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Fun Music Information -> Steely Dan

This is the most recent information about Steely Dan that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Steely Dan, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).

Our newest site, amIwrong has an albums order quiz where you need to put this performer's albums in order of release.
 
 

Band Name Origins:

  • I was watching this 70's action movie on TV once. I don't remember the name of the movie, but I do remember that the main character wielded a big gun called the Steely Dan. So, that's most likey where the name came from. [Ed.'s note: but it more likely came from the steel vibrator from the novel "Naked Lunch".] Submitted by: Mr. X
  • The band's name (like a number of others) is derived from the works of William S. Burroughs: Steely Dan is the name of a giant flying steam-powered dildo that appeared in Burroughs' book Naked Lunch. Fagen once explained, "We just wanted to give the band a little more thrust than most other bands." Submitted by: GF

Vainity Songs:

Song Name
Comments & Submitter Name
"Show Biz Kids""They got the shapely bods They got the Steely Dan T-shirt". - from Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) - Andy

Better Off Solo?:

Name
New Career
Comments & Submitter Name
"Walter Becker""During a 15-Year Hiatus from Steely Dan, Walter Becker made a Minor hit called 'Book of Lies'." - Paul Warren
"Donald Fagen""During a 15-Year Hiatus from Steely Dan, Donald Fagen wrote songs for the movies 'Heavy Metal' and 'Bright Lights, Big City'. And one of his videos was seen in 'Beavis and Butt-Head'." - Paul Warren

Song Titles Not Used as Lyrics:

Song Name
Comments & Submitter Name
"The Caves of Altamira"Neither "Caves" nor "Altamira" appear in the lyrics. The more familiar chorus: "Before the fall when they wrote it on the wall / When there wasn't even any Hollywood" - Doug N.
"Pretzel Logic"Though this is the song that's also the album title, it should be known as "Those Days are gone forever over a long time ago". - Paul Warren

New Song Names:

Original Song Name
New Song Name
Submitter Name
"Reeling In The Fish""Reeling In The Years"Old Man Edgar Winter
"Any Stager Dude Will Tell You""Any Major Dude Will Tell You"Nicole Velocin
"Any Major Prude Will Tell You""Any Major Dude Will Tell You"Nicole Velocin
"FM (No Attic At All)""FM (No Static At All)"Marge Pegram
"FM (No Status At All)""FM (No Static At All)"Marge Pegram

There are additional new song names available.

Literally Impossible Song Titles:

Song/Performer
Comment
Submitter Name
"FM (No Static At All),"Even on FM radio there will be static.Peter
"Turn That Heartbeat Over Again,"Heartbeats can't be turned over.Candy Welty
"Black Friday,"Days of the week don't have color.Lynne O'Leahy-Cassid
"Pretzel Logic,"Pretzels don't have brains or think.oldiesfan
"Reeling In The Years,"You can't catch years with a fishing pole. ;-DLisa Cohead

There are additional literally impossible song titles available.

Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:

Song & Band Name
Song & Band Name
"Animal," Def Leppard"Black Cow," Steely Dan
"Tell Me," Groove Theory"Any Major Dude Will Tell You," Steely Dan
"Advice," Christina Grimmie"Do It Again," Steely Dan
"The Deacon's Hop," Big Jay McNeely"Deacon Blues," Steely Dan
There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available.

Remove a Letter From a Song Title:

"Fir In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Fire In The Hoe" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Ire In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Id Charlemagne" originally "Kid Charlemagne"
Karen Smith
"East St. Luis Toodle-Oo" originally "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo"
Isac

There are additional song titles with a letter removed available.

Add a Letter to a Song Title:

"Fire In The Whole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Fired In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"East St. Louise Toodle-Oo" originally "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo"
Isac
"Home At Least" originally "Home At Last"
Serafina
"FM (Not Static At All)" originally "FM (No Static At All)"
Serafina

There are additional song titles with a letter added available.

Change a Letter:

"File In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Sire In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Fife In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Wire In The Hole" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty
"Fire In The Hope" originally "Fire In The Hole"
Candy Welty

There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.

