Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Chain Lightning -- Steely Dan

Guest poem submitted by Gerry Rowe:
(Poem #965) Chain Lightning
 Some turnout, a hundred grand
 Get with it we'll shake his hand
 Don't bother to understand
 Don't question the little man
 Be part of the brotherhood
 Yes it's chain lightning
 It feels so good

 Hush brother, we cross the square
 Act natural like you don't care
 Turn slowly and comb your hair
 Don't trouble the midnight air
 We're standing just where he stood
 It was chain lightning
 It feels so good
-- Steely Dan
A lot of Steely Dan (Donald Fagen and Walter Becker) songs are very
successful recastings of standard forms. Chain Lightning is one such. It has
a standard key note-dominant-seventh kind of chord sequence. However the
chords chosen are not the usual ones but a set of more recherche, and very
effective, other ones. This is why the tune sounds both familiar and unusual
at first listening (and ultimately very pleasing).

The same kind of care and skill goes into Steely Dan lyrics, which have been
called wry, ironic and super-clever - but never trivial. Chain Lightning
deals with territory probably never explored elsewhere in music - the
subjective feelings of participants in a political rally addressed by a
powerful orator (whether of left or right is not stated). These verses
convey the paradox that the words and ideas of demagogues (and this comment
may apply to any politician) may not stand up to close inspection but may
still make listeners feel very good.

For those that like it the music of Steely Dan creates a very agreeable, and
enduring, sensation of being expertly and assiduously entertained. It makes
you feel good (and is worth more than any amount of political oratory!). In
my case my attention only turns later to the lyrics which always turn out to
be full of added value, to say the least. So it is with Chain Lightning. If
you can, listen to it, on 'Katy Lied', to get the full experience.

It's an interesting question as to who exactly the narrator is. The
author/auteur directing his characters through a short film-scene? An
initiate mentally rehearsing advice to a neophyte?  A Travis Bickle talking
to himself in quiet ecstasy? This open vagueness goes well with the the
theme of a dubious political excitement that is the more chilling for being
savoured rather than outwardly acclaimed.

Gerry.

35 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Richard Hall said...

Originally, between the verses, was the line "Forty years later" which makes a bit more sense of the second verse.
Of course, I originally thought this tune was something to do with narcotics, like all their other songs...

Dan Loftus said...

There is no indication whatsoever that the singer hs been to a political gathering of any type. The subject of the song is the feeling of having been in the presence of anyone highly impressive or great in any way. In the moment of their departure from a public space and a crowd, the singer urges another person there to attempt to hold onto the moment of that "great person's" presence because they themselves are not celebrated or capable of providing a transcendent moment.
Now Rick Derringer's guitar soloing here - that strikes as quite such a moment in itself.

Tatu said...

Chain Lightning's 'Familiar form' you refer to is called 'The Blues', all the 'recherche chords notwithstanding.That's the reason for it sounding familiar. Some other Steely Dan tunes that are Blues forms 'disguised' by recherche chords:'Black Friday', Don't Take Me Alive (Blues form w/ an instrumental section), 'Peg' (Blues w/a chorus), 'Bodhisattva', 'Pretzel Logic.

Anonymous said...

Αrе gamers гeally ѕeеmly саbinet agnostіc aѕ gаmes forceѕ with other onlinе players to Аctіon miѕsіonѕ and
gοаlѕ, οг conflіct one anоther
for suргemаcу.

Feel frеe to visіt my ѕіte .
.. game

Anonymous said...

You Feature to miх thе coгrect
measuгe οf sаnԁ Spiеl, these gameѕ can be fun and сhallenging at he liκе clіp as intimately, serving anyone go thrοugh metrе off without the
boredom. Thіs and otheг amounts аrе lіkewise aνailable οn the intеrnet site, but as fаr as ѕhаrіng the those games that are related to their herοes.



Check out mу wеblοg game

Anonymous said...

You Featuгe to mix the cоrreсt measure of sand Spіel,
thesе gаmes cаn be fun and challengіng at he like clip аs intimatelу, seгνing anуone go through metre off without the boreԁοm.

Thіs аnԁ оther аmounts аre
likeωіse аvailable оn the internеt
site, but аs far as ѕharing the thosе gameѕ that are relatеԁ tο their heroes.


Also νisit mу blog - game

mighty students essays said...

There is no sign at all that the musician has been to a governmental collecting of any kind. The topic of the music is the sensation of having been in the use of anyone extremely amazing or excellent in any way. In when of their leaving from a community area and a audience It's an exciting query as to who exactly the narrator is. The author guiding his figures through a brief film-scene

Anonymous said...

The report shows that some European lotteries may offer larger jackpots on occasion.

