 The Royal Scam (1976) [ larger cover art ] |
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And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime
Wearing coats that shined
Both red and green colors
From their sunny island
From their boats of iron
They looked upon the promised land
Where surely life was sweet
On the rising tide
To New York City did they ride
Into the street
See the glory
(See the glory of)
Of the royal scam
They are hounded down
To the bottom of a bad town
Amid the ruins
Where they learn to fear
An angry race of fallen kings
Their dark companions
While the memory of
Their southern sky was clouded by
A savage winter
Every patron saint
Hung on the wall, shared the room
With twenty sinners
See the glory
(See the glory of)
Of the royal scam
By the blackened wall
He does it all
He thinks he's died and gone to heaven
Now the tale is told
By the old man back home
He reads the letter
How they are paid in gold
Just to babble in the back room
All night and waste their time
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime
See the glory
(See the glory of)
Of the royal scam
See the glory
(See the glory of)
Of the royal scam
See the glory
(See the glory of)
Of the royal scam
| zurcronium (Not in Texas) | Posted: Apr 09, 2013 - 23:31 Was recently back in the States briefly, the Bay Area, and SD clearly was the band of choice across a variety of radio and satellite stations. I heard them more often than back in the 70s when the songs were new. Amazing. Musically tastes are moving toward SD. |
| unclehud (now 50 feet above the planet in Boston) | Posted: Mar 19, 2013 - 15:49 Been a while, but I checked below. Thanks for the interpretation; we had assumed, literally, St. John fro the USVI, but the PR reference fits much better. Will be looking for Reelin in the Years book this weekend. |
| QuestionMark (Toto's homeland) | Posted: Mar 19, 2013 - 15:49 Go back to the Beach please ! |
| rascal (Toronto) | Posted: Mar 19, 2013 - 15:47 zurcronium wrote: Bill, it does not get any better. Mason-Cars-SD selections. You need to bottle your musical taste and sell it like a drug. Yes indeed |
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: Mar 09, 2013 - 16:47 rdo wrote: Cheezy 70s act that shud have been forgotten LONG ago. Learn to spell and maybe someone will take this comment seriously . . . but probably not. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Mar 09, 2013 - 11:37 Bill has impeccable taste in music. Only 2nd to mine :) zurcronium wrote: Bill, it does not get any better. Mason-Cars-SD selections. You need to bottle your musical taste and sell it like a drug. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Mar 09, 2013 - 11:36 Can I politely ask what planet did you come from? rdo wrote: Cheezy 70s act that shud have been forgotten LONG ago. |
| zurcronium (Not in Texas) | Posted: Jan 15, 2013 - 23:01 Bill, it does not get any better. Mason-Cars-SD selections. You need to bottle your musical taste and sell it like a drug. |
| jpfueler (Alvarado, Texas, (A Bit FurtherSouth o' Ft Worth)) | Posted: Oct 13, 2012 - 21:05 bluefrog wrote: and yet I find myself moving in the opposite direction and enjoy listening to Opera. Maybe not all day long, but much more than I used to. I 'm getting better about it, but still not in large doses. But, somewhere I now have Nessun Dorma in various versions (Aretha singing it in Pavarotti's key is one the most impressive bits of vocal singing there is...not that her version is most perfect, just it was a few octaves out of her normal range and she nailed it that well in almost no prep) and dealing with the garbage they force me to listen to at work makes even the worst Opera seem soothing to garbage pop-country and the limited Classic Rock the locals play (I swear they have 48 hours of music they play on shuffle). |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Oct 13, 2012 - 20:45 Cheezy 70s act that shud have been forgotten LONG ago. |
| DD rabbi_phil (beach) | Posted: Sep 12, 2012 - 07:32 existing on a fairly steady diet of cream beatles stones zappa pantera rob zombie tool sublime alice in chains bob marley traffic dylan I'd have to say this album pretty much goes straight to the head of the class |
