Steely Dan - Jack Of Speed Lyrics

Steely Dan helped me realized in my 50s how limited rock music is

@Edward Sholar hello, I just cannot pick one, all of them I guess, that's where the crazyness of this band sets in, each composition (not song) is so great. Every day I have a different favorite.

@hospitalller
I have made that statement myself. Let me ask you this. If you were to place Steely Dan on the list of greatest bands ever, where would you place them?

@Edward Sholar Ed, I am a classically trained musician spending most of my life at conservatories going through all kinds of theoretical and hands on training (that was a hardship) and then teaching. As a pianist, I think Chopin is an alien in his compositions, but of course there are so many more. I listen to everything. As one of my professors said, there is no such thing as bad music, there is music we like or do not like. To answer your question the steely dan aesthetic is a unique phenomenon in the world of music, so perfect, so ingenious and beautiful in complexity that cannot compare to simple song writing. Nothing compares. To me at least.

@hospitalller
I have four degrees, one also in music. I used to play the trumpet. I have some physical issues now. My health is not good at all, I was just recently divorced after twenty-five years, But music has helped shape who I am. Getting to see Steely Dan in October and November was a treat after the bad things that have happened.

when life gets to tight i always come to SD for some relief. never get enough.

They did make life easier. I think they are unparalleled. Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

@Edward Sholar it's just too difficult to pick a favorite. as of now, I have several hours of music I listen to almost every day.

@Bob Lagia
Could you place Steely Dan on a list of greatest bands ever?

there is nothing, NOTHING, better than Steely Dan, to set up your sound system !!!

I've heard the best song for doing that is "Babylon Sisters." They say it was the first all-digital recording ever. Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

Trading fours.........that is genius.

Edward Sholar while I am not clever enough to know this, a brilliant musician friend of mine explained that it is an old jazz or jam term where musicians, during improvised jams, will trade licks with each other. You’ve seen it a thousand times, the sax will trade licks with the guitarist or keyboard player. These licks usually are four bars long. So, the term “trading fours” describes the back and forth between the players.

So, our narrator is telling the “little darling” to pack it up and leave Teddy in the kitchen, or she’ll just end up “trading fours” with the JOS.

@Brian Heavner
Thank you. Where would you place Steely Dan on the list of greatest bands ever?

Edward Sholar personally for me, they are a top 5 band. The complicated but completely listenable music has been a fave of mine for a very long time. Fantastic songwriting, the cynicism and dark humor of the lyrics combine to make the perfect mix, at least for me......and a few other people.

Been hearing these guys music since I was a toddler. Still fresh!

I first heard "Do it Again" when I was nine in October of 1972. Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

@Edward Sholar do it again, 19, and I got your picture.

@djmgoblue
If you were to place Steely Dan on the list of greatest bands ever, where would you put them?

This album crushed shit summer 2000 great summer

It sounds like it was released yesterday! Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song!

This album is pretty close to perfect

Steely Dan would settle for nothing less. Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

Tyler Roberts, I challenge you to please let me know if you have kicked it my brother. I would love to hear from you. This would be so inspirational sir. I pray for you. Thanks my friend.

favorite track from this album

I like this one too. Any other Steely Dan favorites?

I like this one too. Any other Steely Dan favorites?

Damn, this is good.

Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

A simple song ( for the way esoteric Dan') but it's really nice. The words are quite clear, if you're a proto-senior who's been around the block several times. The music standard Dan'. Superb!!!

I first heard Steely Dan in October of 1972 when "Can't Buy a Thrill" came out. Do you have a favorite song of theirs?

I first heard Steely Dan in October of 1972 when "Can't Buy a Thrill" came out. Do you have a favorite song of theirs?

ive seen many bands this lot was next to do anywhere on the planet sadly walter died so

I got to see them, minus Walter, in Boston and in Connecticut a few weeks ago. Those were two great shows! Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

Just discovered this Gem 💎

Do you have any other Steely Dan favorites?

RIP Walter Becker, I’m so glad I got to see them live before he passed

I got to see them, minus Walter, in Boston and in Connecticut a few weeks ago. Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

Say yheee

Class, style and groove...