Recordings:

July 23
a parody of "Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan
Seems that Bubba enjoys dangling while angling.
Soundclick: (MP3)

Song Parody Lyrics:

Original Song Name
Parody Song Name
Parody Author
"Bad Sneakers""Trump Sneakers"Hu’s On First
"Ricky Dont Lose That Number""Hill'ry Dont Lose That Patsy"Callmelennie
"Don't Take Me Alive""Won't Make It Out Alive"CML
"Dirty Work""Worky Dirt"Rick Duncan
"My Old School""Their Old Rule"Jeff Williams
"Do it again""Scam it Again"William Little
"Aja""Traitors"Ana Fana An' A Pair O' Paro' Pals
"Aja'""Russia"Jeff in Richmond VA
"Hey Nineteen""COVID-19"mouselover
"Rikki Don't Lose That Number""Mickey Dolt Loser Numbskull"Auntie Troll

There are additional song parodies available.

Songs for Commercials, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

Song Name
Product
Submittor
Pretzel LogicRold Gold or other pretzel company MOR
Black FridayAny store's Black Friday saleMOR
Throw Back The Little OnesFish And Wildlife ConservationTim Hall

Bad Choices for On Hold Music:

Song Name
Company/Organization
Submittor
Pretzel LogicGeorge W. Bush Presidential LibraryRosie Finch
My Old SchoolAny SchoolPaul Warren
The Boston RagNew York Yankees ticket purchasingMike Spessard
Here At The Western WorldIraqi GovernmentMike Spessard
Deacon BluesWake Forest University Athletic DepartmentDaniel Gordon
There are additional on hold music ideas available.

Songs for Duets, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

First Band/Song Name
Second Band/Song Name
New Song Name
Submittor
Dance Monkey
   Tones And I
Monkey In Your Soul
   Steely Dan
Dance Monkey In Your Soul
Little Old Lady Hu
Joey
   Concrete Blonde
Josie
   Steely Dan
Josey
Ben Dover
Still Got the Blues
   Gary Moore
Deacon Blues
   Steely Dan
Still Got the Deacon Blues
Ian
Song Sung Blue
   Neil Diamond
Deacon Blues
   Steely Dan
Song Sung Deacon Blue
A more specific shade of blue.
Ian
There are additional duets that haven't been done yet available.

If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be:

Steely Dan Breeze
Steel Breeze combined with Steely Dan
Submitted By: Donna Gelpigi
Maureen Steely Dan
Maureen Steele combined with Steely Dan
Submitted By: Gretchen Wieners
Steely Dan Seals
Steely Dan combined with Dan Seals
Submitted By: Candy Welty
Steely Gene McDaniels
Steely Dan combined with Gene McDaniels
Submitted By: Donna Gelpigi

There are additional Steely Dan Combined Groups that haven't been done yet available.

Misheard Lyrics:

"Don't Take Me Alive"
Misheard Lyrics:
Honey-boo, keep her son
Original Lyrics:
I'm a book-keeper's son
"Don't Take Me Alive"
Misheard Lyrics:
Honey-boo, keep her son
Original Lyrics:
I'm a book-keeper's son.
"Josie"
Misheard Lyrics:
When Jersey comes home
or
New Jersey comes home
Original Lyrics:
When Josie comes home
"Midnight Cruiser"
Misheard Lyrics:
The loneliest, my old friend
Original Lyrics:
Felonius, my old friend
There are additional misheard lyrics available.

Misheard Lyrics Stories:

"Reelin' In The Years"
Misheard Lyrics:
Are you rolling in the eaves?
Just throwing away the thyme?
Are you gatherin' up the teas?
Have you had enough of mine?
Original Lyrics:
Are you reelin' in the years?
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears?
Have you had enough of mine?

Story about this misheard lyric by: Misty Z

I thought it was about a sidewalk cafe closing up for the day.

There are additional misheard stories available.

Song Parody Fragments:

"Hey Nineteen"
Better Lyrics:
I was a dandy glamour guy
Original Lyrics:
I was a dandy Gamma Chi
Submitted by: Carlos R. Zapata

Funniest Song Lyrics:

"Cousin Dupree"
The Funny Lyrics:
When I see my little cousin Jenine walk in
Well all I could say was ouch!
Why They're Funny:
The entire song is a hoot relating the angst of a loser infatuated with his hot young cousin.
Submitted by: Alex
"Do It Again"
The Funny Lyrics:
So go back, Jack, do it again.
Why They're Funny:
Who's Jack? The person he's singing to? He doesn't specify.
Submitted by: Mike F.

