Released: 1972
“Reelin’ In The Years” by Steely Dan is a reflection on time, lost opportunities, and misguided priorities. The song’s narrator questions the choices and values of someone close, expressing confusion and frustration over their life decisions. It’s a classic rock tune that blends introspection with a catchy melody.
The opening lines talk about the fleeting nature of youth. “Your everlasting summer you can see it fading fast” suggests that the person is losing their prime years. They cling to things they believe will last, but the narrator doubts their judgment, “Well you wouldn’t even know a diamond if you held it in your hand.”
The chorus, “Are you reelin’ in the years? Stowin’ away the time,” is a rhetorical question. It asks if the person is wasting their years and emotions, “gatherin’ up the tears,” over things that don’t matter. The narrator seems tired of their drama, “Have you had enough of mine?”
In the second verse, the narrator mocks the person’s self-proclaimed genius, “You been tellin’ me you’re a genius since you were seventeen.” Their college experience didn’t meet expectations, and the narrator can’t grasp their version of knowledge, “The things that pass for knowledge I can’t understand.”
The final verse reflects on shared experiences, “I spent a lot of money and I spent a lot of time,” but ends with betrayal, “you find another man.” The narrator is baffled by what the person values, “The things you think are useless I can’t understand.” It’s a tale of disillusionment and lost connections.