They way they put these crazy chords together just kills me!!  Awesome!!  Best band of all time, period.  Change my mind.  Nope. No.

You and I think alike. Do you have a favorite Steely Dan song?

This pee-pee is snappin!

I first heard this in 93 at their FM concert in Detroit. Finally put it on an album in 2000. I remember because my name is Jack, and its their 4th song that has my name mentioned. The Dan is super smart and know if you put names (cities or people) in a song it’s makes it memorable for those people. One time i listed 30+ city mentions in about 5 minutes! The best composers in the last 100 years with the possible exception of George Gershwin. Their variety is unmatched, unlimited skill.

as good as the old stuff .......

Really miss Walts strat in the mix now!!!

The song is about Senator Ted Kennedy, Mary Jo Kopeckni and what happened on the bridge in Chappiquidk, Mass. in 1969. HUGE headlines at the time.

OK Boomer.

Love the layers on this track. Love the whole track

Walt and that strat!!!!!!! Damn it brother we miss ya!!!!

DAMN, IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO GET THIS AND I STILL SAY IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. THEY DIDN'T MISS A STEP. THAT SOUND IS TIMELESS.

Skyvillelive videos

Don't stop.

One of them jams mo fo's know NOTHING ABOUT!!!😊👏👏👏Steely Dan has ALWAYS BEEN THE SHIT!!!👏👏👏👍

What’s with the Illuminati symbolism?

That Right Wing who'e sure stunk up the joint. lol

This song is so FILTHY!!!😁 My Mom surprised me, this past Christmas, by listening to HBC RADIO, and JAMMIN WITH ME ON THIS TIMELESS CLASSIC!!!🙏🙏

This is one of my favorites and my favorite songs are super duper 🎶🎵🎼

The perfect piece of music IMHO

NOTHING AGAINST TODAY'S MUSIC TASTES BUT I'M IN MY MIDDLE 50'S NOW AND MY GENERATION HAD THE BEST DAMN MUSIC EVER.

Lyrics and musicians, RIP Mr Walter Becker

Teddy's rolling now most every night
Skatin' backwards at the speed of light
He's changed - in a thousand little ways
He's changed - yes indeed
You know he's movin' on metal, yes he's
Hanging tight with the Jack of Speed

Sheena's party - there's a case in point
That right-wing hooey sure stunk up the joint
He's gone - he walks through the old routines
But he's gone - guaranteed
He may be sittin' in the kitchen, but he's
Steppin' out with the Jack of Speed

You maybe got lucky for a few good years
But there's no way back from there to here
He's a one way rider
On the shriek express
And his new best friend is at the throttle more or less

He can't hear you honey - that's alright
Pack some things and head up into the light
Don't stop - he'll be callin' out your name
But don't stop when you hear him plead
You better move now little darlin' or you'll be
Trading fours with the Jack of Speed

Drums: Michael White
Bass/guitars: Walter Becker
Wurlitzer: Donald Fagen
Percussion: Gordon Gottlieb, Will Lee
Backup vocals: Cynthia Calhoun, Michael Harvey
Trumpet: Michael Leonhart
Alto sax: Lou Marini
Tenor sax: Lawrence Feldman
Baritone sax: Roger Rosenberg
Trombone: Jim Pugh
Horns arranged by Donald Fagen

This is what i call groov'n !!!! Big thumbs up !!!!❤🏅🏅🏅

life long steely dan fan these two guys shaped my early life and they just got better rip walter

Great jazz

Who says white men can't jump. RIP Walter Becker.

one of the tightest on this album

Great stuff.

"Right-wing hooey" is, from what I understand, a reference to a kind of political blather that amphetamine abusers often spout: Heroic Individualism of the Libertarian variety. Since they think and act at three times the speed of anyone else, jungle lawlessness appeals to them.

Never heard this one before. Attending tonight 10/17/18 Steely Dan at the Beacon in NYC playing the Royal Scam in its entirety!

Playing guitar. Don't give up. It gets good with practice. Fun living with music. Thanks Chief Musician, LOVE it.

