Fagen won't admit it – he's always been extremely reluctant to explain his songs – but it's easy to imagine that Ducornet was the inspiration for one of his band's most famous tunes, ''Rikki Don't Lose That Number.'' the house that Rikki lived in is still there on Annandale Road. I didn't say that "Rikki" is in the least "fluffy", just that it's not about drugs or anything grimier than a slightly creepy ex, and that it doesn't have to be to claim its place as a top shelf SD lyric. My favorite fictional mongoose. Money talks BS walks in America baby, if you ever in front of a judge better put up or shut up. I mean, I know there are a lot of dumb, lazy people out there, but if you can't or don't want to try and learn the new numbers, let … Label: WEA - 0-259001 • Format: Vinyl 12 Phil Collins - (Billy) Don't Lose My Number … ― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 24 November 2003 03:55 (seventeen years ago) link, ― gaz (gaz), Monday, 24 November 2003 03:59 (seventeen years ago) link. "I guess you kind of scared yourself. I think the theme of some sort of gay encounter with someone unsure of his sexuality makes more sense. ― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 November 2003 20:46 (seventeen years ago) link. In Australia, the single was released with the title "(Billy) Don't Lose My Number". ― "pack a bisquit" (carry a gun) (lpz), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 00:44 (ten years ago) link. I remember Tom Robinson doing a cover version, that was probably why. ', ― Debito (Debito), Monday, 24 November 2003 06:59 (seventeen years ago) link, ― billstevejim, Monday, 24 November 2003 07:16 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Speedy Gonzalas (Speedy Gonzalas), Monday, 24 November 2003 08:58 (seventeen years ago) link, ― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 November 2003 10:15 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 24 November 2003 12:17 (seventeen years ago) link, ― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 November 2003 12:51 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Al (sitcom), Monday, 24 November 2003 13:44 (seventeen years ago) link. (sorry, it's just a pet peeve of mine that folks like Fagan or, say, Elvis Costello, seem to get caught in this trap where their praised more for the content of their lyrics more than their skillz, to the point that if it's not vengeful spiteful bile, it's either not their best work, or it's subversively insincere), ("their praised" = "they're praised", obv, and "it's either" was meant as "it is perceived as either not..." etc.). "- Don, Gladwin, MI, ― Mormons come out of the sky and they stand there (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 14 September 2010 23:56 (ten years ago) link. Not that that is a bad thing. Like, it's a kind of joke in the United States to call Las Vegas 'Lost Wages' 'cause it's a gambling centre. but it could simply be designed for maximum utility. Anyway I am now mentally combining "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number" with "Billy, Don't Lose My Number" and hating all of you heartily as a result. It didn't used to be that way though. Their suggestions allow Collins to parody several other music videos of the time, including videos by David Lee Roth ("California Girls"), Elton John ("I'm Still Standing"), The Police ("Every Breath You Take"), and The Cars ("You Might Think"), as well as movies such as Mad Max 2 and various samurai movies and Westerns. ― o. nate (onate), Monday, 24 November 2003 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 November 2003 21:53 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 24 November 2003 21:54 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 24 November 2003 21:56 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 November 2003 21:57 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:01 (seventeen years ago) link, ― hstencil, Monday, 24 November 2003 22:02 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:11 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:40 (thirteen years ago) link, ― baaderonixx, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:47 (thirteen years ago) link, ― danbunny, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:58 (thirteen years ago) link, ― danbunny, Thursday, 10 May 2007 13:59 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Hurting 2, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:16 (thirteen years ago) link, ― ellaguru, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:42 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Hurting 2, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:48 (thirteen years ago) link, ― ellaguru, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:54 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Hurting 2, Thursday, 10 May 2007 14:55 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Sparkle Motion, Thursday, 10 May 2007 15:01 (thirteen years ago) link, ― o. nate, Thursday, 10 May 2007 15:02 (thirteen years ago) link, ― danbunny, Thursday, 10 May 2007 15:28 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Hurting 2, Thursday, 