Repetitive Song Lyrics:

"Kid Charlemagne"
The Repetitive Lyrics:
Is there gas in the car?
Yes there's gas in the car
Why They're Repetitive:
That one gets *everybody's* attention...
Submitted by: Ben Kalafut
"Doctor Wu"
The Repetitive Lyrics:
Doctor Wu
Why They're Repetitive:
This story is about meeting a Chinese doctor who was originally from China and they're in love with each other. note: The doctor is a woman
Submitted by: wxyztv
There are additional repetitive lyrics available.

Nonsensical Song Lyrics:

"Glamour Profession"
The Nonsensical Lyrics:
On the town we dress for action.
Celluloid bikers is Friday's theme.
Why They're Nonsensical:
What the hell is a celluloid biker? And if they exist, how do you dress for a party as a celluloid biker?
Submitted by: someguynamedbob
"Kid Charlemagne"
The Nonsensical Lyrics:
Is there gas in the car?
Yes there's gas in the car.
Why They're Nonsensical:
ok, I guess it makes sense, but...Well, even Walter Becker said in an interview that he was roasted by a cabbie who realized during the cab ride who he was, and asked if he was the one who wrote those 'ridiculous' lyrics.
Submitted by: Jim
There are additional nonsensical lyrics available.

Insulting Song Lyrics:

"Pretzel Logic"
The Insulting Lyrics:
Yes I'd love to tour the Southland
In a traveling minstrel show
Yes I'm dying to be a star and make them laugh
Sound just like a record on the phonograph
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago, oh yeah
Why They're Insulting:
They romanticize the time when blacks were made fun of in minstrel shows, and "love to tour the Southland" is emphasizing the racial perspective of the South at that time. It's time to stop romanticizing what is simply racism.
Submitted by: Mark Allen
"Hey Nineteen"
The Insulting Lyrics:
Hey nineteen That's 'retha Franklin
She don't remember The queen of soul
Why They're Insulting:
I know it's not meant to be insulting, and it was directed at a potential groupie, but I was 14 when that song came out, and I knew who Aretha Franklin was even before then. If Donald Fagen is suggesting that somebody five years older wouldn't have a clue who she is it almost sounds to me like he's slamming all teenagers.
Submitted by: The Skuz
There are additional Insulting lyrics available.

Dated Song Lyrics:

"Your Gold Teeth"
The Dated Lyrics:
Tobacco they grow in Peking
Why They're Dated:
City is now officially known as Beijing.
Submitted by: RJSchex
 

Dirty Song Lyrics:

"Black Cow"
The Dirty Lyrics:
Drink your big black cow, and get out of here.
Why They're Dirty:
When I first heard the song, I immediately thought of the scene in 'Freddy Got Fingered' where Tom Green was 'milking' a male cow. Plus, the lyrics sound like they allude to somebody performing oral sex on an obese black woman. That's why the lyrics sounds dirty to me.
Submitted by: Darth Chaos
 

Song Lyrics That Name Check Celebrities:

"Everything You Do"
The Lyrics:
Turn up the Eagles; the neighbors are listening
Who They Mention:
The Eagles, which in turn inspired the line about steely knives in Hotel California
Submitted by: dayna
"Pretzel Logic"
The Lyrics:
I have never met Napoleon
But I plan to find the time
Who They Mention:
Napoleon Bonaparte
Submitted by: David Jones
There are additional celebrity lyrics available.