Teddy's rolling now most every night
Skatin' backwards at the speed of light
He's changed - in a thousand little ways
He's changed - yes indeed
You know he's movin' on metal, yes he's
Hanging tight with the Jack of Speed

Sheena's party - there's a case in point
That right-wing hooey sure stunk up the joint
He's gone - he walks through the old routines
But he's gone - guaranteed
He may be sittin' in the kitchen, but he's
Steppin' out with the Jack of Speed

You maybe got lucky for a few good years
But there's no way back from there to here
He's a one way rider
On the shriek express
And his new best friend is at the throttle more or less

He can't hear you honey - that's alright
Pack some things and head up into the light
Don't stop - he'll be callin' out your name
But don't stop when you hear him plead
You better move now little darlin' or you'll be
Trading fours with the Jack of Speed

I guess it's about drug addiction?

Muros
Yes...song about a burnt out tweaker

@TruthIsNotTemporary Thanks!

America's answer to the Beatles
A decade later

Way better then the beatles

Sometimes I enjoy SD more than any other band on earth!

Just sometimes?

Teddy's rolling now most every night
Union's been on strike.
He's down on his luck.
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Sheena's party there's a case in point
Working for her man.
She brings home her pay.
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Don't stop on a prayer of speed

Awesome material to listen to. Very Nostalgic.

I love Steely Dan 🙌💕

great songs but it could have been recorded better in the mixing. drums are too loud and the guitar is messed up. all the volumes are amiss.

Gee, Bob.

Wish The Dan would have hired you as a mixer/musician/producer.

i still think its a great album but some of the levels are out thats all. just my opinion.

I wonder what you are using to listen? It was almost certainly mixed using state-of-the-art studio monitors. If you listen using cheap limited response speakers or (shudder) earbuds with inaccurate frequency reproduction, you will hear a very poor rendition of the music.

its more how the guitar was mic'd up that sounds off to me. the bass, too loud, and the drums are all too loud. The vocals take up most of the mid range. I listen on speakers not earbuds I am just saying its not well mixed. They could have brang the overall level down even the brass section. I might take your advice but ive listened to this album on a variety of speaker settings and its my main gripe about it.

I didn't know two against nature was released in the year 2000 . For some reason I thought it was released in circa 1993 .

His new best friend (drugs) is at the throttle, more or less... Girl, leave him before you're one of them too.

This like so many dan tunes really has no meaning it can groove to almost anything

this and what a shame about me are the stand out tracks on the album brilliant guitar cant remember if its Becker it sounds like him

Not Walter Becker

Paris Kalachnikov yes this is Becker on lead guitar

so wonderful to discover an overlooked steely,thanks soulbrothanumbahone &you tube

funky bliss👍

Jesus. Dan is so fucking good.

I remember when it came out the hip musical circles questioned whether it was a good idea for Becker to take over all the guitar roles on this album.
Hmmmmm...........think so boyz.

phil could not have said it any better what an amazing song

Great way to start your day!!! Brilliant writing, producing, and just an all around great song.

GENIUS, NUFF SAID!

Album of the year 2001 🎼💙🎼

Waited for years after Gaucho,and wasn't disappointed. Hope I live long enough for another classic. 63.

This is a sad song. I've lost many good people to Jack.

I thought this song was all about racing! :)

Nobody does it like The Dan.

my fave Steely Dan track , reminds me of the drive to my ex lover's home

I wonder if Fagan gets his groove on by dancing to that beat he has in his heart, trimmed and turned for the song at hand, get it going, then sits down and plays, or was he just built to groove from the get-go.

Robert Wheatley — nice words, brotherman. I think Donald’s groove is in his head, and who knows how that physically jars his amygdala and pons basis. !!

Madd Tight... rip WB thanks for the cool...

"Jack Of Speed " is one that comes to mind.

one of my favorite songs ever, cant realise the fact it have so little views

The song is about Senator Ted Kennedy.
References to: Mary Jo Kopechne and what happened at Chappiquidick in 1969 and what followed, i.e. end of his career.
Jack was JFK's nickname
When this album came out I played this tune over and over. At about the 10th time as it played in the background it suddenly hit me what it's about. All the pieces fit. If you were around in '69, you should catch all the references.

1969, JFK dead, Mary Jo and Chappaquiddick, where?

