Making fun of music, one song at a time. Since the year 2000.
Check out the two amIright misheard lyrics books including one book devoted to misheard lyrics of the 1980s.
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. ;-D | Lisa 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" | "Bad Neighbors" | John A. Barry |
| "Show Biz Kids" | "Loan Shark Biz" | CML |
| "Rikki, Don't Lose that Number" | "Rikki, Don't Use that Number" | Betsy Lawlor |
| "Hey, 19" | "Claimed 18" | John A. Barry |
| "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" | "Nikki’s A Loser Trumper" | Pol Potlatch An' Pals |
| "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" | "Robby, Don't Be A Spoiler" | eeL deaL |
| "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 |
There are additional song parodies available. | ||
Songs for Commercials, That Haven't Been Done Yet:
Song Name | Product | Submittor |
| Pretzel Logic | Rold Gold or other pretzel company | MOR |
| Black Friday | Any store's Black Friday sale | MOR |
| Throw Back The Little Ones | Fish And Wildlife Conservation | Tim Hall |
Bad Choices for On Hold Music:
Song Name | Company/Organization | Submittor |
| Pretzel Logic | George W. Bush Presidential Library | Rosie Finch |
| My Old School | Any School | Paul Warren |
| The Boston Rag | New York Yankees ticket purchasing | Mike Spessard |
| Here At The Western World | Iraqi Government | Mike Spessard |
| Deacon Blues | Wake Forest University Athletic Department | Daniel 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:
"Reelin' In The Years"
Misheard Lyrics: Are you reelin' in the yeast?
Stowin' away the time? Are you gatherin' up the cheese? 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? | "The Fez"
Misheard Lyrics: I wanna be a whole new man.
Original Lyrics: I wanna be your holy man.
|
"FM (No Static At All)"
Misheard Lyrics: She chases the mice
Original Lyrics: She treats you nice
| "Peg"
Misheard Lyrics: It's your favorite horror movie
Original Lyrics: It's your favorite foreign movie
|
| 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:
"Show Biz Kids"
The Repetitive Lyrics: Go to Lost Wages,
Lost Wages, You go to Lost Wages, Go to Lost Wages. Why They're Repetitive: "Lost Wages" is another name for Las Vegas. These words are repeated throughout the whole song, even with other lyrics before it. The outro is just the words over again.
Submitted by: Katy
| "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
|
| 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
