Great 7″ inches/sleeves/vinyl from the past

2 August 2022

‘Do It Again’ by STEELY DAN
The duo’s debut single released
50 years ago next November.
Score: #6 in the US and Canada.

The song was credited on the sleeve as a traditional
song even though it was written by Becker/Fagen.

Fagan said: “You should never believe anything it ever says
on a Steely Dan record. It’s mostly a bunch of lies and bullshit
that we write just to confuse the listener.”

The lyrics are sung to a man who is addicted to nightlife. His addictions
include sex (hence a prostitute’s street on the front sleeve) and gambling.
The narrator describes the man’s addictions and the consequences of his
actions but emphasizes that he goes “back, Jack, do it again“, implying
that it is an addiction.

In the mornin’ you go gunnin’ for the man who stole your water
And you fire ’til he is done in but they catch you at the border
And the mourners are all singin’ as they drag you by your feet
But the hangman isn’t hangin’ and they put you on the street
You go back, Jack, do it again, wheel turnin’ ’round and ’round
You go back, Jack, do it again

STEELY DAN: Bio – Discography