Looking through the music folder, Steely Dan jumped up and volunteered. Anyone who knows The Dan knows that choosing a song from a long list of great ones isn’t easy. Scrolling through the first disc of Citizen Steely Dan’s box set, I found, “My Old School.” Never really knew much more about the song than I liked it, so it was a good choice for looking at it a little closer.
The rest of this info was taken from wiki.
My Old School” is a single drawn from Steely Dan’s 1973 album Countdown to Ecstasy. It reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a May 1969 drug bust at Bard College in Dutchess County, New York, referred to in the lyrics by its location, Annandale. The singer vows he is “never going back” to the college until “California tumbles into the sea”.
The incident happened while both Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were students there, and the song recounts how a female acquaintance betrayed them to “Daddy Gee” (G. Gordon Liddy), then a local assistant district attorney. Contemporary news reports noted that 44 people were arrested, approximately 10% of the school’s enrollment. According to a 2014 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, among those arrested was Fagen, whose long hair was cut off at the Poughkeepsie jail. A contemporary newspaper article mentioned the arrest of Donald Fagan (sic) for “the sale of a dangerous drug” with bail set at $5,000.
Musicians:
Donald Fagen — piano, lead vocals, backup vocals
Walter Becker – bass
Denny Dias – rhythm guitar
Jeff Baxter – lead guitar
Jim Hodder – drums, percussion
Sherlie Matthews, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, Royce Jones – backup vocals
Ernie Watts – saxophone
Johnny Rotella – saxophone
Lanny Morgan – saxophone
Bill Perkins – saxophone
I remember the thirty-five sweet goodbyes
When you put me on the Wolverine
Up to Annandale
It was still September
When your daddy was quite surprised
To find you with the working girls
In the county jail
I was smoking with the boys upstairs
When I heard about the whole affair
I said whoah no
William and Mary won’t do
[Chorus:]
Well I did not think the girl
Could be so cruel
And I’m never going back
To my old school
Oleanders growing outside her door
Soon they’re gonna be in bloom
Up in Annandale
I can’t stand her
Doing what she did before
Living like a gypsy queen
In a fairy tale
Well I hear the whistle but I can’t go
I’m gonna take her down to Mexico
She said whoah no
Guadalajara won’t do
[Chorus]
California tumbles into the sea
That’ll be the day I go
Back to Annandale
Tried to warn you
About Chino and Daddy Gee
But I can’t seem to get to you
Through the U.S. Mail
Well I hear the whistle but I can’t go
I’m gonna take her down to Mexico
She said oh no
Guadalajara won’t do
[Chorus]
Glyn is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn says:
find a band or solo singer whose name starts with the letter D
Tao Talk 
Steely Dan is one of those groups that I’m familiar with their music but don’t ask me the title of any of their tunes! I recognize the voice and that’s it. Interesting story to this song (which I don’t remember ever hearing!)
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Girlfriend you’re missing out, but there is such a large world of music out there the best you can do is listen to what intersects your world. Glad you got a chance to hear this gem.
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:) As you said, there is a world of music out there!! And I probably know more of their tunes than I think I know ;-)
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interesting song and info!
I liked learning a little more about it!
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Happy to hear it, Carol Anne :)
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One of the many greats by the Dan. Jeff Baxter’s lead guitar work on “My Old School” is incredible!
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Christian I was thinking that same thing!
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For some reason I was never a fan, maybe because their hits were overplayed on radio. I’ve heard their stuff more via a tribute band, Steely Dane (in Dane County), a side project for a bunch of local musicians. I didn’t think I recognized the song until the tag at the end of each verse. I am a sucker for a good horn section.
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To each their own on musical taste, Steve. Glad you like that horn section at the ends :)
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One of my favorites, and yes, that is the story behind the song.
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Happy you do :)
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Well I learned a few things here Lisa, at least the incident didn’t prevent them making great music.
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I would have loved to see a pic of Fagen with a buzz cut. lmao
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The single didn’t do very well in the UK but the album did. It’s a great one.
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Yay, you’re a Dan Fan!
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When they perform it, they always pause to let the audience do the whoah no line. It’s a crowd pleaser. (K)
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I bet this would be a fun concert to go to.
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I’ve seen them many times, but not since 2019. The last time was without Becker, who had died. But the band and backup singers they assembled over the years are as much of the experience as Fagan is and Becker was.
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I got behind!
I never knew this backstory at all. That is really interesting. 10 percent was at 44…wow. It’s one of those songs that only got to #63 but lives on thank goodness. This one is a favorite of mine by them… I think Dirty Work came earlier. I don’t know as much about their history…except they didn’t like touring in their first go around.
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It’s a good song among so many. I love Dirty Work and I also love Reelin in the Years. All radioplay ones. Asa is another good radio one.
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I like that one also… Hey Nineteen is the one that really made me like them and start exploring.
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Oh man, I had to look this one up. Didn’t recognize it by the title, but oh yeah. Easy and mellow…
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It was in the early 80s…right around the time Lennon died. Thats when I heard it.
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Merry Christmas 🎄
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And to you, Satyam!
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Thanks 🌹
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Cant miss with SD Lisa.
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Another group we have in common :)
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Yes. Another one with so much good music.
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