Hey Nineteen Lyrics
Way back when, in '67
I was the dandy of Gamma Chi
Sweet things from Boston
So young and willing
Moved down to Scarsdale
Where the hell am I?
[Chorus]
Hey Nineteen
No, we can't dance together
(We can’t dance together)
No, we can't talk at all
Please take me along
When you slide on down
[Verse 2]
Hey Nineteen
That's 'Retha Franklin
She don't remember the Queen of Soul
It’s hard times befallen
The sole survivors
She thinks I'm crazy
But I'm just growing old
[Chorus]
Hey Nineteen
No, we got nothing in common
(We can’t dance together)
No, we can't talk at all
Please take me along
When you slide on down
Nice!
Sure looks good!
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Skate a little lower, now
[Bridge]
The Cuervo Gold
The fine Colombian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
(Say it again)
The Cuervo Gold
The fine Colombian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
The Cuervo Gold
The fine Colombian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
[Chorus]
No, we can't dance together
No, we can't talk at all
About
“Hey Nineteen” is the squalid centerpiece of the concept album that is Gaucho.
Steely’s protagonist here is a pathetic aging dude attempting to put the moves on a 19-year old by bragging about his frat exploits in trying to set the mood with a sweet thing reminiscent of a young Aretha Franklin.
The song’s instrumental refrain builds into one of the ultimate yacht-rock refrains of all-time and peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1981. The song’s chart run of 19 weeks ties it with “Peg” and “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” for the band’s longest running chart hit.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Jazzwax: You seem to take special pleasure in singing Hey Nineteen. Why?
DF: I know the audience likes it, and also it’s maybe a little simpler than our other stuff. It’s easy to sing. I don’t have to think about it that much. By the way—getting back to something you said earlier—if I seem uncomfortable on stage, it’s because I am. Not being a trained singer—I mean, I have had some coaching over the years—In order to sing what’s not the easiest stuff to sing, because I’m basically singing a lot of horn lines and stuff like that. I have to really concentrate. You know, I’d really rather be playing in a way. But I’ve come to enjoy the singing part as well. http://www.jazzwax.com/2011/07/interview-donald-fagen.html
