Steely Dan - Negative Girl Lyrics






She's lost - she's late
She's zooming on a couch somewhere
Or high - or home
I'm not supposed to call her there

I wait - I smoke
I stare into my coke
It's happening again
I tell myself that it's over and done, amen

Her skin - like milk
It's like she's never seen the sun
Some hearts to crunch
Is more like her idea of fun
I know - she's ill
I'm cruising for a spill
I'm hanging just the same
I need to be in the heat
Of her cold white flame

[Chorus:]
Another negative girl
At the edge of the frame
Deliciously toxic
The original classic thing - more of the same

She's in the zone
Crying on the phone
I need you here
I'm on the street again
Staggering out into the burn of the brain dead dawn
To arrive in time to find her gone

She's on the train
To somewhere up by Fordham Road
Her reptile brain
Locked down and ready in combat mode
Some cash - a key
This guy she has to see
A doctor friend uptown
And maybe she gets to me when she comes back down

[Chorus:]
Another negative girl
Spinning out of the frame
Exquisitely limpid
The original classic thing - more of the same

A goof - a buzz
If that is what it was
Then how do you explain
The way she looks when she's
Dragging me out to dance with her
In the summer rain

[Chorus:]
Another negative girl
At the edge of the frame
Exhausting and luscious
The original classic thing - more of the same





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Steely Dan Negative Girl Comments
  1. S.... K....

    When I listen to this I'm not sure if I am supposed to be sad for the singer, the girl or the musicians but I am sad. I feel a connection to his pain when he sings, "Then how do you explain
    The way she looks when she's
    Dragging me out to dance with her
    In the summer rain".
    Funny how great music makes you actually feel the emotion of the lyrics.

  2. R.... C....

    This track describes today's so called American women

  3. c.... s....

    I've been tied to a few negative girls in my life. The words in this song I lived out. Like a car accident you know is coming, your helpless to stop it. Its a blight on a man's soul. My gosh. This song is powerful...Tom Struska

  4. J.... A....

    Music genius here. Jazz fusion with a little musical theatre nod to Stephen Sondheim on "more of the same." Tight tonal harmonies. very theatrical. SMH. Way ahead.

  5. D.... M....

    The burn of the brain-dead dawn...poets....

  6. k.... t....

    vibraphone is great !

  7. D.... L....

    That shape is my shade there where I used to stand

  8. F.... ....

    Sensational cymbal work on this by Vinnie Colaiuta, and just the most amazing song

  9. E.... G....

    Song is like small artistic movie

  10. I.... ....

    Its happening again

  11. T.... G....

    DAMN, IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO GET THIS AND I STILL SAY IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. THEY DIDN'T MISS A STEP. THAT SOUND IS TIMELESS.

  12. J.... S....

    A haunting song for all of us sprung chickens chasing manipulative, beautiful and negative sociopaths who will turn your world upside down....

  13. s.... ....

    Steely Dan the benchmark in music enough said ! 😊

  14. K.... D....

    This is peak Dan. The ultimate expression of their inimitable combination of deepest coolity and synapse-twisting harmonic structures.

  15. F.... ....

    Those intro and outro chords are just insane! I’ve been thinking about this track all day!

    F.... ....

    The way she looks when she's dragging me out to dance with her in the summer rain...

  16. K.... F....

    A fantastic album.... I love it🙌😘

  17. T.... K....

    An effing masterpiece.

  18. R.... V....

    OMG, a rare vibes solo, and it's just great!

  19. S.... A....

    I remember when i first heard this song and knew that they knew what i knew. Crack Whore.Dean Parks is incredible on this. So is vinny Tom great bass

    S.... A....

    Let’s not forget Paul Jackson JR’s guitar as well. The 2 parts together are perfect!

  20. S.... F....

    One of the greatest songs I've ever heard. Just so beautiful!

  21. z.... f....

    totally love it love it love it loveit

  22. D.... G....

    Album of the Year for 2000

    D.... G....

    And Fagen and Becker couldn't have cared less...

  23. S.... A....

    For the person that said that they could listen to this cut for hours. i like listening alone. i thank you so much for being like me.
    i am from New York and yeah i remember all the shooting galleries and crack whores in the Bronx at that time.Derab nParks and Vinny play superb on this

  24. I.... ....

    One of the grooviest, funkiest tracks in the album. What a deep and sublime touch that only Fagen and Becker can provide. Vinnie Colauita's pocket, along with Tom Barney's bass are right on the line!

  25. m.... p....

    a killer bass

  26. T.... B....

    Ultimate audio system test song. Great song, album, musicians. Thank you for what you've done, Walter. You are missed.

  27. R.... ....

    Listen to that bass grunt

    R.... ....

    I wish I knew how to get that kind of tone out of my bass!

    R.... ....

    Perry Mike having a Music Man StingRay five string will help.

  28. T.... W....

    A truly great album. If an album can be a work of art, this is a masterpiece.

  29. T.... ....

    Everybody knows a girl like this.....

  30. a.... ....

    such an incredible album, with some incredibly bad cover art lol

    a.... ....

    i like this cover. no where near as bad as countdown or the royal scam

    a.... ....

    ambrosiac True! Lol!!!

    a.... ....

    The bad cover art comment though...LOL! So true. I guess it's all about the music.

  31. s.... ....

    Flawless drum track by the one and only Vincent Colaiuta

  32. N.... N....

    !!! Obra maestra !!! Yo vivi una historia similar .

  33. b.... ....

    The outro to this song is beautiful.

    b.... ....

