One of the few Steely Dan songs where I knew exactly what the lyrics meant. "I foresee terrible trouble, and I stay here just the same." Great line.

One of their best songs from the beginning! Brad is exactly right! It’s her dirty work for calling him over all the time and he’s feeling bad about being an adulterer!

@robertpearson8798

Жыл бұрын

Booty call.

@jollyrodgers7272

Жыл бұрын

It's 'Dirty' for him, because it's messy, it's adultery (a word lost to this generation) and they literally have to 'clean up' the evidence afterwards.

@mandandanmandamayor3511

12 күн бұрын

I don't know if he feels bad about being an adulterer, I think he mostly feels bad about being used as a toy. In my early 20s I got the reputation of being special in bed with the 30 somethings in my small town. I felt used often.

Here's the upshot of the song meaning: he's tired of being used and knows no good will come of the relationship, but he still can't help himself.

@jimmymac2292

8 күн бұрын

He's the side dude and understands he won't be more, even though he wants more

The women, in this case, has all the power. It's implied she's probably an older woman, bored in her marriage and she has all the control. While the man is probably younger. He gets a cheap thrill but as time goes on, even that cheap thrill is starting to grow old - thus he feels used - hence, dirty.

@rossmacintosh5652

Жыл бұрын

I suppose being someone's casual booty call can wear one down. It's a bit like that 'Self Esteem' song by the Offspring where he knows he's being taken advantage of by his ex.

Vocals are by David Palmer, because Donald Fagen didn't know if he was a good enough singer to be a full-time lead in live shows. Fagen gained enough confidence to let Palmer go, but I love Palmer's work here, anyhow. One of my favorites from the band. (Palmer's other offering on the album, "Brooklyn Hides the Charmer in Me", is also very nice.) And the lyrics are so on point. Catching the scent of the emptiness and decay of what was then a prosperous America. (Remember, 1972 was pretty much paradise compared to the neoliberal hell we've descended into since 1980.) I like Fagen's treatment of the subject a lot better than what Eagles do on "Your Lying Eyes", although that's good, too. She's doing her husband dirty and he's just her tool. Hence, he's letting her do something she shouldn't be doing. He knows it will never be what he wants…"but I stay here just the same".

I echo everyone below, can't go wrong with this band, been a fan from the beginning, and spent 30 years as a radio jock, Rock ON!!

Brad is spot on.. “people kill over that”. A bit more elaboration on that kind of situation is referenced in Skynyrd’s “Gimmie Three Steps” but most blatantly described in The Allman Brothers song “ONE WAY OUT” which I’m not sure if you two have reacted to yet, but would HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you haven’t yet. It’s almost like Brad is quoting part of the lyrics from it when he says the guy probably realizes that what he’s doing is dumb.

@stevedahlberg8680

Жыл бұрын

I would also throw the song Thursday by the band morphine into a similar theme and it is a whole lot of fun. But yeah give me three steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd was the very first thing I thought of once they were kind of analyzing this at the end

@stevedahlberg8680

Жыл бұрын

m.kzread.info/dash/bejne/kXmfmMyFZN2sZMY.html

@sattymike0155

Жыл бұрын

Yeah - I always pictured this was a guy who was friends with the man of the house staying at their place, and couldn't turn down the available missus whenever his bud was out.

Love this song.🥰 Play songs from their "The Royal Scam" album "Haitian divorce", "Green Earrings" "Don't take me alive" and the title track "The Royal Scam"...I love Steely Dan.

@eileendobbs8009

Жыл бұрын

Green Earrings is my jam. I love that song

@roundtownKen

Жыл бұрын

Agree completely. Haitian Divorce and Green Earrings are strong and noteworthy on a particularly strong album, Royal Scam. It's their grittiest filthy album full of atmosphere and attitude. You can smell the gumbo and island smoke in "H. Divorce". Sooooo funky and dark. Definitely go there.

@samuelgates5935

Жыл бұрын

@@roundtownKen Appreciate that. This album can play for days and I continue to pick more nuances in every song. Thanks 🫂

@samuelgates5935

Жыл бұрын

@@eileendobbs8009 Thanks. This song and album is so underrated. The guitar work is phenomenal. Lyrics, make you to think, put things in perspective.

@bookhouseboy280

Жыл бұрын

​@@roundtownKen Absolutely. I consider RS and Aja to be the twin peaks of their output. RS (my fav) has a visceral power and groove whereas afterwards their sound grew lighter, taking on a jazzier and more smoothly melodic upscale polish.