10 May 2007 15:30 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Tinky-Winky, Thursday, 10 May 2007 17:58 (thirteen years ago) link, ― mike a, Thursday, 10 May 2007 18:00 (thirteen years ago) link, ― billstevejim, Thursday, 10 May 2007 18:02 (thirteen years ago) link, ― The Deacon, Thursday, 10 May 2007 18:04 (thirteen years ago) link, ― o. nate, Thursday, 10 May 2007 18:59 (thirteen years ago) link, ― hstencil, Thursday, 10 May 2007 19:13 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Sparkle Motion, Thursday, 10 May 2007 19:20 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Brad C., Thursday, 10 May 2007 20:19 (thirteen years ago) link, ― PappaWheelie V, Thursday, 10 May 2007 23:10 (thirteen years ago) link, ― chaki, Friday, 11 May 2007 01:26 (thirteen years ago) link, ― baaderonixx, Friday, 11 May 2007 07:45 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Whiney G. Weingarten, Friday, 11 May 2007 08:43 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Whiney G. Weingarten, Friday, 11 May 2007 08:46 (thirteen years ago) link, ― Hurting 2, Friday, 11 May 2007 13:56 (thirteen years ago) link, From http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3204, "Judy from Arlington TX is right on, it use to be refered to as " a poor mans copyright ". from album: Pretzel Logic (1974) We hear you're leaving, that's ok. Play, download, or share the MIDI song STEELY DAN.Rikki don't lose that number K.mid from your web browser. Billy Don't lose That Number -- Phil Collins. I love this song but will forever associate it with John Mahoney singing it while driving during a scene in "Say Anything". “Don’t Lose My Number” is a song about a young man named Billy whom the singer is hoping to find, and also hoping that Billy still has the singer’s number. (He still is, as far as I know, I just don't buy any more. ― Mormons come out of the sky and they stand there (Abbbottt), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 00:49 (ten years ago) link. Exactly what is it that those girls chant incessantly? ― gaz (gaz), Monday, 24 November 2003 04:01 (seventeen years ago) link, ― gaz (gaz), Monday, 24 November 2003 04:05 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Monday, 24 November 2003 04:10 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 24 November 2003 04:24 (seventeen years ago) link, ― hstencil, Monday, 24 November 2003 04:26 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Al (sitcom), Monday, 24 November 2003 04:35 (seventeen years ago) link. [3] Stephen Holden of the New York Times also agreed that the lyrics were very "vague, sketching the outlines of a melodrama but withholding the full story". she was, i think, the child of a professor living on the campus of the university attended by members of the band. Isn't that one way of copyrighting a written work - to mail it to yourself by registered mail and then leaving it unopened as evidence of the date of authorship? I think that the interview was in Musician; Listener and Player mag. What, this song isn't about Rickie Lee Jones? Rock dudes be hyper-sensitive about people not losing their numbers. Steely Dan – Rikki Don't Lose That Number Lyrics. It never, ever occurred to me that a man would spell his name "Rikki" at the time this song came out. The key dynamic being: A-symmetrical relationships with sexual undertones. Flashback: Phil Collins Spoofs MTV in ‘Don’t Lose My Number’ Video Watch Genesis frontman insert himself into videos by the Police, the Cars and David Lee Roth in this 1985 video T (President Keyes), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:35 (ten years ago) link. I'm talking out of my ass... ― Debito (Debito), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:12 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Credito, Monday, 24 November 2003 05:34 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:41 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Al (sitcom), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:49 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:51 (seventeen years ago) link, ― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:56 (seventeen years ago) link, ― gusbot (eternal_fields), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:57 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Debito (Debito), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:58 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Al (sitcom), Monday, 24 November 2003 05:58 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Al (sitcom), Monday, 24 November 2003 06:02 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Al (sitcom), Monday, 24 November 2003 06:03 (seventeen years ago) link. ― clemenza, Wednesday, 15 September 2010 02:30 (ten years ago) link. And it was on Billboard's Top 100 the week Nixon resigned. That is the reality of american justice people, follow the money and you'll learn the truth. In Australia, the single was released with the title "(Billy) Don't Lose My Number". "We hear you're leaving, that's OKI thought our little wild time had just begunI guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and runBut if you