Steely Dan - Aja Lyrics

That is intact my name 🥱

My dad’s favorite song. I was named after this 💕

Sax and drums!! \m/ Thanks for this post!

I'm 19 and Steely Dan has got to be one of my favorite bands. Just goes that truly good music will stand the test of time and go on to affect future generations.

Now I want to be a bird idk why

The production of this album is ahead of its time…Sound Wise, my LP sounds better than any digital reproduction...  and the songs are timeless

Steve Gadd's drum work is soooo killer!

Is it Bernard Purdie and Chuck Rainey on drums and bass ?

It’s the xylophone for me..... like the band GONG (Pierre Moerlen era)

Truly The Dan's MOST ultra SMOOTH Sound that could possibly be...You know when you 1ST hear a new album & it just LOCKS you in?? All of their albums are "top shelf" but this one here is their Mt.Everest.....

My dad told me about Steve Gadd. I looked him up and this Rick Beato dude said Gadd prob did the best drum solo ever in this song so here I am.


I love it when my dad introduces me to new music. I'm just a kid and thus I don't know much, so it is always a pleasure.
<3 you dad :)

Yes ! Like walking down the sidewalk ,at any time of the season ,listening and watching during the late afternoon ,,remembering.

Few artists speak to my soul as does Steely Dan. True musical visionaries. Child of the 70's that I am.

That drum during the sax solo... just beautiful!

Donald Fagen -- lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle
Steve Gadd -- drums
Victor Feldman -- percussion, vibraphone
Chuck Rainey -- bass
Walter Becker -- guitar
Denny Dias -- guitar
Larry Carlton -- guitar
Michael Omartian -- piano
Joe Sample -- electric piano
Wayne Shorter -- tenor sax
Timothy B. Schmit -- backup vocals

“ throw out the hardware , let’s do it right “ 😎🇺🇸⚓️

This song wants me to beat up a Black haired guy who put a wierd thing in my grandads brain

This song popped into my head. I can remember being upstairs in my room while my mother played this on the record player. Brings back memories!

No words. An all-time classic!!!!!

This album really holds up....

Allmusic.com must be smoking crack because I think this was Steely Dan's masterpiece. This should definitely be a 5 star album! 😡😡😡

I'll be honest. As a kid I did NOT understand this album, the music.
But I could sing every song, knew every lyric, though I didn't know what any song meant in its entirety.

that outro

THAT"S the way to fade out.

Lyrics

Up on the hill, 
People never stare
They just don't care
Chinese music
Under banyan trees
Here at the dude 
Ranch above the sea

Aja, 
When all my dime 
Dancing is through
I run to you

Up on the hill, 
They've got time to burn
There's no return
Double helix 
In the sky tonight
Throw out the hardware, 
Let's do it right

Aja, 
When all my dime 
Dancing is through
I run to you

[Instrumental Break]

Up on the hill
They think I'm okay
Or so they say
Chinese music 
Always sets me free
Angular banjos 
Sound good to me

Aja, 
When all my dime 
Dancing is through
I run to you

I named my best hunting partner and most loyal dog Aja. He lived for 18 years and I still miss him even after 40 years but when I hear this song I smile for the great song, and great dog. RIP Aja and Becker.

Glynn, that was a great story. So, this would be your all-time favorite Steely Dan song?

There's no return!

Love this music!

Although a great many Dan fans put this album at the head of their list, I have to say I can't share that view. Too much on it that sounds like less melodic and more protracted versions of things they'd already put out on "Katy Lied". No real development going on within each track - they start, maunder quietly on for four or five or seven minutes, then fade out or stop. Perhaps repeated listenings might change my opinion, but I doubt it.
NB: this isn't to criticise anyone who really does dig "Aja" - musical tastes are so subjective, there's no point in getting after anyone whose preferences don't match your own. You like this album, that's fine by me.

But for my SD top three, it has to be (in no particular order) "Thrill", "Pretzel" and "Katy". Guess I'm just into shorter, punchier, more tuneful songs.

are you kidding me? how can humans produce such incredible art! GOD EXISTS!

0:48 Z? finally

pronounced lisa simpson

My name is Pedro. It is pronounced Pedeero.

Damn those drums, it has to be Kars on them to be that perfect.

Like it? Are you joking? It's great

Grazie Steve Gadd per questo capolavoro e grazie naturalmente agli Steely Dan, quando voglio sentire della grande musica mi ascolto tutto l 'album e mi dimentico della cacca che si sente in questi ultimi anni.!!!!!

Pinche delicia escuchar a estos manes!

Teacher: we’re going to Asia for a school trip
Girls: yawn, that’s so boring
Boys:

Mid to late November, night sets in early this time of year. Neon lights glisten the city. Glass of whiskey, chilling, watching an old or modern noir film..... always makes think of this jazzy element music. Glad to be here enjoying it at this special time of year.

I was 16 just left school and came across this album, now 59 and still listen to it most days, we were the lucky generation to hear them at their peak, nothing ever since and ever will better this album thats for sure!!!

steeley dan is the shit

should have been there

(6;56-End) Always Gives me the CHILLS...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who's listening in 1977 ?!

Neil Peart❤ said he noticed a drum fill Steve Gadd did in a session in the 90s with Neil Peart
https://youtu.be/XEDzfVtk2XM

My thought was you didn't hear Steely Dan - Asia in 1977❤
@ 5:15 & 6:56 is the same kind of drum pattern ❤ Neil's talking about,
I loved the drum pattern back then I really love at the end of the song how Steve Gadd shine's then that Wicked grove finishing out the song 😍

THIS SONG REMINDS ME OF MY DIVORCE FROM MY FIRST KID'S MAMA! - IT'S WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT!