Song Lyrics That Mention Brand Name Products:

"Glamour Profession"
The Lyrics:
I drove the Chrysler
Product Brand Name:
Chrysler
Submitted by: Hank Kiosk
"Hey Nineteen"
The Lyrics:
The Cuervo Gold, the fine Columbian
Product Brand Name:
Cuervo Gold
Submitted by: rocky

Songs That Open With Their Titles:

"Black Friday"
Opening Lines:
When Black Friday comes, I'll stand down by the door
Comments:
Submitted by: Candy Welty
"Bodhisattva"
Opening Lines:
Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand?
Comments:
Submitted by: Larcen Tyler

Song Title Space Change:

"FM (No Static A Tall)" originally "FM (No Static At All)"
No static for tall persons at that radio station
Submitted by: Peter
"FM (No Stat I Cat All)" originally "FM (No Static At All)"
They didn't go to the ER at that radio station.
Submitted by: Peter
"Green Ear Rings" originally "Green Earrings"
Submitted by: Sutch

Bad Grammar in Song Lyrics:

"Don't Take Me Alive"
The Lyrics:
I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't wanna shoot no one.
Why:
It should be "I don't wanna shoot ANYONE," but the correct lyrics don't fit like the incorrect lyrics do. If Donald Fagen says he doesn't want to shoot no one, obviously he wants to shoot SOMEONE.
Submitted by: Crocodile Dummy
"Hey Nineteen"
The Lyrics:
She don't remember the queen of soul
Why:
It should be "she doesn't remember" but Steely Dan very rarely did this sort of thing.
Submitted by: Rich Braham

Band Name Anagrams:

Ed Stanley Submitted by: Lorraine Thoanjer
Deny Steal Submitted by: Lorraine Thoanjer
Leaden Sty Submitted by: Condoleezza Rice Pilaf
Let Ned Say Submitted by: George Straitjacket
What does Ned want to say?
Ten Delays Submitted by: Josh

There are additional Band Name Anagrams available.

Song Title Anagrams:

"King Held Camera" originally "Kid Charlemagne"
Submitted by: Alexis
"To Fantastic Mall" originally "FM (No Static At All)"
Submitted by: Roger
"Green Ears Ring" originally "Green Earrings"
Submitted by: Butch
"Joe Is" originally "Josie"
Submitted by: Alexis
"Rare Green Sign" originally "Green Earrings"
Submitted by: Becky Bright

There are additional Song Title Anagrams available.

Real Places Mentioned in Songs:

"Time Out of Mind"
The Lyrics:
I am holding the mystical sphere, it's direct from Lhasa
Why:
Lhasa, in the Asian country of Tibet
Submitted by: Andy Primus
"Gaucho"
The Lyrics:
Look at you, holding hands with the man from Rio
Why:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Submitted by: Andy Primus
There are additional Real Places Mentioned in Songs available.

Super Long Pop Songs:

"Deacon Blues" Length: 7:36
It's 20 seconds shorter than 'Aja' which is on the same album "Aja".
Submitted by: Paul Warren
"Bodhisattva" Length: 7:41
Submitted by: jdizzy

Super Short Pop Songs:

"Through With Buzz" Length: 1:34
The song is taken off from 1974's "Pretzel Logic."
Submitted by: Mickey D.

Song Title Acrostics:

WAG: "With A Gun"
Submitted by: Candy Welty

Song Title Spoonerisms:

"Burn That Tart Heat Over Again" originally "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again"
Submitted by: H. Tim Smith
"Burn That Tart Heat Over Again" originally "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again"
Submitted by: H. Tim Smith
"Kid Marla Shayne" originally "Kid Charlemagne"
Submitted by: Marlene L. Ram
"Kid Marla Shayne" originally "Kid Charlemagne"
Submitted by: Marlene L. Ram
"Don't Make Tea Alive" originally "Don't Take Me Alive"
How WOULD one make tea come to life?
Submitted by: Rhoda Dohr

There are additional Song Title Spoonerisms available.

Foreign Language in English Songs:

"Pearl Of The Quarter "
The Lyrics:
On the water down in New Orleans
My baby's the pearl of the quarter
She's a charmer like you never seen
Singing voulez voulez voulez vous
Why:
I'm no language expert but isnt voulez vous french?
Submitted by: Dennis Tommasulo
"Third World Man"
The Lyrics:
E l'era del trezo mondo.
Why:
This is Italian for "And it was of the Third World".
Submitted by: Paul Warren

Band Name Spoonerisms:

Dealy Stan originally "Steely Dan"
Submitted by: Herculina Alencar

Movies Named After Song Titles:

"Dirty Work"
This film was directed by Bob Saget
Submitted by: Paul Warren

Other Artists:

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