they are all jazz musicians. I bought this album when I was 20 years old. I love your confused look. 😎

[@briangray00]

You have an American flag behind you.
American dream/nightmare
Winners/losers
You got the music right. Lovely ain't it?

[@cityhonors1]

I been listening to & seeing the Dan for decades 🤗 and I still can only figure out that Crimson Tide is Alabama's football team, cause my brother played them. Deacon Blues is the losing Team. And the expanding man means 🤭 he's getting fat. Later I found out a team on the way to or from a game went off the road. 🥰🐰

[@ebenclukey7293]

With Steely Dan, you're not necessarily supposed to be let in on what the song is about. In some cases they let us know over time what they were going for.

[@georgescanlon9738]

I'd like to add my interpretation of die behind the wheel. Instead of drying in a drunken stupor auto accident from drinking all night long, I think he means that he may lose or die, but he'll be in the drivers seat. He'll be in control behind the wheel driving his dream.

[@TruthIsNotTemporary]

The “Deacon Blues” are like how the Washington Senators were to the Harlem Globetrotters (sort of 😊)

[@joelliebler5690]

They were just looking for the respect of freedom in trying and not always winning but be loved just for who they are no matter what!

[@user-yv1gt9wn7n]

Taking life to the edge, how absolutely risky is it to drink scotch and drive...Putting it all out there, no regrets and accepting his fate...

[@mojorider8455]

I thought this song was about a newly working musician who is romanticizing the music life, his heroes, thinking you're supposed to stay up all night drinking scotch whisky and driving home drunk....Also, I think Fagan said he used the name Deacon in it because Deacon Jone was a popular football player at the time as well, just wanted to contrast the crimson red (AL football winners) with a guy who revels in, and romanticizes, his own broken life in a defiant way. But then again, who knows! It's a mystery, their lyrics

[@donttreadonme5302]

Die behind the wheel is a reference to how so many stars have been in car accidents because of alcohol and feeling invincible because they have been told how god like they are.

[@exitar33]

I always thought this song was about the late-night life of the musician. The show and then after the show - the gambling, drinking, and the women...And specifically about the "die behind the wheel" line, I thought that meant spending an excessive amount of time playing roulette.

[@butterflymama0838]

I know the musician in you wants to know the meaning of every single song that you react too, but sometimes you put too much thinking and pondering into it. When I don't understand the meaning of what an artist is trying to get across the listener I just vibe with the musicality of it and let the rest go bye-bye. I will also look up what the song meant to the artist. Lyrics are so subjective that each person may take it differently. Nice reaction anyway!
I enjoy your commentary, but let the lyrics go man. Just enjoy! 🤷🏼‍♀️😁 Peace & love to you ✌🏼❣️

[@douglaslewis6304]

Fagen has such a unique way to write lyrics. Donald will go outside the box from time to time. To me the key is the line about the University of Alabama. They were the premiere college football team at the time, associated with winning. This is about a guy who feels he's a looser.

[@cityhonors1]

😂 Good luck with these lyrics! 🤗 Don't get brain damage. Its really hard trying tell what a book is about after only readying 1 or 2 Chapters. Easier to try & figure it out after hear the song. 😒 Especially with the Dan. 🥰🐰

[@russwr4946]

checkin in...

[@jwoodard29]

Crimson Tide is the nickname for the University of Alabama football team, perennial winners. As a joke, Donald and Walter contrasted this with the woeful Wake University Fighting Demon Deacons, usually losers on the gridiron.

[@Phillip-jh2pe]

Listen to the album uninterrupted, accept that the lyrics are open to interpretation and enjoy the music.

[@derrickgreenwade2261]

I would suggest that you check out the making of Aja. Now that you have went the Steely Dan rabbit hole enjoy the my brother.

[@JoeCruz-hs2yt]

steely dan did use jazz musicians that can play any kind of music that's what their call studio musicians !

[@walterleonard2489]

This song was inspired nby Deacon Jones the football player with he being an outsider and a social outsider.

[@g4m3rm0j0]

You have to consider the "call me deacon blues" part as one whole thought meaning "the winners of the world have a name like Alabama being the crimson tide" but I am a loser so just call me "deacon blues" ...and I'll probably just end up "drinking too much and dying behind the wheel" driving home too drunk like the loser I am.

[@johntremmel3949]

This is a great track off of what some including myself would say is the best album ever made” Aja”

[@gushinojosa7696]

It's about freedom

[@user-gn1pu2wo1x]

Don’t feel slow. I’ve listened to this song since it’s inception, and I still have no clear idea. I think it means different things to people at different times.

[@unstrung65]

LYRICS DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE 'LITERAL' SENSE . THEY ARE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS, THEY ARE LIKE THE MUSIC , JUST FLOW WITH IT !!!

[@marcusdavis3927]

Drop that ( #118 LA Leakers Ray Vaughn) reaction 🎥 video. Ray Vaughn has more Barzzz than a Super Maximum Penitentiary Prison. Ray Vaughn spits nothing but ☣️ toxic non-stop 🛑 Barzzz on the 🎤 mic. This Barzzz 🎥 video is straight 🔥 fire and off the 📈 charts.. Your guaranteed to ⏯️ pause every 5 seconds because of so many Barzzz. If your a true ❤️ luv'er of hip hop then this is one 🎥 video you should 👀 see. His word-play , Double Entendres, Metaphors, Barzzz, and Storytelling is off the ⛓️ chain. Have your 👂 ears and 🧠 brain ready for a OVERLOAD of Barzzz coming thru your 🔊 speakers. I promise you won't regret ⌚ watching (#118 LA Leakers Ray Vaughn) Peace ✌️..