The reaction exemplifies just how sneaky Steely Dan was. They wrote smooth songs with great hooks and riffs, but snuck in those OMG lyrics that somehow made it onto the radio anyway (there were FCC censors back then)

@gj8683

Жыл бұрын

Yes, but apparently the FCC censors were oblivious to the meaning of the band's name! LOL Perhaps Beat literature wasn't their thing.

They had three lead vocalists on their first lp because they were a bit unsure of their direction. Always had a great vocal backup sound no matter who was singing, but luckily Donald stepped forward realizing his unique vocal quality set them apart from everybody else. Nobody sounds like Donald Fagan and that's what every singer wishes he had -- uniqueness.

@VersinKettorix

Жыл бұрын

This is a song I have always liked, but I actually had no idea it was SD. Between the vocals and the music, it does not give off the instantly recognizable signature that I relate to them.

@guitearist

Жыл бұрын

Fagan took a backseat on songs he wasn't confident in performing live, which is hilarious because they rarely played live at the height of their fame and stopped altogether for a dog's age. It was the label that wanted him to be the sole lead singer. Now the Danette's (their trio of backing vocalists) take the lead vocals on this live and it's sublime every time.

@davidhattman7649

Жыл бұрын

Actually only had two who sang lead vocals. Donald Fagen and David Palmer. Walter Becker sang background vocals.

@terenzo50

Жыл бұрын

@@VersinKettorix True -- but Becker and Fagan were songwriters first.

@terenzo50

Жыл бұрын

@@davidhattman7649 Jim Hodder sang lead on Midnight Cruiser.

The early Dan was more rock style , they got more complex and jazz as they went along. This is from the first album , Can’t Buy A Thrill . This is a great album you definitely need to listen to more songs from this .

Brad COMPLETELY understands this 100%; sometimes the second person is sick of the running around undercover. Doesn’t matter if it’s a guy or a girl, it’s still slimy.

Can't go wrong with Steely Dan! One of my favorite bands from the '70s.

One of the things I love about so many Steely Dan songs is not only that they lyrics tell you something about the person being sung TO, but also, more subtly, about the person singing. The guy keeps singing how he wants out of this extramarital affair (and blaming this married woman all for it), BUT... he isn't going to. This is all implied. The affair will only end once they are caught. In the meantime, this sad situation will just continue anyway. It points to the inconsistency that makes human beings so weirdly human. Another Steely Dan song structured in a similar way, but to humorous effect, is "Through With Buzz," where this guy is sick and tired of his abuse by this friend (?) Buzz -- but the sad truth is, he *isn't* through with Buzz. It's like a running theme with so many Steely Dan songs is right there in their first single "Do It Again" -- people are trapped in these uneasy relationships and they can't get out. I love how Steely Dan songs are populated with all these sorts of oddball characters.

What a lovable couple !

When you hear steely dan they make songs that you hum all day long their songs are very memorable and you don't know why...

her innocence is great and thet fact she just is diģing the lyrics

Steely Dan.... one great song after another... for decades to come 🎸💯💯

I LOVE THE BACK AND FORTH BANTERING WITH THE DIRTY WORK! 😊

Like it says in the second verse, he feels like a he thinks it's a bad and risky thing to do but keeps doing it anyway. I think Brad is all over it.

Brad & Lex, you'll love their "Deacon Blues", "Aja" and "Josie"!!!!!

This song always gives me good vibes, steely dan is a great band to chill and play cards or drive around and sing along with, kinda takes you back to the 60-70s even if you weren't there if that makes sense?

Steely Dan is one of those bands that I have a hard time listing a favorite song or album. All their music is great.

Steely Dan has the most devoted fans because they are a very special and unique group. Everyone will have their favorites but I recommend Aja, Haitian Divorce, and Royal Scam. That's a great trio of songs.

One more Steely Dan that's a REAL VIBE from an earlier LP. Try "Pretzel Logic" One of their best !! This one is a drag..lol 🤣

Top notch reaction here, guys! As others have said, I will echo right here and now that you absolutely cannot go wrong with this band, as every song in their entire catalog carries some heavy water on all fronts: musicianship and the execution thereof, lyrical substance, overall “flow” and “vibe”, they’re endlessly fascinating even after years of repeated listening. I would honestly say that anything anyone else is recommending here is gonna be a solid gem of an all around awesome song, but for the record a couple of my favorites would be “Josie”, “Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)”, and most especially “Any World That I’m Welcome To” which always rang true for me on a personal level. Keep on keeping on, with your awesome rockin’ reacting selves! ☮️, ❤, and Understanding!

