Walter Becker was an amazing musician, co-founder of Steely Dan and author of such amazing songs. He died today, at 67. BABYLON SISTER is the first track on Steely Dan's Gaucho album, released in 1980.
Steely Dan is a rare group that would sometimes record songs that none of the band members played on. That was the case of this song, which has vocals from Donald Fagen, but no studio instrumental contributions from him or Walter. The group always chose the players that best suited the song, and in this case the lineup included drummer Bernard Purdie, who played his distinctive "Purdie Shuffle," and bass player Chuck Rainey.
In this video, you can see Walter playing this fantastic song. ENJOY!
LYRICS
Drive west on Sunset
To the sea
Turn that jungle music down
Just until we're out of town
This is no one-night stand
It's a real occasion
Close your eyes and you'll be there
It's everything they say
The end of a perfect day
Distant lights from across the bay
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me I'm the only one
Here come those Santa Ana winds again
We'll jog with show folk
On the sand
Drink kirschwasser from a shell
San Francisco Show and Tell
Well I should know by now
That it's just a spasm
Like a Sunday in T.J.
That it's cheap but it's not free
That I'm not what I used to be
And that love's not a game for three
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me I'm the only one
Here come those Santa Ana winds again
My friends say no don't go
For that cotton candy
Son you're playing with fire
The kid will live and learn
As he watches his bridges burn
From the point of no return
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me I'm the only one
You've got to shake it baby
You've got to shake it baby
You've got to shake it
Sources
www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=16295
For more infornation about the band
steelydan.com
