Is Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues" the greatest song of loss or what?

[Taverner]

This is the day
Of the expanding man
That shape is my shade
There where I used to stand
It seems like only yesterday
I gazed through the glass
At ramblers
Wild gamblers
That's all in the past

You call me a fool
You say it's a crazy scheme
This one's for real
I already bought the dream
So useless to ask me why
Throw a kiss and say goodbye
I'll make it this time
I'm ready to cross that fine line

CHORUS:
I'll learn to work the saxophone
I'll play just what I feel
Drink Scotch whisky all night long
And die behind the wheel
They got a name for the winners in the world
I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
Call me Deacon Blues

My back to the wall
A victim of laughing chance
This is for me
The essence of true romance
Sharing the things we know and love
With those of my kind
Libations
Sensations
That stagger the mind

I crawl like a viper
Through these suburban streets
Make love to these women
Languid and bittersweet
I'll rise when the sun goes down
Cover every game in town
A world of my own
I'll make it my home sweet home

CHORUS

This is the night
Of the expanding the man
I take one last drag
As I approach the stand
I cried when I wrote this song
Sue me if I play too long
This brother is free
I'll be what I want to be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NntyxRhmFho&feature=fvst

A musical suicide note, really...

[A HERETIC I AM]

1. Back in those days, Becker and Fagen really showed their genius. n/t

[Taverner]

2. Yes. And DB was the apex they hit

Although, Third World Man came close

[taterguy]

3. Maybe, but definitely the best song about Chuck Mills ever written

[Taverner]

4. A Chuck Mills-esque protagonist

[rrneck]

5. Ill be damned.

I listened to that song for the first time in years about four hours ago.

I identify with it in more ways I care to admit.

[cwydro]

6. Always been one of my favorites and

still is.

[Tallulah]

7. I love that song

It reminds me of an old boyfriend and weed.

[Enthusiast]

8. I just love

Steely Dan. Some of the best music eva.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu_DCV84TiU

[Enthusiast]

9. Now you've done it.

I have to listen to all the Steely Dan.:hi:

[Arugula Latte]

10. That's a damn fine song. nt

[gratuitous]

11. I prefer Coldest Night of the Year

But Deacon Blues is a good song, too.

I was up all night, socializing
Trying to keep the latent depression from crystalizing
Now the sun is lurking just behind the Scarborough horizon

And you're not even here
On the coldest night of the year.

I took in Yonge Street at a glance
Heard the punkers playing
Watched the bikers dance
Everybody wishing they could go to the south of France

And you're not even here
On the coldest night of the year.

Hey look at me now
See the shape I'm in
It's taken me so long to catch on to what's going on
Inside this skin
When two lovers really love there's nothing there
But this suddenly compact universe
Skin and breath and hair

I watched the all night TV show
In the all night bar
I drove all the people home
I was the one with the car

Now I'm sitting here alone and sleepless
and wondering where you are
And wishing you were here
On the coldest night of the year

[BrendaBrick]

12. This may not be everyone's speed here....

but here's what I like with regard to loss:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7XnlhIDz1U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZKHW74lCpo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjD4eWEUgMM&feature=related

and perhaps, one of the most tragic of losses of all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

[pacalo]

13. My personal favorite Steely Dan song...

is about NYC's "loss"...

http://youtu.be/ZmOMcUm2JK8