have a change of heart...". Music curated for you. [4], Collins did not know what to use as a theme for the song's music video, so he decided that it would show his decision process in selecting a theme for it. Listen online and get new recommendations, only at Last.fm From an article about/interview with Fagen in. Not that he did in this case, but seems like he would get great pleasure out of seeing it in print. Print and download Rikki Don't Lose That Number sheet music by HDpiano arranged for Piano. Yeah, but it also sounds (as do many SD lyrics) like a rich older guy trying to talk a virgin into giving him head. However, she has the thing he most wants, her sex. Fagan seems like the type of guy who would totally bullshit an interviewer. Ab Cm Cuz you're not anywhere, Bb Db Where I can find you. Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number Cos you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh They came at night leaving fear behind Shadows were on the ground Nobody knew where to find him No evidence was found "I'm never coming back" They heard him cry And I believe him He never meant to do anything wrong It's gonna get worse if he waits too long Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number ― Drastic times require what? I thought our little wild time had just begun. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is a single released in 1974 by rock/jazz rock group Steely Dan and the opening track of their third album Pretzel Logic. It reached #15 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. those of you that think people can't figure out who's who if there are number changes every year are really starting to scare me. It was also covered by Naked Lunch [US], Michael White [US4], The Morpholinos, Midnite String Quartet and other artists. I don't know - I kind of like the idea of mailing a letter to yourself for some reason. I always assumed it was a drug dealer's number (perhaps 'cause my dealer's name was Ricky. "Don't Lose My Number" is a song by Phil Collins from his third solo album No Jacket Required. ), Yeah, I always assumed was about a guy who was only just beginning to come out of the closet in his mind...though now I'm sort of amazed that I just. You mean Time Out of Mind? I think the line is actually "you don't even know you're mind", which is a bit less stalkerish. Undone -- Duran Duran. ― paige, Monday, 24 November 2003 21:21 (seventeen years ago) link. ''I remember we had a great conversation and he did suggest I call him, which never happened,'' says Ducornet, now a well-regarded novelist and artist. I'm gay and like searching for gay subtexts in pop songs but never got that from this track at all. I never considered the gay angle, though that makes sense. It doesn't necessarily have to have a "meaning" but I guess if you want to take it literally you can. Listen to STEELY DAN.Rikki don't lose that number K.mid, a free MIDI file on BitMidi. Commentaires. F#m7 A RUN - (B D# G# A D G# A E) And you could have a change of heart, [Chorus] E G Rikki don't lose that number, you don't wanna call nobidy else. ― Green Manalishi (Viceroy), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 00:26 (ten years ago) link, ― Green Manalishi (Viceroy), Wednesday, September 15, 2010 12:26 AM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark. 0 0. Don’t Lose My Number is a song written by English singer and songwriter Phil Collins. Fagen & Becker are missing the gravy train by not putting out live albums from that era. Now, how a father fits into the lyric is for better SD interpreters than I. yeah i don't get the speculation at all. ― Fruitless and Pansy Free (Dr. Joseph A. Ofalt), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 12:53 (ten years ago) link, It never, ever occurred to me that a man would spell his name "Rikki".― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, November 24, 2003 9:31 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink, ― Zeppelin to Howlin Wolf: "Suck It" (Bill Magill), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 13:49 (ten years ago) link, http://img.hotmoviesale.com/dvds/LGE-D17066D/1/Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.jpg, ― Shock and Awe High School (Phil D.), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 13:52 (ten years ago) link, http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/03/29/rikki_rockett_narrowweb__300x401,0.jpg, ― Ride decided to give birth to a giant poop log & disguise it as a CD (jamescobo), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:14 (ten years ago) link, http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jQ7O2uD4L._SL500_AA300_.jpg, ― Ward Fowler, Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:25 (ten years ago) link. [Chorus] Eb Fm Billy, Billy don't you lose Db Dbadd9 Db My number. Music, Film, TV and Political News Coverage. mongoose? She Blinded Me With Science -- Thomas Dolby. why? Speaking on the subject of playing their hit songs in concert, Donald Fagen told Rolling Stone in 2013: "Walter and I aren't fond of 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number.' -- Devo. Except "letter" is