Steely Dan Songs - Do It Again Lyrics

Steely Dan - Do It Again

Steely Dan - Do It Again Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Can't Buy A Thrill
Released: 1972

Do It Again Lyrics

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' and they put you on the street

You go back, Jack, Do It Again, wheels turinin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

When you know she's no high climber then you find your only friend
In a room with your two timer, and 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

You go back, Jack, do it again, wheels turinin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

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 make you money so you hide them when you're able
In the land of milk and honey you must put them on the table

You go back, Jack, do it again, wheels turinin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

Writer/s: BETHA, MASON/VANDERPOOL, DAVIN PAUL/ARGABRIGHT, STUART
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Do It Again

This was the breakout hit from Steely Dan's first album. Like many of their songs, it's hard to make sense of the lyrics, which seem to be about some combination of addiction, second chances and the inevitability of fate. It's an example of a Steely Dan song that doesn't make literal sense, but creates a mood.

The instrument used on the first instrumental break is an electric sitar, which was played by Steely Dan mainstay Denny Dias (who later became a computer programmer). This is followed by an organ solo, which was played by Donald Fagen. This was described in the album liner notes as "an inexpensive, imported plastic organ (an instrument which long ago fell into disuse in most rock circles)." This was later revealed to be a Yamaha YC-30 with something called a portamento ribbon, which could create the slide effect.

This was Steely Dan's first single. It became a hit in both the US and UK, earning the group a lot of press coverage. The group's sound was very unusual, and when asked to explain it, they sometimes described it as "smart rock."

In 1983, an Italian act called Club House released a mash-up of this song with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," which was released as "Do It Again (Medley With Billie Jean)." It made #75 US and #11 UK.

On the original release of Can't Buy A Thrill, this song is credited as "Trad" (meaning "traditional," like many folk songs) in the album credits. This is a fairly typical Donald Fagen/Walter Becker prank. (thanks, Michael - Somerville, MA)

Waylon Jennings, Falco, Tori Amos and Smash Mouth have all covered this song.