    Love that Rhodes and Wurlitzer.....smooth!

  34. b.... ....

    They are obsessed with 'doctor' characters that are actually drug dealers.

    b.... ....

    Most are drug dealers if not all in there trade .

    b.... ....

    Have ya read Naked Lunch?!

  35. F.... D....

    Amazing song

  36. J.... S....

    my favorite song by THE DAN could listen to it for hours

    J.... S....

    Reminds me of a lot of negative white chicks

    J.... S....

    AS J, LOL I'm a white guy and when I listen to this I think of a couple of AA women I've known. But it's really got nothing to do with race. I think it's a universal thing, the obsession with someone who's no good for you. The memories are bad, or are they? You know you've lived.

    J.... S....

    Me too, James.

  37. r.... b....

    Just great.

  38. R.... R....

    Over the years Donald and Walter have put out a good bit of work both together and apart among which I have many single favorites. I discovered this Sony Live recording on youtube and was listening to it so frequently that I bought the DVD/CD disc on Amazon. It would be my personal favorite "work in total" to date. Great sleek camera work, superb live studio recording, nice assembling of hand picked musicians all of whom want to be there doing that...and, of course, unique compositions / arrangements for which they are known and loved. I saw them live only once at Jazz Fest (New Orleans - post Katrina) in 2007 using two VIP passes given to me by Acura - The sound system was far too loud so that I had to move from the first row seating to the side stage area (behind the columns) just to tolerate the over amplified distortion. From that position I was hearing their monitors and watching them both from side view and on a large video multi panel monitor. It seems to almost always be that nothing surpasses a fine audio system in a larger room in the comfort and privacy of one's own home. Still in all, it was most enjoyable being at the Jazz Fest especially as guests of Acura. Also saw Harry Connick Jr, Allen Toussaint, and a host of others at this multi stage event. It was pretty hot that day - folks were falling out from the heat - misting fans were placed all around - great food and drink in the VIP tent - truly an event to remember. That said, just give me fine studio recordings in my living room or on a fine headphone set for the best sound of "the Dan". I have always liked these fine players - created a niche of their own - enlarged the volume of work always attracting and utilizing the better musicians - what can you say!

    R.... R....

    Addendum: So many of their lyrics can be interpreted in a number of ways. Negative Girl is a great example of this cryptic phenomenon. In this DVD there is a brief spot where Carolyn Leonhart and Victoria Cave are identifying this element of mystery (perhaps with a bit of tongue in cheek ?) which makes the listener such as I more comfortable to draw my own conclusion(s) rather than "figuring out unequivocally" the actual intended meaning. This has never been either a distraction or detraction of the overall quality and enjoyment to be had.

  39. d.... k....

    this is afantastic album !

  40. I.... ....

    Still I must visit this every time I am Zoooming on a couch somewhere

  41. W.... W....

    the last 20 years has been nothing but,movies glorify it and music talking about it nowonder people use
    drugs....

  42. W.... W....

    the naughty girl is america.

  43. K.... L....

    One of the smooth tunes on this album! I just LOVE it!

  44. D.... W....

    Beautiful quirky perfect stylish rock attached it's only they can pull it off

  45. N.... N....

    En invierno de 2000 cuando salio a la venta este album yo estaba viviendo una historia  con una chica negativa igual a la que cuenta Steely Dan en Negative Girl, cada vez que escucho esta cancion me vuelven los recuerdos ya superados.

  46. E.... B....

    Wow - too far ahead for most heads, unless you're a head...totally love this tune - been waiting for someone to post the 'real thing', and this is it...

    E.... B....

    Superb guitar playing.

    E.... B....

    That flatpicked repeating sequence that takes up the last part of the song, the endurance is astounding!

  47. D.... C....

    Amazingly awesome.

  48. R.... C....

    "...I stare into my Coke." Cola or drug?

    R.... C....

    +Ronald Charles Epstein  only Fagen knows....

    R.... C....

    +STIRKDAWG Yes her skin is like a liquid xylophone spreading across your mind in another time as gold teeth never pay as the jack of speed or Ricky ever did.

    R.... C....

    Definitely Cocaine.

    R.... C....

    Why not both!

    R.... C....

    I think its Zero Coke or Roller Coaler

  49. B.... H....

    Yep, I had one of these girl's he sings about,,,, 

    B.... H....

    same here.. almost hurts doesn't it?

    B.... H....

    Same. & like bh617 said it does almost hurt. Hurt a lot more at the time but that day has had its pass.

  50. j.... ....

    the best song on the album

    j.... ....

    joethebar1 true!

    j.... ....

    Man, you gotta be kidding.

    j.... ....

    He's correct

    j.... ....

    It’s gotta be Vinnie....

  51. 0.... ....

    pure perferction fron A to Z..........

  52. J.... ....

    ur just another negative girl

  53. O.... ....

    what a band!

  54. J.... M....

    VINNIE COLAIUTA DRUMS

  55. D.... M....

    *Abilities

  56. D.... M....

    Just perfect writing and so much technic habilities throughout this song pfiouuu

  57. D.... B....

    I listened to your track with beer for dolphins. I really like the change ups! cool musical ideas throughout. inspiring

  58. r.... ....

    Genius. The entire album is nothing short of brilliant.

  59. W.... B....

    Probably my favorite track from this CD

  60. I.... ....

    Hey I create my own Music, I would like to know what you think.
    Will you subscribe and do a few " reviews " ?

  61. U.... ....

    No prob. I guess I was staring at my coke too long.