This is real early Dan, from their first album in '72 - They had not found their Jazz 'chops' at this point, and Donald Fagen was not yet comfortable singing lead - this is David Palmer singing. The "dirty work" is the gigolo work of a man having an affair with a married woman.

Congratulations on the Baby Boy! Good luck and God Bless.

Great song off a great album.

Fagan & Becker were musical geniuses and studio masters. Lex was totally right about Steely Dan being a jazzy, chill band. In the 70s, they were part of the soundtrack of countless sangria and weed parties (along with the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Boz Skaggs, and the Steve Miller band). Great stuff from an era hugely misunderstood by Millennials & Gen Zs.

@xmathmanx

Жыл бұрын

it would be weird for any generation to have a good understanding of music from many decades before they were born, of course

@wadsworthaaron

Жыл бұрын

@@xmathmanx I grew up in a multi-generational home (grandmother born in 1909, father in 1927, mother in 1944, me in 1969) and I listened mostly to 1950s early rock 'n roll before middle school. There's so much rich history to rock 'n roll and with the burgeoning online phenomenon of "reaction videos," I think we're going to see that middle-era Gen Zs will know more about the various generations of rock than Millennials (who were, generally, ahistorical in most regards). Cheers!

@xmathmanx

Жыл бұрын

@@wadsworthaaron i suppose a lot of it is chance, my children are millennials but they grew up listening to al kinds of music, as I had uncles and aunts who exposed me to the good stuff from their time ☺️

You are always in for a treat with Steely.❤

This one always sounded so different from the rest of their work. I like it a lot but it was many years before I realized this was even Steely Dan. My favorite by them is Peg.

It's not that hard Lex. She's an adultress and he knows it's wrong for both of them... but she keeps calling and he keeps answering. Obviously, (in this particular case) she chased him to fill whatever void she needed filled, (instead of asking her husband) and they both keep doing it. He feels guilty and dirty because when you do dirty work, you get dirty. "I foresee terrible trouble" Brad nailed it "People kill over this stuff".

Another great number from Steely Dan.

I foresee terrible trouble and stay here just the same That says everything, that not wanting to do the "dirty work" always takes a back seat to the thrill of it all

Another Funkalicious Steely Song

This was off the first album and featured David Palmer as lead singer, who really only appeared on the first album.. Donald Fagen has done most of the lead vocals as the band moved on in the years..You've already done the 2 big singles off this album and this was a deep cut.. but everything by Steely Dan is great, so can't go wrong with this band.. fine reaction..

Greatest conversation about song lyrics ever. I've learned so much about each of you.

Studio Masterpiece. Everything they touch...Golden! Thank you for your video.

So…Steely Dan. Took their name from a reference in a book called “Naked Lunch” by William Burroughs. It was the name given to a “revolutionary steam powered” ahem…[insert euphemism for a phallic shaped massage toy here..] Yep. That was one heck of an interesting book!

It's sneaky and underhanded. Dirty work

He's a fool to do it because he knows he's going to get caught eventually. "I foresee terrible trouble, but I stay here just the same...."

One of the few Donald Fagan didn't sing. Brad nailed it.

Being a "fool", is slang of the day meaning to be an "enthusiast".

Oh my what a band thank God I got see not once but three awesome times peace✌️

Great reaction Daddy Brad & Momma Lex! Another excellent song off of this album is "Fire in the hole"! It has an incredible piano solo! I hope that you can react to it soon!

Tony Soprano singing this in his Escalade

One of my favorites

How is it dirty work? *Brad gets worried...

Yep, Brad quickly grasped the lyrical intent right from the start, with no outside explanations nessesary.

Brad got it. He's accusing her of being the instigator because she's the one who needs a bit of loving. He is doing her dirty work by filling that need. He's conflicted because he probably loves her and feels used. He sees the situation boiling over at some point, and feels like a fool for staying anyways.

Brad's right. The guy is mad at himself for always giving in to the married woman's (and his own) desires. "Dirty work" is defined as: activities or tasks that are unpleasant or dishonest and given to someone else to undertake. He seems to be regretting his choices, and wishes she would go find another man to cheat with...'cause it's hard for him to let go, too.

