About Mike McGibney Expertise I can answer questions about individual members of the band or their vast array of session musicians, or about ANY song, even the extremely rare/unpublished. I can help with musical aspects such as chords/instruments used or with style of playing or about the history behind the band and in particular, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the bands writers/arrangers.
Experience I am a huge Steely Dan fan, and have my own website on them. I also have a Steely Dan tribute band, and saw the real Steely Dan play at Wembley in 2000. I play all their music on bass and piano, and specialise in hard to get songs, mostly on mp3 format.
Organizations I play keyboards and do the arranging and transcriptions for a Steely Dan tribute band, and am a regular member on forums on the band throughout the internet.
Question What are the hidden meanings behind the song Time Out of Mind. Like when they say "put a dollar in the kitty" I think means to but it in a kitty coin bank. Like a guy comes home from work and chases the dragon which could be a hash pipe like puff the magic dragon. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Answer Hi there! Bassist eh? Me too, glad to see it! You're right about the drug references, although they're referring specifically to heroin. Chasing the Dragon is breathing in smoke rising from burning heroin or opium through a straw - and the lyric "silver will turn to gold" could mean the metal crucible tarnishing from silver to gold. "the water will change to cherry wine" could be injecting heroin, as the person in question pulls the plunger back to make sure they've entered a vein.
The songs quite an enigma, but a standout track on the album, I feel! Yes, I think dollar in the kitty is literal too, but it's hard to tell!
It's also been suggested that the imagery smacks of Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit fantasy.....but I'm not too sure about that. Fagen and Becker WERE English majors though....!
