Gaucho album cover

Steely Dan – Gaucho Lyrics

Rock

Just when I say, "Boy, we can't miss
You are golden", then you do this
You say this guy is so cool
Snapping his fingers like a fool

One more expensive kiss-off
Who do you think I am?

Lord, I know you're a special friend
But you don't seem to understand
We got heavy rollers, I think you should know
Try again tomorrow

Can't you see they're laughing at me?
Get rid of him
I don't care what you do at home
Would you care to explain?

Who is the gaucho, amigo?
Why is he standing in your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes?
Bodacious cowboys

Such as your friend will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

What'd I tell you back down the line?
I'll scratch your back, you can scratch mine
No, he can't sleep on the floor
What do you think I'm yelling for?

I'll drop him near the freeway
Doesn't he have a home?

Lord, I know you're a special friend
But you refuse to understand
You're a nasty schoolboy with no place to go
Try again tomorrow

Don't tell me he'll wait in the car
Look at you
Holding hands with the man from Rio
Would you care to explain?

Who is the gaucho, amigo?
Why is he standing in your spangled leather poncho
With the studs that match your eyes?
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

Comments (2)

  • Anonymous
    Unless this is a song from a female viewpoint, this is about a bunch of dudes. And since it's Steely Dan, you need to ask "What would William Burroughts do?". Not that there is anything wrong with that.
  • Anonymous
    Gauchos were originally vagabonds, vagrants or orphans really. In this case, the narrator belongs to a group or a class of people with whom the second person is associated. The second person has brought forward this gaucho, "snapping his fingers like a fool". The gaucho obviously doesn't belong to the group nor does the narrator ever think they will belong. The "heavy rollers" might not like what they see in this gaucho so "get rid of him", he will "never be welcome here".