Wikipedia

Only a Fool Would Say That

"Only a Fool Would Say That" is a song by the American rock band Steely Dan from their 1972 debut album Can't Buy a Thrill, written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

"Only a Fool Would Say That"
US b-side vinyl label
Song by Steely Dan
from the album Can't Buy a Thrill
A-side"Reelin' In the Years"
ReleasedMarch 1973[1]
GenreSoft rock
Length2:57
LabelABC
SongwriterDonald Fagen • Walter Becker
ProducerGary Katz
Official audio
"Only a Fool Would Say That" on YouTube

Composition

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Steely Dan biographer Anthony Robustelli interpreted "Only a Fool Would Say That" as a depiction of "two disparate characters, one for each verse; the first, a more optimistic hippie-like character, the second a downtrodden working stiff." In the chorus and bridge the narrator, a misanthropic and paranoid character who believes that "Anybody on the street has murder in his eyes", rebukes both the hippie and the working stiff and says their respective dreams are unrealistic.[2] American Songwriter instead interpreted "Only a Fool Would Say That" as mocking John Lennon's 1971 song "Imagine".[3] They identify the character of the first verse with Lennon and the narrator with Steely Dan, who are rebuking Lennon for "being out of touch with reality" but are supportive of the working stiff.[4]

The track ends with the phrase "Solamente un tonto diría eso", Spanish for "only a fool would say that", spoken by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

Release

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"Only a Fool Would Say That" was released in March 1973 as the B-side to the single "Reelin' In the Years".[5]

Reception

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Mojo magazine ranked it number 25 in their list of Steely Dan's 30 greatest songs.[6] The British broadcast service BBC called it "quintessential Dan: mellifluous yet mordant, easy on the ear but as caustic as any dissection of the American dream."[7]

Personnel

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Steely Dan
Additional personnel
Production

Cover versions

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  • The American indie pop band Ivy released a cover version on their 2002 album Guestroom.[8]

References

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  1. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  2. ↑ Robustelli, Anthony (2017). Steely Dan FAQ: All that's Left to Know about this Elusive Band. Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. p. 67. ISBN 9781495025129.
  3. ↑ Casalena, Em (2024-11-22). "3 Times Steely Dan Caused a Stir With Fellow Musicians". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  4. ↑ Hopper, Alex (2024-07-31). "Behind the Meaning of Steely Dan's Response to John Lennon, "Only a Fool Would Say That"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  5. ↑ Sweet, Brian (2018-08-16). Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years. Omnibus Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-78759-129-5.
  6. ↑ "Steely Dan's 30 Greatest Songs Ranked". Mojo. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  7. ↑ Lester, Paul. "BBC - Music - Review of Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  8. ↑ Dix, Noel (January 1, 2006). "Ivy - Guestroom". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
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