Um no. This song is actually about you.

Rest In Peace, Walt. John mcnasor

I am in a dark place. R.I.P. WalterBecker.

Hope you saw-it-through.
We all get hurt, when we do-what-we tend to do.

Always wanted to play like W.B.

I'm praying for you buddy

Have a great Steely Dan Collection. Saw them 3 times. Amazing

Love this song it is absolut über cool

Alright soulbrothanumbahone!!

white people got soul my fav band steely dan

leave the white music alone

So many yheeeeeeeeeeee

well you black folks been "sampling" them from god knows when. So I guess, but hey lets just forget about B&W issues and just listen.

@Justin Scrivner Love H2O

Don't forget Wild Cherry.

This song reminds me of Christopher from The Sopranos

i cant get over this song.

There is therapy more steely dan will heal that.

This shit grooves! Gotta move to it! Crank it up and let the neighbors enjoy THE DAN! 🌋🎉🎊😜

Nice track smooth sound from them reminds of early days and summertime music saltery

Magnificent driving music on the Eastern Seaboard. LONG BEACH ISLAND

The 21 people who disliked this song must be faggy justin beiber fans or simply don't know what real music should sound like.

Maybe their eyes are upside down bro!

They squares!

smoking opium vs intravenous heroin. i wonder which is easier to kick ? what not many know is that legal rx benzos like valium, xanax, klonopin, ativan, etc have by far the highest death rate in cold turkey. lethal seizures mainly. close second is alcohol. most former or current heroin addicts i have talked to or read on drug forums say that benzo detox is much worse, much more suffering, much longer recovery than heroin detox.

Naw. I did it.

Opiates are opiates.

Quante sensazioni.... Steely, thank you

I had to explain to a buddy what this song was relating to....

jack off speed ?

drugs ..speed ..

It's about Senator Ted Kennedy and what happened in 1969.

Don't stop.

'Do not give up. The beginning is the hardest.' Someone tell SD to apply that POW to Second Arrangement...

Steely Dan will be appearing at the Venetian in Las Vegas through April.

This may be my very favourite Dan song. Am I crazy? I'm not sure that I am.

I can't pinpoint an actual song from the Dan, but I can say that Pretzel Logic The Royal Scam, Countdown To Ecstasy, Katy Lied are probably my favorite albums because without question I could listen to them back to back to back and love every song. I could also listen to Can't Buy a Thrill Aja, Kamakiriad and Nightfly and be pretty happy and Jack of Speed makes me happy and maybe Cousin Dupree is good off of Two Against Nature...

"Jack of Speed" is one of the new songs that has a classic Steely Dan sound and groove. Is that title an idiom you created?
Fagen: Yeah, that one represents the personification of a kind of demonic obsession.
Becker: We just felt that "Good King Psilocybin" was too hard to sing [laughs]. So we decided to go with "Jack of Speed."

Vanojoh Dude, nice picks, those are all some of my favorites too. I would have to say Aja the song is one of the best songs ever made, in addition to being the peak of Steely Dan. Kid Charlemagne, Doctor Wu, Bodhisattva, and Gaucho (song) are also some of my all time faves. They're so feckin good.

It sure is a rumbler for the bones! Anna Soklo gets into it. I can hear her heartbeat and her bod (sic) rock.

Brooklyn has a great soul, as felt by the need to copy by many.

Boz Skaggs is the only person i can think of who would even be close to the
Dans groove.

I loved Boz Skaggs but he pales to the depth of The Dan's catalog... seriously

Ever see the Dukes of September? Fagen, Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald playing together. Awesome show.

Sounds like an eargasm.

+ventende oh yes!

@AlanEricFan You nailed it! 2012 They were the best.

Who could tour with them, shit we'd be lucky enough to get those two out of the studio and outdoors.True talent.

Youz are correct.
The Dan can lay it down unlike anyone else. There is no better.

How brilliant is this band just amazing music these are the elite muscians.

Seen this live in 2000. Jesus.......

one of my faves, never get tired of it :)

And i never get tired of your pic shyra.

paul cooper creep status

Yes Shyra you are so pretty/beautiful...

you will