Storytellers
Lyrics: The Yarn-Spinners Edition. All songwriters, of course, are storytellers, but some just do it better than others. I've selected three of the best for this installment - The Becker/Fagen team (yes, more Steely Dan), Jim Croce & Declan McManus (Elvis Costello).

Deacon Blues
Words by: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
Performed by: Steely Dan on the album Aja (1977)

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

I think i had a dream like this once, but i'm not sure. I might have just been drunk.

Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy) {excerpt}
Words by: Jim Croce
Performed by: Jim Croce on the album You Don't Mess Around With Jim (1972)

Rapid Roy that Stock Car Boy, he too much to believe
You know he always got an extra pack of cigerettes 
Rolled up in his T-shirt sleeve
He got a tattoo on his arm that say "Baby"
He got another one that just say "Hey"
But every Sunday afternoon he is a dirt-track demon 
In a '57 Chevrolet

Many people think that we missed out on a lot of good music when Jim Croce died in a plane crash. I don't. To be honest, i think he would've fizzled out. But he did write some great tunes while he was around, & this was one of them. I've always wanted a tattoo on my arm the just said, "HEY".

Brilliant Mistake
Words by: Elvis Costello
Performed by: Elvis Costello on the album King Of America (1986)

He thought he was the King of America 
Where they pour Coca-Cola just like vintage wine 
Now I try hard not to become hysterical 
But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying 
I wish that I could push a button 
And talk in the past and not the present tense 
And watch this hurtin' feeling disappear like it was common sense 

It was a fine idea at the time 
Now it's a brilliant mistake 

She said that she was working for the ABC News 
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use 
Her perfume was unspeakable, it lingered in the air 
Like her artificial laughter, her mementos of affairs 
"Oh," I said, "I see you know him, isn't that very fortunate for you?" 
And she showed me his calling card, 
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two 

He was a fine idea at the time 
Now he's a brilliant mistake 

He thought he was the King of America 
But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams 
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals 
The words of love in whispers and the axe of love in screams 
I wish that I could push a button 
And talk in the past and not the present tense 
And watch this lovin' feeling disappear like it was common sense 

I was a fine idea at the time 
Now I'm a brilliant mistake

Brilliant Mistake is a sad song, but it's also sort of funny. It's about America and it's about lost ambition, not lack of inspiration. It's about a disappointed or frustrated belief.

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