AJA when all my die'n dance'n is through i run to you.....SUCH A COOL SONG ! Free and easy days of my youth.😊

Who is listening in 2019? RIP Walter.

@John Thorne Greetings from CA. I lived in the UK for a semester in college. Loved every minute.

I am listening in November 2019 and therefore I am over the clouds... RIP Walter

Listening with pleasure here in December 2019 - and of course, RIP Walter!!!

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker strove for perfection in the studio which made their music sound so naturally beautiful.

Steely Dan is just...different.

Different, but in a good way.

Wow. Forgot about this gem.🔥 Listening in 2019.

Back in the 70's Progressive Rock was big and I naturally thought AJA was one amazing Progressive Rock Song. I realized throughout the years that this song is more Jazzy than Progressive. I really love this tune and now in my 60's I'm pretty sure this is Jazz Rock at its best. Ahead of decades. Greetings from Callao City, Peru

Yes, Steely Dan was decades ahead of their time. Greetings from Davenport, Florida.

Very beautiful masterpiece, master musicians

Masterpiece is a good word here.

Rick beato made me listen to this.

You’re welcome, as always.

My nephew farts out the first 17 notes perfectly.
If only there was a show to showcase his skillz.

KBLX 'The Quiet Storm' in Oakland would play this in the early 80s. Love it to this day.

Double Jojo reference

Rick Beato says this got an awesome drum fill. So here I am listening.

Always have and always will love all of steely dans music 2019!!! Heck ya!!

This album is far and away a musical masterpiece. I'm 58 now and I remember when it first came out. I was a teenager and had a set of drums. I could play along with every song on the album except this one. To this day, I'm still amazed at the drums on this song. Music like this is a thing of the past. The good old days when we had talented musicians actually playing instruments, not this BS sampling and DJ crap they call music now.

Super job, this band use to have it goin on but haven't heard anything from them n a minute.

Perfection.

Who listening in 1977?!

A walk to Chinatown in San Francisco then you walk to the Pier and saunter along Pier 39 then Aliotos. This song is playing in my head.
The finer things in life.

Gret Album..

Love the Staccato picking right before the 3 minute mark. and the whistles... had never heard them in anything but disco.

The name of my crush

The mood of this song instantly transports me back to the happy days of the late 70s. Sweat bands, skateboards and grifter bikes. My lovable idiot mates wearing sweatbands round the head like John McEnroe.

Amen brother

Rick Beato will be responsible for at least another 1 million views 😂😅😆

*Agressive jojo noises*

Uma.banda excelentes. Classifico.como.um.jazz pop. Minha.idade jovem curti muito.seu som. Uma.musica.viajante.que.leva.pra passeios. Um lugares bonitos paisagens lindas. A.musica.tem essa habilidade de nós transportar para algo que sentimos, imaginamos.. A alma.humana tem sua.capacidade.de se locomover em pensamentos ,para lugares reais, ou imagináveis.

yurushite kudasaiiiiii Jotaro samaa !

What is "Smoth Jazz"? I'm not familiar with that term?
Is it like Smooth Jazz? :-)

4:43 - the great Wayne Shorter.

The '70s were such a great decade for pop music...!

so basically this song is just steve gadd on beast mode

I've never really given this a chance until I saw that episode of SpongeBob where Squidward bets SpongeBob he can't go the whole day without crying and he hears the radio make references to this song finishing and the station moving on to "Lionel Fishy's" sad song.

I'm sppppppeeeeeeachless

Love this song.

They couldn't understand this Black girl from the hood digging these vibes back then.. Still love Steely Dan.

First time ever listening to this. Just ¡WOW!

The

best!!!

Comedian Phil Hartman designed the album cover. Wild

It made me kinda sad that Steely Dan songs havent had much views but then in a way it's good that only a few know good music..and might as well keep these treasures hidden.. Thanks Thaththi(dad in Sinhala) for introducing me to great music

An assistant manager at a restaurant I worked at - his name was Jerry, and I'll never forget him - he was something of an audiophile, and had some of the best equipment I'd ever seen or heard back in the day. I was making a run with him to help out picking up some stuff for work, and we had to stop off at his place, because he needed to grab a change of clothes. While we were there, he put this platter on while I was waiting for him. It was like hearing MUSIC for the first time in my life. This has been one of my overall favorite albums ever since.

One of those timeless tunes you hear about in legends....

1978 .. 17 yrs old walking “ up on the hill “ in Fitchburg Ma with a 8 track boom box , some Columbian Gold , a pack of Marlboro’s and drinking a Miller listening to AJA .. awesome memories ☮️🇨🇦

Really cool memory 😀👍

Your ads are fucked.

A beautiful song, absolutely perfect! My husband and I finally got to see Steely Dan in 2016. Not a moment too soon. RIP Mr. Walter Becker! You left us too soon.

I've always loved Steely Dan, I have this album on vinyl. I came here tonight because I was watching a video about Fender Precision Basses and they mentioned the bass player for this song recalling this was his favorite work.

One of my favourite bands, listening to them since 1970s, still do ... wished I had gone to see them live when they came to the UK. Soul, jazz, prog rock, what more could one ask for?? RIP Walt Becker

this is my mofo shit........

sayoko yamaguchi is the model on the cover. there are other takes of her in the photo shoot.
that is the clue the album is pronounced 'asia'.

My god this brings back great memories of growing up in SoCal. One of my friends said I played the “hell” out of this entire album. Damn straight! Just listening takes me back to those carefree times.

"Chinese Music in the Banyan Trees......" Yes. Exactly what I was thinking.

I just learned where Steely Dan got their name from and what a Steely Dan actually is. I'm scarred for life....