Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (1981) 10/17/23

Today's Great Song of 1981, "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan is exactly what it appears to be: a song by an aging hipster trying to seduce a teenager--only to find out the age difference means they have nothing in common. So, instead, he breaks out the Cuervo Gold to help things along.

Of course, the long running debate between Steely Dan fans is whether Cuervo Gold is tequila, marijuana, or cocaine.

A definitive answer has ever been verified by Steely Dan's Walter Becker or Donald Fagen.

The whole thing sounds a bit creepy, but on the other hand, (and I'm not to try and sugar coat it), we don't know how much older the "hipster" was, and back then, it was legal for 19 year-olds to drink just about everywhere--so it was a very real scene played out in countless bars across the nation,).

And regardless of the subject matter, "Hey Nineteen" (from the album "Gaucho"), was a bona fide hit, reaching #10 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #11 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. In Canada, it peaked at #3 on the Top 40.

So in a way, "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan is a Great Song...not just because Baby Boomers could relate in 1981, but today as an historic slice of Boomer culture of the early '80s.

Or maybe I'm just trying to put a positive spin on it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvg5mbM6FGs

Tomorrow: From 55 to 65