Steely Dan’s “Do It Again” – A Slick, Cynical, and Smooth Introduction
When Steely Dan released “Do It Again” in 1972, the music world wasn’t quite sure what to make of them. Here was a band that didn’t really tour, used studio musicians, and crafted songs that were too jazzy for rock, too intellectual for pop, and too smooth for the blues. Yet somehow, it all worked.
“Do It Again,” their breakout single from their debut album Can’t Buy a Thrill, wasn’t just a hit—it was a mission statement.
The Sound: Smooth with a Sting
From the first few seconds, “Do It Again” sets a mood. That hypnotic, Latin-influenced electric sitar riff (played by Denny Dias) feels like it loops forever, pulling you into a dark and smoky room where regret and temptation play cards at the same table.
Unlike the hard-driving rock of the early ’70s, this track grooves. It doesn’t shout—it simmers. The rhythm is tight but laid back, with a seductive electric piano and percussion giving it an almost world-music feel, long before that became trendy.
Then there’s Donald Fagen’s voice—cool, detached, slightly nasally—singing about people stuck in destructive cycles they can’t escape. Whether it’s gambling, revenge, or romantic failure, the characters in this song keep doing the same things over and over again. And as the title says, they just do it again.
The Lyrics: Cynical and Smart
Steely Dan songs are never straightforward, and “Do It Again” is no exception. On the surface, it’s a story of repeated mistakes. But dig deeper and it becomes a commentary on human nature, the illusion of free will, and how we sabotage ourselves.
“You go back, Jack, do it again / Wheel turnin’ ‘round and ‘round…”
There’s no redemption arc here—just the cold observation that people don’t change as much as they think they do. It’s bleak, but clever, delivered with such a polished groove that you might not realize how dark the message is until the third or fourth listen.
A Unique Debut
“Do It Again” reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and introduced the world to Steely Dan’s unique blend of jazz-rock fusion, lyrical complexity, and perfectionist production. It stood out in an era of flashy guitar solos and protest anthems because it was smarter, cooler, and more subversive.
The song was a warning: this band wasn’t here to follow trends—they were here to outsmart them.
Lasting Influence
Over 50 years later, “Do It Again” still feels relevant. Its themes of repetition and self-destruction are universal. Its fusion of genres remains fresh. And its impact can be felt in artists ranging from Jamiroquai and Daft Punk to modern jazz-pop acts who blend groove with brain.
Steely Dan would go on to make even more ambitious records (Aja, The Royal Scam, Gaucho), but “Do It Again” was the start of something special—a band that treated rock like high art, without ever letting go of the beat.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever found yourself making the same mistake twice—or ten times—you’ll find something eerily familiar in “Do It Again.” It’s a song that grooves with purpose, tells the truth with a wink, and leaves you both dancing and thinking.
Just like Steely Dan always did.
