Steely Dan — Jack of Speed
Album: Two Against NatureAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 791
Length: 6:06
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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
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
Comments (68)add comment
itsme_bygolly wrote:
Very true! But the remaining half is still GREAT! You got a problem with that? ...eh?
I would like to point out that Steely Dan ceased with the death of Walter Becker so the wikipedia page is mistaken. If anything Steely Dan exists as a brand for the recording industry. Half of a song writing Team, particularly when composed of two people, is not a band. It is not a collaborative effort. It is a Donald Fagen solo act.
Very true! But the remaining half is still GREAT! You got a problem with that? ...eh?
I would like to point out that Steely Dan ceased with the death of Walter Becker so the wikipedia page is mistaken. If anything Steely Dan exists as a brand for the recording industry. Half of a song writing Team, particularly when composed of two people, is not a band. It is not a collaborative effort. It is a Donald Fagen solo act.
bimmerfan739 wrote:
Surprising, yes. Goes to show you never can tell.
That's funny
Surprising, yes. Goes to show you never can tell.
That's funny
Godlike - same as all earlier work.
Businessgypsy wrote:
Surprising, yes. Goes to show you never can tell.
Amazing how divided listeners are about this cut - never assume you know what turns people on. Personally, if I was too cool for this, I'd be too cool to breathe.
Surprising, yes. Goes to show you never can tell.
My favourite song from Two Against Nature. To me, personally, this is Godlike.
"That right-wing hooey sure stunk up the joint" -- can the Dan get anymore prescient?
Song about drugs taking control, I guess. But it's more about the woman who should just get out of that relationship. Snappy, happy melody and rhythm for a dark theme. Brilliantly pulled off. And they throw in their Dan Slang: Trading Fours With The Jack Of Speed.
Cosmically awesome Dan.
Don't stop.
"That right-wing hooey sure stunk up the joint" -- can the Dan get anymore prescient?
Song about drugs taking control, I guess. But it's more about the woman who should just get out of that relationship. Snappy, happy melody and rhythm for a dark theme. Brilliantly pulled off. And they throw in their Dan Slang: Trading Fours With The Jack Of Speed.
Cosmically awesome Dan.
Don't stop.
Steely Dan, trippin’....
This album is the best example I can think of for an album produced after a long hiatus for a band, but that seems like the natural next step of the last album. Go back and listen to Gaucho and then this right after and you'll be hard pressed to see the passage of 20 years between the two albums. Can anyone think of a similar example?
Loving that you're playing this! Saw Fagan & The Dan last year in Colorado Springs & they were fantastic! Awesome groove on this one.
Great album. Try Almost Gothic.
heh, it's funny to see these kids knocking the Dan.
maybe in a few years mates. you can only wish you'd understand anything. :x
steppin' out with the Jack of Speed.
This sounds like something you might have heard shopping in the Bay in the 80s.
I remember liking Steely Dan, but I don't remember this. Hmmmm.
The Dan is just as good as ever...this album won a Grammy so somebody who likes it gave it some props. sorry if some of you are bored by high quality pop jazz. 
This puts me right to sleep. And I'm not tired. Booooring.
trekhead wrote:
...Nnnnooo...
Little too much of these Nit-wits on here,
troubling.
Mute AND 1.
This is not your father's Steely Dan.
trekhead wrote:
What he said.
1.
:highfive: Yes! I am not alone in my lack of worship for this band!
...Nnnnooo...
Little too much of these Nit-wits on here,
troubling.
Mute AND 1.
Not to be gross, but - doesn't this sound like he's singing "Jack Off Speed"?
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
Not smart enough to be jazz, not gritty enough to be rock and not cute or inventive enough to be pop.
Worthless.
Dreck.
Mute.
What he said.
1.
Not smart enough to be jazz, not gritty enough to be rock and not cute or inventive enough to be pop.
Worthless.
Dreck.
Mute.
Too smooth by half ... anything from the magic first four records and forget the rest, lads .. even boy bands make music like this these days
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Love the Dan, hate their new stuff.
I'm still not convinced, but even middlin' Dan is better than no Dan at all.
Love the Dan.
ce wrote:
The new Steely Dan albums still have the cool horns and nice doses of backup singers, but to me they often sound like a drum machine on a factory-preprogrammed slow square beat.
I liked 'em better when they were still on heroin... :-k
cataloger wrote:
This is something my dad would skate backwards to during the late 70s to impress my mom. gross.
Best song comment. Ever. :nodhead:
Daveinbawlmer wrote: 
I share your pain
ce wrote:
"Smooth Jazz" is probably neither smooth nor jazz.
discuss amongst y'selves...
lindydallas wrote:
Wow... I've finally found a use for the rating of "4 - Acceptable."
This is probably the least annoying / cheesy / soul-sucking Steely Dan song. Ergo, it is "acceptable." When it is played, God merely slaps a kitten; --d
ha! I love this comment. :)
8)
cataloger wrote:
This is something my dad would skate backwards to during the late 70s to impress my mom. gross.
