Jump to content

Only a Fool Would Say That

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
"Only a Fool Would Say That"
US b-side vinyl label
Song by Steely Dan
from the album Can't Buy a Thrill
A-side"Reelin' In the Years"
ReleasedMarch 1973[1]
GenreSoft rock
Length2:57
LabelABC
Songwriter(s)Donald Fagen • Walter Becker
Producer(s)Gary Katz
Official audio
"Only a Fool Would Say That" on YouTube

"Only a Fool Would Say That" is a song by the American rock band Steely Dan from their 1972 debut album Can't Buy a Thrill, written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

Background

"Only a Fool Would Say That" is a song with lyrics mocking John Lennon’s 1971 song "Imagine".[2] In 2024 American Songwriter said that the lyrics were chiding Lennon for "being out of touch with reality."[3]

The track ends with the phrase "Solamente un tonto diría eso", Spanish for "only a fool would say that", spoken by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

Release

"Only a Fool Would Say That" was released in March 1973 as the B-side to the single "Reelin' In the Years".[4]

Reception

Mojo magazine ranked it number 25 in their list of Steely Dan's 30 greatest songs.[5] The British broadcast service BBC called it "quintessential Dan: mellifluous yet mordant, easy on the ear but as caustic as any dissection of the American dream."[6]

Personnel

Steely Dan

Production

Cover versions

  • The American indie pop band Ivy released a cover version on their 2002 album Guestroom.[7]

References

  1. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  2. ^ Casalena, Em (2024-11-22). "3 Times Steely Dan Caused a Stir With Fellow Musicians". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  3. ^ Hopper, Alex (2024-07-31). "Behind the Meaning of Steely Dan's Response to John Lennon, "Only a Fool Would Say That"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  4. ^ Sweet, Brian (2018-08-16). Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years. Omnibus Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-78759-129-5.
  5. ^ "Steely Dan's 30 Greatest Songs Ranked". Mojo. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  6. ^ Lester, Paul. "BBC - Music - Review of Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  7. ^ Dix, Noel (January 1, 2006). "Ivy - Guestroom". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Only_a_Fool_Would_Say_That&oldid=1291714509"