so much more poetic. because if they did thier useless copyright lawyers would be out of a great deal of money. I was gonna point out that Rikki could totally be a girl's name but too late. The best from the 70's, 80's ,90's, 00s, 10's, 20's . I particularly like it when I've been conscious of a song for a long time (in this case 25+ years) and have no idea what it's about and have never really worried too much about divining what it's about and am content to go on not knowing what it's really about, instead allowing my own perceptions to be ambiguously framed by Becker and Fagan. I think it's funny how I've accepted this folklore about it being about a gay fling of some sort. Rikki, don't lose … Also, a work becomes copyrighted in the US the moment you sign your name to it. It never, ever occurred to me that a man would spell his name "Rikki". I just have listening fatigue. "Don't Lose My Number" is a song by Phil Collins from his third solo album No Jacket Required. Rikki = Richard = Nixon. Nous nous engageons à en retirer l'affichage en cas de demande de leur part. Steely Dan originally released Rikki Don't Lose That Number written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and Steely Dan released it on the album Pretzel Logic in 1974. Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number Cos you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh Paroles en attente d'une autorisation des ayants droit. Here you find a guy, a rather rich gentleman living in a resort, and he somehow manages to capture this young lady. Ordinary World -- Duran Duran. I guess its probably about that real person they went to college with, whutever.. its just the way the lyrics are written, and without any specific genders ever mentioned or implied I always interpreted it as a gay/coming out/drug scene stuff song. Danbunny, thanks for that! "You tell yourself you're not my kind" takes on a lot of irony. why? Billy Don't Lose That Prayer by The Morpholinos (2003) was covered in Rikki Don't Lose That Number by Chuck Loeb (2007) see 25 more connections. Thier services would become academic. For what it's worth, I assumed it was a guy being sung to, but the words are more from a female perspective. I'm actually not crazy about the line "Send it off in a letter to yourself" - I mean it sound really cool, especially the way they sing it, but the idea is actually a bit forced. Though the gay interpretation is very intriguing. 2 Questions- when was that live version from & does anybody know if Horace Silver ever commented on the tune? It's actually "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", by Steely Dan, from the 70's. ... Phil Collins sings "Billy..... if you are looking for the 80's song, its probably the Phil Collins one. Dan, just imagine Milli Vanilli singing both songs in a round! Lyrics are usually irrelevant to my listening enjoyment. A G D Send it off in a letter to yourself. "And what about "Show Biz Kids" from "Countdown To Ecstasy." Rikki was a real person and Barrytown is a real place and there once was a Gamma Chi (but not "way back when in '67") tho I have little doubt that the songs are actually. ― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:01 (seventeen years ago) link [2], Collins has stated that the lyrics to "Don't Lose My Number" were improvised, and that he himself does not fully understand what they mean. I read a Fagen interview years ago where he said that Rikki was Eric Clapton and the "number" was Clapton's and Becker's dealer. I think pretty much any interpretation goes well with John Mahoney singing along with it in "Say Anything". ― skip, Wednesday, 15 September 2010 02:33 (ten years ago) link. Well, Tom Robinson spells out the 'gay subtext' nicely by interpolating the following lines (from 'Any Major Dude Will Tell You') into his cover version: I can tell you all I know, the where to go, the what to doYou can try to run but you can't hide from what's inside of you'. Drastic measures! Steely Dan: 10 Essential Songs In honor of the late Walter Becker, we look back at some of the sly jazz-rockers’ best [Verse 2](same … Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number Cos you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh They came at night leaving fear behind Shadows were on the ground Nobody knew where to find him No evidence was found "I'm never coming back" They heard him cry And I believe him He never meant to do anything wrong It's gonna get worse if he waits too long Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number Yeah, I always assumed it was a girl's name as well. SKU: MN0193500 Novocain For The Soul -- EELS. ― gusbot (eternal_fields), Monday, 24 November 2003 06:39 (seventeen years ago) link. That is the reality of american justice people, follow the money and you'll learn the truth. ― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:16 (seventeen years ago) link, ― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:31 (seventeen years ago) link, ― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:36 (seventeen years ago) link, ― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:52 (seventeen years ago) link.