Lyrics for the album "Can't Buy A Thrill" by Steely Dan

Do It Again

In the mornin' you go gunnin' for the man who stole your water
And you fire till he is done in but they catch you at the border
And the mourners are all singin' as they drag you by your feet
But the hangman isn't hangin' so they put you on the street

You go back, Jack, do it again
Wheels turnin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

Well you know she's no high climber then you find your only friend
In a room with your two timer, but you're sure you're near the end
Then you love a little wild one, and she brings you only sorrow
All the time you know she's smilin', you'll be on your knees tomorrow

[chorus]

[Guitar Solo]
[Keyboard Solo]

Now you swear and kick and beg us that you're not a gamblin' man;
Then you find you're back in Vegas with a handle in your hand
Your black cards can bring you money so you hide them when you're able
In the land of milk and honey you must put them on the table

[chorus]

Dirty Work

Times are hard, you're afraid to pay the fee
So you find yourself somebody who can do the job for free
When you need a bit of lovin' 'cause your man is out of town
That's the time you get me runnin' and you know I'll be around

I'm a fool to do your dirty work oh yeah
I don't wanna do your dirty work no more
I'm a fool to do your dirty work oh yeah

Light the candle, put the lock upon the door
You have sent the maid home early like a thousand times before
Like the castle in his corner in a medieval game
I foresee terrible trouble but I stay here just the same

[chorus]

[Solo]

[chorus]

Kings

Now they lay his body down
Sad old men who run this town
I still recall the way
he led the charge and saved the day
Blue blood and rain
I can hear the bugle playin'

We've seen the last of good King Richard
Ring out the past, his name lives on and on
Roll out the bones and raise up the pitchers
Raise up your glass to good King John

While they plundered far and wide
All his starving children cried
And though we sung his fame
We all went hungry just the same
He meant to shine
To the end of line

[chorus]

Raise up your glass to good King John
Raise up your glass to good King John

Midnight Cruiser

Felonius my old friend
Step on in and let me shake your hand
So glad that you're here again
For one more time let your madness run with mine
Streets still unseen we'll find somehow
No time is better than now

Tell me where are you drivin' midnight cruiser
Where is your bounty of fortune and fame
I am another gentleman loser
Drive me to Harlem or somewhere the same

The world that we used to know
People tell me it don't turn no more
The places we used to go
Familiar faces that ain't smilin' like before
The time of our time has come and gone
I fear we've been waitin' too long

[chorus]

[Solo]

[chorus]

Only a Fool Would Say That

A world become one of salads and sun, only a fool would say that
A boy with a plan, a natural man wearin' a white Stetson hat
Unhand that gun begone; there's no one to fire upon
If he's holding it high he's telling a lie

I heard it was you talkin' bout a world where all is free
It just couldn't be, and only a fool would say that

The man in the street draggin' his feet, don't wanna hear the bad news
Imagine your face there in his place standing inside his brown shoes
You do his nine to five drag yourself home half alive
And there on the screen a man with a dream

[chorus]

Reelin' in the Years

Your everlastin' summer, you can see it fadin' fast,
So you grab a piece of somethin' that you think is gonna last
Well, you wouldn't even know a diamond if you held it in your hand;
The things you think are precious I can't understand

Are you reelin' in the years, stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine

You've been tellin' me you're a genius since you were seventeen
In all the time I've known you, I still don't know what you mean
The weekend at the college didn't turn out like you planned
The things that pass for knowledge, I can't understand

[chorus]

I spent a lot of money and I spent a lot of time
The trip we made to Hollywood is still etched upon my mind
After all the things we've done and seen you find another man
The things you think are useless I can't understand

[chorus]

Fire in the Hole

I decline to walk the line; they tell me that I'm lazy
Worldly wise I realise that everybody's crazy
A womans voice reminds me to serve and not to speak
Am I myself or just another freak

You know there's fire in the hole and nothing left to burn
I'd love to run out now; there's nowhere left to turn

With a cough I shake it off and work around my yellow stripe
Should I hide or eat my pride or wait until it's good and ripe?
My life is boiling over; It's happened once before
I wish someone would open up the door

Don't you know there's fire in the hole and nothing left to burn
I'd love to run out now; there's nowhere left to turn

[Solo]

[chorus]

Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer)

A race of angels bound with one another
A dish of dollars laid out for all to see
A tower room at Eden Rock, his golf at noon for free
Brooklyn owes the charmer under me
Brooklyn owes the charner under me

His lady's aching to bring a body down
She daily preaches on where she wants to be
An evening with a movie queen, a face we all have seen
Brooklyn owes the charmer under me
Brooklyn owes the charmer under me

A case of aces done up loose for dealing
A piece of island coolin' in the sea
The whole of time we gain or lose, and power enough to choose
Brooklyn owes the charmer under me
Brooklyn owes the charmer under me

Change of the Guard

If you listen you can hear it; it's the laughter in the street
It's the motion in the music, and the fire beneath your feet
All the signs are right this time, you don't have to try so very hard
If you live in this world, you're feelin' the change of the guard
Na na na na, na na na na
Na na na na, na na na na

All you cowboys and your neighbours, can you swallow up your pride?
Take your guns off if you're willin', and you know we're on your side
If you wanna get through the years, It's high time you played your card
If you live in this world, you're feelin' the change of the guard
Na na na na, na na na na
Na na na na, na na na na

Repeat [Na na na na, na na na na] to fade

Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

With stocking face I bought a gun, the plan was set, the plan was done
Looked at my watch and started for the door,
Now the food here aint so good no more and they closed the package store

Love your mama, love your brother, love 'em till they run for cover
Turn the light off, keep your shirt on cry a jag on me
Oh Michael, oh, Jesus, you know I'm not to blame
You know my reputation for playing a ggod clean game
Oh Michael, oh, Jesus, I'll keep my promise when
You turn that heartbeat over again

My poisons named, you know my brand, so please make mine a double, Sam
Stir it up nice, I'll eat it right here;
Yeah, this highway runs from Paraguay and I've just come all the way

[chorus]

We warned the corpse of William Wright not to cuss and drink all night
Ticket in hand, we saw him laid to rest;
Oh, but zombie see and zombie do, he's here with me and you

[chorus]