| BruceN (Land of the Conoy) | Posted: Aug 11, 2012 - 19:41 I so remember.... grabbing the headphones now. |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Jun 09, 2012 - 16:46 nothing beats this one. |
| linzie | Posted: May 08, 2012 - 21:48 yummy |
| Dinges,_the_Dude (below sea-level, N52°37', E4°88') | Posted: Apr 07, 2012 - 04:14 D@mn, almost blew my gear! A solid 9+++! |
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: Jan 03, 2012 - 00:36 hanssachs wrote: O, the things we've seen and heard! - an Arp synthesizer burning in the courtyard of a West Hollywood sound stage - the thunder of a DeTomaso Pantera parked beneath the echo chambers of Studio C - the mighty room-service bill from the Beverly Wilshire hotel, reflecting the cost of the joyful reunion of Mr. Phil Woods and 200 of his closest L.A. studio/jazz-musician pallies - the world's first and last DBX noise reduction unit with factory installed wings, and a Bosendorfer piano that actually got louder after being struck . . .  |
| hanssachs (Hawaii) | Posted: Jan 03, 2012 - 00:27 O, the things we've seen and heard! - an Arp synthesizer burning in the courtyard of a West Hollywood sound stage - the thunder of a DeTomaso Pantera parked beneath the echo chambers of Studio C - the mighty room-service bill from the Beverly Wilshire hotel, reflecting the cost of the joyful reunion of Mr. Phil Woods and 200 of his closest L.A. studio/jazz-musician pallies - the world's first and last DBX noise reduction unit with factory installed wings, and a Bosendorfer piano that actually got louder after being struck - all things considered, the Katy Lied experience poses, we think, nothing so much as the musical analog of Richard Burton's famous query, in the sword and sandal epic "The Robe" - "were you...out there?" Yes, we were. |
| AlienRelic (east of Eden) | Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 06:22 flyingcement wrote: Really? I thought it was St. John's, Newfoundland. I thought that was the "sunny island they were singing about....  "from the city of saint john" refers to San Juan, Puerto Rico. "They are hounded down To the bottom of a bad town Amid the ruins" is the puerto ricans moving into the slums "Where they learn to fear An angry race of fallen kings Their dark companions" this is a reference to african americans who were already living in the same areas "While the memory of Their southern sky was clouded by A savage winter" puerto ricans not used to new york winter weather "Every patron saint Hung on the wall, shared the room With twenty sinners" this refers to fagen's opinion of hypocrisy within catholicism and those who practiced it as well as commenting on many people living under one roof which is common with many latino immigrants |
| MiracleDrug (Earth) | Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 06:16 Jeff09 wrote: See the glory, the glory of The Royal Scam....! Not only the beautiful, slightly dystopic , hipster/jazzy music. Check out the lyrics. This is very good stuff... yep... |
| cohifi (Denver) | Posted: Jun 27, 2011 - 17:21 Totally. Vanity Fair has the "Dude and Duchess" on their cover. I only know because my wife bought it. Seriously, she buys a lot of dirt  |
| Dave_Mack (Ball of Confusion) | Posted: Jun 27, 2011 - 17:16 camman wrote: Yes..... coming to the land of great opportunity and then being very disappointed in what it's really like (the scam). Just read the book "Reelin in the Years" which explains this somewhat. Ooh, I'll have to get that book. |
| SpamNRice (Northern, Italy) | Posted: May 27, 2011 - 02:01 For me one of the most underrated albums ever... me loves the Dan and me really loves the Dan's "Royal Scam". |
| camman | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 12:21 Dave_Mack wrote: Pretty sure it's about people moving to NYC for Puerto Rico. San Juan, doncha know. Yes..... coming to the land of great opportunity and then being very disappointed in what it's really like (the scam). Just read the book "Reelin in the Years" which explains this somewhat. |