[@alexanderednie1205]

The Honorable Chuck Rainey on basd

[@derrickgreenwade2261]

On the album Aja Deacon Blues is the only song Chuck Rainey didn’t play on. Walter Becker played bass on this song.

[@SamuelGriffin]

why can't you just enjoy the music? Steely Dan is genius.

[@williamwallace5857]

You hope and pray that we're all OK ?? What if some of us aren't ? Where's your prayers then ?

[@user-bs4ym2zo4g]

They've been known to use musicians one day and then the next day completely different ones the next day

[@ragjamrock]

You're not slow at all. Most Steely Dan songs have very complex lyrics that can be confusing at times. Enjoy the music and check the comments for the explanation of what the lyrics are about🎷🎶

[@roberormonde]

Well there's very violent words and rap

[@sangertx9077]

It’s “And DINE behind the wheel”…not DIE.

[@tomaszg.8167]

I don't get it, what's unclear in that line about drinking whisky all night long? When you're drinking all night and then you're driving a car you don't feel very well, don''t you ? 😉

[@jaylarson152]

If it’s a first listen. Man, it’s gonna take time to decipher words! I’m all about the music. If it has a message. I’m the last to figure that out. I’m not smart enough to know all the hidden meanings n stuff.

[@stewpot6998]

If you quit stopping the music just before he finishes what he's saying you wouldn't be confused. Finish the phrase, then pause.
😂👍

[@user-bs4ym2zo4g]

Love the song so much but I would lyrically wrote "dine behind the wheel makes better sense steely Dan on notorious for using many sessions musicians thru the years . The reputation is to use upper-level upper level musicians only

[@yournamehere6002]

It's about a guy fantasizing about living the life of a jazz musician, but he's just delusional and grandiose.

[@PaulJR-hp2qm]

The best part is the sax solo, no lyrics there.

[@deeglencairn2598]

good luck trying to figure out the lyrics to SD songs most of us have been trying without much success for 50 years 😳

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Learn to work the saxophone,
I'll play just what I feel.
Drink Scotch wiskey all night long,
Die behind the wheel.

[@LiberalsArePoop]

You're putting too much pressure on yourself to understand the lyrics. And you're not slow or stupid for not getting them.

[@benjaminmoore6594]

Good Lord. Listen to the whole song a few times. What does it leave you with? What mood? What images? Have you ever studied poetry? What emotion does the song elicit? Poetry elicits, say, love, without using the word. Its purpose is to bring out a deeper understanding of a mood or situation than you would get by being descriptive.
Your criticism of not understanding the lyrics before you even hear the words of second verse is weird. That's like making fun of Einstein's equations with no background in physics.
I'm glad you at least appreciate the musicians.

[@michaelakkerman407]

I like to tell people to just enjoy the lyrics, it's poetry. Don't try to decipher everything. Think of them as a whole picture. POETRY

[@SeaMark782]

An ode to loserdom; the ultimate loser, dies behind the wheel drunk. But how about that band!

[@jameswaters3939]

You're not slow - artistic license lyrics to convey a feeling of uncertainty, philosophy, confusion, and endurance, IMO.

[@allenanderson7082]

Faded hipster

[@ManyThingsSeem]

The lyrics are snapshots with an overarching story... he plays the sax.

[@smprather]

Just listen to the music man. Don't get so hung up on the lyrics. Google it after.

[@otisyoung7061]

I never got this one either......not the best Steely Dan in my opinion

[@ZZ430T56]

Hey man. Just got turned on to your channel and love reactions from intelligent and experienced musicians. But....stop looking into the lyrics so deeply. Sometimes they are just words that rhyme. Not every song has a deep meaning. Sit back and enjoy the music.

[@joeschmo8862]

Please reqct to Your Gold Teeth Ii

[@oscar-lo4hc]

The song is an homage to (Black) Jazz and Blues musicians. No offense but I see this time and time again in reactions to music and movies by rappers and twenty and thirty somethings. No imaginations. Everything has to be explicitly spelled out. No sense of nuance and subtlety. I figured out where it comes from. They don't read books. Especially not great literature. DF and WB majored in English Literature in college. You can tell.

[@tommyharris2367]

PLEASE don't pay attention to the lyrics in rock songs. They're just stories. Maybe research it before u listen to it. Great show tho!

[@bryanleggo3489]

It's blues about the life of being a musician. You're not always supposed to understand Dan lyrics which are usually intentionally obscure and cynical I don't know why you're more focused on lyrics than the legendary set of studio musicians on this album and lengthy dedication to musical perfection to create it. It's annoying. . Good jazz musicians? Are you kidding? They're the best. Die behind the wheel? He's talking about touring until he's so old he dies behind the wheel. FFS.
We used to think Deacon referred to Wake Forest Deacons but apparently Deacon refers to Deacon Jones of the LA Rams in the 70's.
This is from that Aja album which is arguably THE masterpiece on it.
You should really pipe the music directly into the feed instead of on the mic.

[@stoneybass5981]

Don’t spend too much time on lyrics first time thru with Steely Dan.

[@Jan-xn3kz]

Listen to the groove and stop looking at these made up video