Brad: Mind your business... I'm dead

You're spot on this time Brad!

Love you both

I love their music

Always had special feelings for this song. The Pointer Sisters did a terrific cover of this!!! Dirty like, dirty little secret😉

really cool tune, smooth is accurate Lex. Rock on Brad & Lex

Keep the Dan reactions coming! Choose any of their songs, they’re all winners 👍🏼

Remarkable performance, world's most amazing voice🙏🙏🙏👍

i really appreciate y'all uploading a couple of these with hurricane Ian bearing down on us this week. that's serious dedication! stay safe, & stay dry, y'all!

Awesome track good old school 70s music

one of their best songs.

I’ve always been a big fan of steely Dan, Donald Fagen has done some solo work check out his songs from the Nightfly album. Maxine and Ruby baby are a couple of my favorites.

Great song

I hate cheaters. It's definitely dirty work.

Just reminds me of the sopranos. Tony singing it.

So great.. thanks 😎

Pointer Sisters cover of this is amazing, too

Once you hear Steely Dan, you wanna hear more steely dan..

Steely Dan were extremely talented musicians regardless of your opinion of them

Listen to kings by them. Underrated song

Birtha, an all-female 70’s band, did a cover of this song. They had a good hard rock sound and are worth checking out along with Fanny.

I love you guys!

Anything Steely Dan. They are brilliant. Rabbit hole stuff if you want to delve deep into their song meanings.

Music from my teen formative years.

Lol my favorite reaction from Brad!

I like when Tony sings it

first time Lex didn't really get it, still adorable

You know it's so cool as you know this is being the first album there was other people in the band who did the vocals so it just wasn't Donald Fagen that really added a different element to the whole sound I love that one verse where it comes in with the sack solo and it had that Yakety Sax kind of sound okay kids

He's doing the "Dirty Deed."

Great tune....but you don't have much time to bug out!! We're a little over an hour north of you all. You need to get, you're welcome here.

Aloha guys, good morning...saw this on Live stream...laughed my ass off...fun times...a hui hou

Nobody does lyrics like steely😊dan😂😂😂😂

I think its like. She uses him to do stuff when the husbands out of town but he doesnt get any and bow realises hes there to just do chores

Notable because it's their only hit with a different singer besides Fagen. It was soon decided that Fagen had the best voice for the smooth, sophisticated, often sleazy world within their songs. I've never been an adulterer like the guy in the song, but I imagine it sometimes feels like work. Your "job" is to give someone the love and affection missing in their marriage. Or maybe HER "job" is to get back at the husband she doesn't care for anymore and that's now also the back-door-man's job. Yeah, here's advice for everyone: just get divorced FIRST, lol.

This entire album is lit. Great band from back then. I think they were attending some Ivy League college when they started.

This is a great song and band regardless

So she's cheating on her man with our guy and our guy is feeling weird about it, like it's not cool, but he keeps coming back for more. Anyway, yeah, Lex is absolutely right, Steely Dan generally more jazzy, jazz/fusion, yet in this one, with vocalist David Palmer, it sounds more folk/rock. You guys rock!

Of all the great music Steely Dan produced in the 70s, this song sounds nothing like them, yet it is one of their best. Maybe because it is such a departure from what most of their music sounds like. This one is special. The subject of the "cheating wife" while her Hubby is away, has been written and sang about since the old classic Negro Blues pioneers of the 1920s. The term "Backdoor man," obviously refers to the secret lover, who is let in the "Backdoor, or it has been a way of escape, when the Hubby unexpectedly comes home early. Jumping out the window would also work,, depending on how many stories high the Bedroom is. Thanks folks

@Sanity1234

Жыл бұрын

Now the term "Backdoor Man" means something different......heh.

The reaction from lex is Funny 😂😂

Steely Dan "Fire In The Hole"...Nuff Said.

Hey Guys…stay safe! Hurricanes are no joke! ❤️😎

It's Dr. ROCK!

Not having heard that before , I had visions of it going into a Supertramp song especially with that keyboard rhythm

Damn girl.

One of very few Dan songs without Fagen on lead vocal, David Palmer in this case.

Don't wanna be your dirty little secret no more!

What a beautiful smile you have young lady I just thought I'd let you know

“It’s just dirty to do, and he’s calling it work.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I mean that’s it, that’s all pretty much. That’s literally “Dirty Work”. Nailed it Brad. Lex you failed this one.