| Dave_Mack (Still hangin' in the Twilight Zone) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 12:14 unclehud wrote: I once had a far-fetched interpretation of this song, but have forgotten it. Anyone want to forward a story to match the lyrics? In the meantime, I'll go dig out the vinyl, hope my cartridge and needle are still functional, pour a Scotch, and try to remember. I think it started with reggae musicians hitting NYC. "In their coats of many colors, from the City of St. John?" Reasonable so far? Pretty sure it's about people moving to NYC from Puerto Rico. San Juan, doncha know. Looooooove Steely Dan, especially this vintage. They're coming to my town in July! ETA: Next Tuesday! |
| bluefrog | Posted: Mar 24, 2011 - 22:38 jpfueler wrote: It's like most opera to me. . . great massive talented voices. . . I ain't listening to it all day long and in fact i listen to as little as possible. and yet I find myself moving in the opposite direction and enjoy listening to Opera. Maybe not all day long, but much more than I used to. |
| unclehud (300 feet above the planet) | Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 11:53 I once had a far-fetched interpretation of this song, but have forgotten it. Anyone want to forward a story to match the lyrics? In the meantime, I'll go dig out the vinyl, hope my cartridge and needle are still functional, pour a Scotch, and try to remember. I think it started with reggae musicians hitting NYC. "In their coats of many colors, from the City of St. John?" Reasonable so far? |
| jpfueler (Burleson Texas, (South o' Ft Worth)) | Posted: Jan 02, 2011 - 11:29 The_Skipper wrote: THIS is pure Classic Rock...shows what you know of it...not much! and apparently you ddin't get the reference. or the fact I gave this a ten long ago. Said freind is quite the music affectionato, just doen't like SD. But being something of a musician he also recognises the quality of playing. He just don't care for it for what ever reason. Rush is very much the same for him...he loves the playing, the songs lyrics are masterful, he just hates Lee's voice. Now later in life he has learned to put that aside and listens to it more often, but the voice still takes something away for him. I used to work with a Jazz musician. He once came and ask if I knew of or had heard Shot Down In Ecuador JR.(they were a big deal around New Orleans for some time) . me- "Yeah, I've seen their posters around town, but never heard them play." him- "They are damned good players, a great band!" me- "Oh yeah, you like their music?" him- "No, I hate it. But they play it very well" It's like most opera to me. . . great massive talented voices. . . I ain't listening to it all day long and in fact i listen to as little as possible. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Nov 19, 2010 - 02:49 The_Skipper wrote: What's NOT to get? It's what rock was built on. You really should get out more often. Rock was built on blues, and came from black folks. Steely Dan were just another rock band, albeit one of the more popular ones. Is this Golden Oldies hour on RP? Dave Mason, The Cars, now Steely Dan. Eclectic is good, but at times RP shades uncomfortably into middle-aged nostalgia (written as a middle-aged git myself)... Feckin' long, innit? I went away for some modern (ie later than 70s) music to iTunes, played a 6-minute track, and this lot are still banging on. Brevity never was the strong suit of 'rock giants'... |
| quesarah (Minneapolis, MN) | Posted: Nov 09, 2010 - 15:05 Prescient. "In Soviet Russia, Banks rob YOU" |
| tompoll (Seattle WA USA) | Posted: Nov 09, 2010 - 15:02 84MacGuy wrote: I know many people love Steely Dan, but for my ear they are the equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard. Now don't all you Steely Dan fans dump on me. I respect your musical tastes, I just don't get it. I dunno. I'm a HUGE fan, but I can see how they could be divisive. I never felt their style was really rock. It's more of a jazz-rock fusion to me. I dig it, but no surprise that many wouldn't. I've seen them live a couple times recently, and the musicianship on stage is really something to behold, especially if you're lucky enough to get Keith Carlock on drums. |
