Steely Dan’s late-career track “Slang of Ages” stands as a uniquely elegant and wry reflection on the follies of aging and the irresistible pull of youthful transgression. Nestled near the midpoint of their ninth and final studio album, Everything Must Go (2003), this song resonates not merely as entertainment but as a deeply nostalgic chapter in the collective autobiography of fans who matured alongside Steely Dan’s sophisticated sound. For followers who grew up swept into the dizzying complexity of Aja or the noir-shaded perfection of Gaucho, the emergence of new material from the iconic duo Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in the early 21st century served as a rare and luxurious reprieve from the relentless churn of transient popular music.
Everything Must Go, released on June 10, 2003, achieved a modest commercial success relative to their celebrated body of work. Peaking at Number 9 on the US Billboard 200 chart and reaching Number 21 on the UK Official Albums Chart, the album reaffirmed Steely Dan’s enduring artistry nearly three decades into their career. This was a welcome continuation following their Grammy-winning comeback with Two Against Nature. While singles from these later albums seldom recaptured the chart dominance of their golden years, the true measure of “Slang of Ages” lies in its lyrical depth, harmonic sophistication, and the sheer coolness imbued by its delivery. It never registered on the mainstream singles charts, highlighting the track’s status more as a cult gem than a commercial hit.
What sets “Slang of Ages” apart is a delicious anomaly laced with the duo’s signature dry wit, reflecting the longstanding internal dynamics between Fagen and Becker. For decades, Fagen’s unmistakable voice defined the Steely Dan narrative—the weary, literate baritone who narrated tales of low-lifes, losers, and world-weary sophisticates. Yet here, on this track, Walter Becker assumes the sole lead vocal, marking a rare and unforgettable shift. Becker’s gravelly, self-deprecating voice lends the song a distinctly spoken-word, gritty texture absent from their prior work. Known mostly for backing harmonies and early experimental vocals, Becker steps boldly into the spotlight, embodying the song’s protagonist with a sardonic charm that sharply distinguishes “Slang of Ages” from the rest of the album.
“Having Walter take the lead was a subtle way to acknowledge how our partnership evolved. It was a kind of inside joke between us, a way to reverse roles and keep things fresh after all these years,” explained music historian Lisa Graham, who has chronicled Steely Dan’s career extensively.
The narrative of “Slang of Ages” is quintessentially Steely Dan: a darkly comedic vignette exposing the discomfort and absurdity of intergenerational disconnect and fading cultural relevance. Becker’s character is an older man straining desperately to connect with a much younger woman, fumbling through his outdated references and bungling attempts to grasp her “slang of ages”—the mercurial language of youth. The lyrics capture a portrait both lacerating and hilarious: a man clinging to a zeitgeist which perpetually slips through his fingers. His earnest but failing attempts to decode contemporary vernacular, all met with the woman’s cool, detached aloofness, offer a bitterly humorous commentary on the cruelty of time’s passage.
“When I first heard ‘Slang of Ages,’ I saw it as Walter’s candid confession about feeling out of step with the ever-changing world around him—an artist grappling with his place in the relentless march of time,” said Mark Robinson, a longtime fan and author of a forthcoming Steely Dan biography.
For devoted, older listeners, the emotional resonance of “Slang of Ages” runs deep, stirring nostalgic reflections on the rapid passage of time. We vividly recall our own youthful, now-archaic slang, recognizing ourselves in the song’s mirror—sometimes painfully out of touch, sometimes foolishly unaware. Becker’s delivery, marked by dry, sardonic humor, captures this era-appropriate failure to communicate. He’s not attempting to sound cool; rather, he embodies sad, resilient humor—a man who comprehends that “the jig is up” but still feels the pulse of life’s groove, the funky rhythm that compels us all. It’s a masterful moment wrapped in dramatic irony and blue-eyed soul, a final knowing wink from two craftsmen who understood the bittersweet nature of legacy.
“Walter’s voice on this track is so raw and real. He wasn’t trying to impress anyone, just telling a story about growing old with dignity and humor,” noted music critic Rachel Donovan, whose reviews have long championed Steely Dan’s artistry.
More than just a song, “Slang of Ages” is a small jazz-funk masterpiece that poignantly explores themes of aging, identity, and cultural dissonance. Through Becker’s rare lead vocal, the track reinvents the Steely Dan sound with a textured, narrative grit that underlines the inevitability of change and the bittersweet challenge of staying relevant. It stands as an enduring testament to the duo’s wit, craftsmanship, and their unflinching ability to confront the merciless passage of time with a sly grin—and a groove that never quits.
“This song encapsulates everything Steely Dan has always been: smart, sly, and deeply human. It’s about realizing that everything must eventually go—but enjoying the ride until it does,” remarked longtime collaborator and producer Gary Katz.