Huh? I don't think so... It's from "Two Against Nature", which wasn't released until February 2000. Another Dan track maybe, but not this one.
Dave the pedant
OmegaConcern wrote:
You know, I haven't really been a fan of their new stuff. The reason I like this song is because it sounds like their old stuff - less "smooooooth jazz" sounding (god I hate that term). Either way, they're still great. They're just doing what everybody else does...getting old.
"Smooth Jazz" is probably neither smooth nor jazz.
The new Steely Dan albums still have the cool horns and nice doses of backup singers, but to me they often sound like a drum machine on a factory-preprogrammed slow square beat.
There's far less verve in them. I miss the tempo changes, I miss the tempo!
I wish they would hire some more jazz people like they used to.
DaWiz wrote:
dis das blowith 
Oik, Wiz! I'm now assured that your yearly salary review isn't based on your judgement of a well done song.
DaWiz wrote:
dis das blowith
Oik, Wiz! I'm now assured that your yearly review isn't based on your judgement of a well done song.
This is something my dad would skate backwards to during the late 70s to impress my mom. gross.
steely dan can do no wrong - saw them at Jones BEach last summer - sublime
also, couldnt agree more with Greg's analysis
BooKitty wrote:
Quite ho-hum. New stuff couldn't hold Pretzel Logic or Katy Lied's jockstrap.
Wow, what a really deep observation
i've been a Dan fan forever, and, to me, this album is perhaps the steeliest dan ever - love it!
Like most 'Dan tunes, it takes several listenings to pick up the subtleties. I have yet to find a Steely Dan tune that doesn't improve with each listen. For example, check out the guitar solo - so laid back you'll miss it if you don't pay attention. But worth the listen, it's way cool!
Quite ho-hum. New stuff couldn't hold Pretzel Logic or Katy Lied's jockstrap.
Ah yes... 
i don't usually do this, but... :-&
This is one of my favorite new albums of the past few years. One of the few that replaces the Dead in my car CD player.
This album cut pales in comparison to the live version they do on the concert DVD of the same name. Still a solid Dan tune.
You know, I haven't really been a fan of their new stuff. The reason I like this song is because it sounds like their old stuff - less "smooooooth jazz" sounding (god I hate that term). Either way, they're still great. They're just doing what everybody else does...getting old.
Wow... I've finally found a use for the rating of "4 - Acceptable."
This is probably the least annoying / cheesy / soul-sucking Steely Dan song. Ergo, it is "acceptable." When it is played, God merely slaps a kitten; --d
242glt wrote:
Romantism and Steely Dan are mutually exclusive. How about drippingly sarcastic?
Without question, though if you go back to songs on the GAUCHO album, say, "Time Out of Mind," I get the impression Donald and Walter(moreso Walter) wrote about "mystical sphere(s) direct from Lhasa" and Chasing "the dragon" with a bit of (albeit winking) romantacism.
Fantastic song; fantastic musicians. Keep em coming, Bill!
redeyespy wrote:
"He's a one way rider, on the shriek express, and his new best friend is at the throttle more or less."
Yes, ANOTHER drug themed tune from the Dan, but one that actually addresses addiction without romanticizing. Pretty catchy, too. The album TWO AGAINST NATURE continues to gain with each listening
Romantism and Steely Dan are mutually exclusive. How about drippingly sarcastic?
Steely Dan makes some of the best music around. This is probably my fave song on the Two Against Nature CD. And yes, the live DVD version is awesome! Nice to see they are still making music that is on par, or at least very close to, their prime stuff from the 70's. I'm trying to get into the new Everything Must Go CD ... I heard Lunch With Gina yesterday on NPR and that's gotta be one of the best on that CD.
Randy
Randyredeyespy wrote:"Pseudo-smugness" pretty aptly describes Steely Dan as well. 
Nope. Your pseudo-smugness pretty much says it all.
RAZORBACKS wrote:
:) :p 
STEELY DAN....need I say more
Nope. Your pseudo-smugness pretty much says it all.
STEELY DAN....need I say more"He's a one way rider, on the shriek express, and his new best friend is at the throttle more or less."
Yes, ANOTHER drug themed tune from the Dan, but one that actually addresses addiction without romanticizing. Pretty catchy, too. The album TWO AGAINST NATURE continues to gain with each listening
dis das blowith
This is most definitely a head bobber of a tune.
:) :) :)
Originally Posted by basstooner:
How could you not get hooked on this?
Very easliy.
How could you not get hooked on this?
my favorite track on the two against nature cd.
On the live DVD, the horns really stand out on this song, but it's just as tight. Great song.
One simply can never, never play too much Steely Dan! :D
This is one of the most honest depictions of the descent into addiction ever done. Don\'t listen to him plead, head on up to the light.
This is an EXCELLENT album !*!*!*!* It was well worth wait !*!*! :D
Who will that comprise of then?