| The_Skipper (Another world and time) | Posted: Oct 24, 2010 - 19:26 84MacGuy wrote: I know many people love Steely Dan, but for my ear they are the equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard. Now don't all you Steely Dan fans dump on me. I respect your musical tastes, I just don't get it. What's NOT to get? It's what rock was built on. You really should get out more often. |
| jkhandy (Near the ocean (in my mind)) | Posted: Oct 24, 2010 - 19:16 The_Skipper wrote: THIS is pure Classic Rock...shows what you know of it...not much! Agreed!  |
| The_Skipper (Niagara Falls, Canada) | Posted: Oct 24, 2010 - 19:11 jpfueler wrote: I've a friend who say's "Great Playing. . . I hate it" |
| vicariance (awesome like a billion hot dogs) | Posted: Oct 18, 2010 - 10:53 Almost certainly the best Steely Dan song I've ever heard. And it's still frigging awful. He sounds like a muppet who smokes alot of cigarettes and is having a hernia flare-up. |
| flyboy50 (Austin TX) | Posted: Oct 18, 2010 - 10:47 Bill's on a 70's roll today! |
| Jeff09 (Gainesville, Florida) | Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 16:33 See the glory, the glory of The Royal Scam....! Not only the beautiful, slightly dystopic , hipster/jazzy music. Check out the lyrics. This is very good stuff... |
| johnjconn (chicago land) | Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 16:32 Great song, great album (even if they are from New York) Long live the rubbers |
| jpfueler (Burleson Texas, (South o' Ft Worth)) | Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 16:31 84MacGuy wrote: I know many people love Steely Dan, but for my ear they are the equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard. Now don't all you Steely Dan fans dump on me. I respect your musical tastes, I just don't get it. I've a friend who say's "Great Playing. . . I hate it" |
| linzie | Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 16:30       ...The Dan Band.......!!!!! |
| Philo (Manchester, England) | Posted: Aug 22, 2010 - 02:18 Sounds great even on rubbishy (relatively) MP3 stream. I'm getting my vinyl out later to hear this again in all it's majesty. . |
| 84MacGuy (Portland, Oregon) | Posted: Aug 15, 2010 - 15:41 I know many people love Steely Dan, but for my ear they are the equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard. Now don't all you Steely Dan fans dump on me. I respect your musical tastes, I just don't get it. |
| linzie | Posted: Jul 14, 2010 - 18:05 my favorite dan tune 4 sure... |
| jools (Brighton UK) | Posted: Jul 05, 2010 - 06:08 The Dan. Thanks Bill |
| zenhead (Maine) | Posted: Jun 19, 2010 - 06:36 it never ceases to amaze me how steely dan could wring such remarkable performances out of session musicians who always seemed to play beyond their usual skills when they played for becker and fagan. and it great that a band who produced such complex (comparatively) music could be a commercial success. always been a fan. |
| dedawson (You never know where you're going til you get there) | Posted: Jun 12, 2010 - 21:31 These guys had a some good stuff early on, but after a while it pretty well all sounds the same, and boring at that. |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Jun 03, 2010 - 10:09 Eveland wrote: This is what I call jazz  I'm voting Star Wars influenced, to some degree. In the same way that this wonderfully quirky recording is jazz influenced, to some degree. |
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: May 18, 2010 - 11:29 von_Hayek wrote: Hmm, "royal scam" was released in 1977.  Steely Dan discography says '76. |
| sirdroseph (Tokyo) | Posted: May 18, 2010 - 11:28 Huey wrote: My alltime favorite group...a 9 My sentiments exactly; rating too.  |
| LuvWilloughby (Westmore,VT) | Posted: May 02, 2010 - 16:54 Love the Larry Carlton strat riffs.... |
| mikeatlarge | Posted: Apr 10, 2010 - 09:32 I think at least 3 Steely Dan albums are amazing, and this is one of them. And this is one of the best tracks from this album. So nice pick! This track does seem to suffer from more MP3 artifacts than most, however. I miss the old 192Kbit MP3 stream. |