There are actually cost per action offers that only require
an email address for you to get paid. 5 lottery
wins later, and a bullet in the leg (more on that later), he is now preparing to share his secret formula with a small group of people.
If you happen to lose a jackpot winning ticket worth millions
of dollars, whoever has possession of the lottery ticket can redeem your cash prize.
Almost every Nancy Millen Outfit 12 months many each gender
resolution "Yes" specific concern with each season in which solution obligations most of these cash money,
point in time, self-assurance,Discount Prada Handbags
and heartbreak.

Feel free to surf to my webpage :: how to buy lottery tickets online

Anonymous said...

This way you can do more of what is working and improve traffic and sales further.

As mentioned earlier, it is not as difficult as you may imagine.

The internet is packed full of ways to make money online
but you can easily find yourself drowning in the sea of information that is out there about
all the different methods that are available
to make your mullah.

Look at my web page - real ways to make money online

Anonymous said...

Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information.
Thanks for the post. I'll certainly comeback.


my page lock service

Anonymous said...

Initially, only PS3 devices that stayed offline and didn't
receive the firmware update could continue to make use of Other - OS; it took several months for the solution known as Other - OS++ to be developed.

The Play - Station 3 is great for backing up my photos and
files that I worry about losing on my computer alone. Adventure games can include God of
war, Wild West, Wild Arms, as well as puzzle games, and real-life home-based systems such as the Simpsons
for younger players.

Here is my web site :: psn code generator that works

Anonymous said...

Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening.
I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this content together.
I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments.
But so what, it was still worth it!

Feel free to visit my web blog: locksmiths in houston

Anonymous said...

Thank you for some other magnificent post.
The place else could anybody get that kind of info in such
an ideal manner of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week,
and I'm at the look for such info.

Look at my web blog - shock collar for small dogs

Anonymous said...

Howdy! I know this is somewhat off-topic but I needed
to ask. Does managing a well-established website like yours take a lot of work?
I'm completely new to writing a blog however I do write in my journal on a daily basis.
I'd like to start a blog so I will be able
to share my personal experience and thoughts online.
Please let me know if you have any ideas or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers.
Appreciate it!

Also visit my web blog price ranges ()

Anonymous said...

These are really wonderful ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some fastidious things here.

Any way keep up wrinting.

my web site ... bylinky na hubnutí

Anonymous said...

With havin so much content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My site has a lot of exclusive content I've eithesr
authored myself or outsourced but it looks like
a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any ways
to help stop content from being stolen? I'd truly appreciate it.


Here is my site :: search engine marketing greenville sc

Anonymous said...

Hello i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read
this article i thought i could also make comment due to this good article.


Also visit my web blog; stamped concrete nh

Anonymous said...

The mix of finish as well as performance improvement is preferred amongst BMW M3 owners.


my homepage; bmw financial services

unsgu said...

Info yang diberikan bagus sekali, semoga minimalist home interior design menjadi berkah how to make home dan bermanfaat toyota new car price bagi kita semua motorsport kawasaki ninja

unsgu said...

cara alami memperbesar alat vital dengan extenderjilq ini di yakini para konsumen kami sangatlah bagus untuk solusi masalah seks anda dan cara memperbesar penis dengan ini memang membutuhkan proses jadi perkembangan step by step dengan kata lain bertahap untuk mendapatkan hasil maksimal

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

PCB Assembly said...

I think it’s cheap, it’s fun to watch, but you can try it before I bought it at MOKO PCB.

Awad Elsayed said...

إن شركتنا تتميز بأسعارها المخفضة جدًا والتي لا مثيل لها ولا توجد هذه الاسعار سوي لدي شركتنا وهي من المميزات التي تختص بها شركتنا دون الشركات الأخرى ، فشركتنا أسعارها تتناسب مع جميع المواطنين الاغنياء والفقراء وشركتنا تقوم بتقديم العديد من الخدمات الاضافية وبعض الخدمات المجانية لعملائها القدامى، كما تقوم شركتنا بتقديم المزيد من العروض الرائعة والتي تتميز بتخفيضاتها التي تصل إلى نسبة 35% للعملاء الجدد ونسبة 45% للعملاء القدامى وهذه العروض تقوم شركتنا بمدها لفترة طويله حتي يتمكن اكبر عدد من العملاء من الاستفادة منها.
شركة كشف تسربات المياه بللسمر

شركة عزل خزانات بللسمر

شركة عزل اسطح بللسمر

شركة تنظيف خزانات بللسمر

شركة تنظيف بللسمر

cheap assignment help said...

Good blog. Keep sharing. I love them Are you also searching for Cheap assignment help? we are the best solution for you. We are best known for delivering cheap assignments to students without having to break the bank

cheap nursing writing company said...

I love it here. Keep sharing your good vibes. I love them Are you also searching for dissertation writing help? we are the best solution for you. We are best known for delivering cheap assignments to students without having to break the bank

cheap assignment writing services said...

I love this. It is soo informative. Are you also searching for cheap assignment writing services we are the best solution for you. We are best known for delivering the best services to students without having to break the bank

Post a Comment