Steely Dan: Do It Again Meaning

Song Released: 1972

Do It Again Lyrics

In the mornin you go gunnin'

For the man who stole your water

And you fire till he is done in

But they catch you at the border

And the mourners are all singin'

As they drag you by your feet

But the hangman isn't hangin'

And...

1. anonymous

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   Oct 6th 2023 !⃝

   1st verse 1st chakra - Basic reactivity - karma is pretty straightforward in this scenario - you killed so will be killed and have to start again. -
   2nd verse - second chakra - sensations - - your 2 timer - your partner will reflect your lack of sophistication around motives for being with them - and putting sex/drugs/ thrills over love will lead to bad consequences. - addiction
   3rd verse - 3rd chakra - having been beaten down in the first 2 chakras you become a more sophisticated self seeker - black cards being manipulation and selfishly getting what you ‘want’
   Final message is that you have to get honest in order to release yourself from these delusional karmic traps.
   
   
2. anonymous

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   May 27th 2019 !⃝

   Obsession. Desire. Addiction. They lead us to barely escape, the hangman. Suffer one broken heart after another and risk financial ruin. Still. “We go back, Jack. Do it Again. Wheel turning round and round”
   .....We can’t break the wheel.
3. anonymous

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   Apr 10th 2019 !⃝

   Trying to escape east germany by going over the berlin wall.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
4. anonymous

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   Feb 21st 2019 !⃝

   This song reminds many of us that we are made a certain way and that what attracts us to cerain things and ways of life that are (if truth be told) inexplicable. This anonymous contributor is basically unchanged from the small boy who first stumbled through his first day at school until this day of my almost seventy years. Animalistic urges included, i realky ont know why i have done anything in my life . I love steely dan but the beatles not so much. Go figure
5. anonymous

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   Jun 21st 2018 !⃝

   My sense is that it's a reference to the wheel of reincarnation or the karmic "wheel of 84"
6. anonymous

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   Jun 1st 2018 !⃝

   i think its about mexican crossing the u.s. border in mexico.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
7. anonymous

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   Mar 15th 2018 !⃝

   It seems quite obvious to me that, amongst other things, the song deals with lust and obsessive underhanded love matters. Undisciplined drives and passions leading one astray and into perdition. "Your black cards can make you money so you hide them while you're able. In the land of Milk and Honey you must put them on the table."
8. anonymous

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   Mar 31st 2017 !⃝

   I think its about love.thursty for love.till" someone stole your water" so they do them in keep shooting then run to leave country.get caught.everyones glad he got caught.but system put him back on street. Sounds like an interesting movie.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
9. anonymous

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   Apr 21st 2016 !⃝

   Isn't it just about addiction, in the most general sense?
10. anonymous

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    Jan 15th 2016 !⃝

    Karma!
11. anonymous

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    Nov 29th 2015 !⃝

    In 1972 the American criminal justice system was perceived by many to be a revolving door system with rampant recidivism.
    
    Upon release from prison many persons immediately re-offended and returned to prison. Three-strikes your out sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences were partially a reaction to offenders that did not seem to be concerned about returning to prison because they were often released again after a relatively short time.
    
    Upon release they "Go Back Jack Do it Again".
    
    This is only one possible interpretation. As with most Steely Dan lyrics some degree of obligatory ambiguity seems to always be present. Also one of the reasons their music is so interesting.
12. anonymous

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    May 29th 2012 !⃝

    Keep making the same misteaks over and over.
13. anonymous

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    Oct 18th 2011 !⃝

    The name of the song is "Land of Milk & Honey"

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
14. dominicd

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    Mar 12th 2010 !⃝

    Three terms ... "Fate," "Obsession," and "Luck" but I'm not sure about 'Fate,' and where perhaps in the context of committing a crime, and getting away with it, one could presumably be inclined, and not out of 'Obsession' but that of 'Luck' to'Do it again.' [This song came to mind last night when having to deal with a difficult technical decision] :)

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