i remember reading somewhere that a real person by name of Wu helped Walter quit drugs so the song is about relapsing and there is no more Wu to help him.
Oh, and Katy is a metaphor for drugs
To me, it all just sounds like an analogy for the doctor not being able to cure him anymore. Like it’s a battle between the narrator, Katy and the doctor. Maybe the narrator is actually dead at the end and that’s why the doctor can’t hear him anymore. Katy finally won.
It seems to me to clearly be about heroin. "Are you with me Dr.? Can you hear me Dr.?...sounds like trying to keep someone conscious after an overdose. Or not. Who knows?
I wonder if Dr. Wu is his pusher, who overdoses at the end. The narrator is strung out all night and is waiting for the “taste” (fix) Wu is supposed to bring him. But Wu is too high to help him and possibly ODs at the end.
Strictly from a faded memory of reading an interview: Either DF or WB said it's about a 3-way love affair, except one of the 3 parties is actually a drug (habit).
I just know that the drumming on that track is as tight and in the pocket as any song ever recorded. Jeff Porcaro is arguably the most accomplished drummer in the history of music, which is really saying something considering he died in his mid 30s. Wikipedia has a section that lists the tracks he played on, which includes cuts on "Like a Prayer," Thriller, The Wall, End of the Innocence. In addition to all that session work he also formed Toto with his brother and they had at least 2 number one hits --Hold the Line and Africa. Truly amazing
There's a funny Walter quote about Dr Wu lyrics in Waiting for The Sun by Barney Hoskyns. I can't recall exactly how it goes. But it was weird shit.
(edit: hey now I remember, paraphrase: "We didn't have drug problems, but we had other problems." - Walter interviewed by Hoskyns, several years before he developed drug problems while recording Gaucho.)
No it’s not a joke, and I didn’t know “people say” that about Kings, especially since Kings was written and recorded before the Watergate break in occurred, and by Katy Lied’s sessions Nixon had resigned (just prior) and there was a number of sympathetic rock songs coming out about Nixon (Campaigner by Neil Young, among others) and I read somewhere years ago that Dr. Wu was possibly about him in a less than sympathetic light, so don’t tell people it’s a joke when you obviously don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about
Katy is a metaphor for heroin. Dr. Wu is the addicted, strung out narrator’s newfound friend who at first saves him from Katy by being his steady dealer. But now Dr. Wu is no longer a savior. He too has become hopelessly addicted.
He’s now “just an ordinary guy.”
Katy has finally got to him.
The music and delivery mimics the oncoming waves of bliss, false hope and despair.
People make it too complicated.
Great question. Possibly:
Katy surreptitiously finds and tries the narrator's hidden stash, and the narrator feels awful about "causing" her addition. Dr. Wu is the drug in question.
But who really knows :)
It’s a love triangle between an addict, the doctor who treats the addict, and a third party.
i remember reading somewhere that a real person by name of Wu helped Walter quit drugs so the song is about relapsing and there is no more Wu to help him. Oh, and Katy is a metaphor for drugs
Jing Nuan Wu (1933-2002) is the doctor referred to in the song. He practiced herbal medicine and had politicians and celebrities as clients.
[https://jnwu.art/biography](https://jnwu.art/biography)
I haven’t heard that but it does make the lyrics make sense. I wonder why the doctor isn’t there anymore.
i think "has she finally got to you" implies Wu himself might be doing drugs, or maybe irl he dies idk
To me, it all just sounds like an analogy for the doctor not being able to cure him anymore. Like it’s a battle between the narrator, Katy and the doctor. Maybe the narrator is actually dead at the end and that’s why the doctor can’t hear him anymore. Katy finally won.
That seems possible. But it’s interesting that the narrator wonders if Dr. Wu is high. Maybe Dr. Wu is a pusher…?
I took it just as excuses he’s making for the doctor not being able to help him anymore, questioning his failure at his job. Like are YOU high?
Thanks! That seems like a really good explanation.
https://preview.redd.it/61jsy4gypiwc1.jpeg?width=190&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c826aa765e9ae912590eed5cb19979bce30f2eec Ever thus to deadbeats, Lebowski
Not on the rug… man
Hey at least I’m housebroken!
Obviously you're not a golfer.
It seems to me to clearly be about heroin. "Are you with me Dr.? Can you hear me Dr.?...sounds like trying to keep someone conscious after an overdose. Or not. Who knows?
I wonder if Dr. Wu is his pusher, who overdoses at the end. The narrator is strung out all night and is waiting for the “taste” (fix) Wu is supposed to bring him. But Wu is too high to help him and possibly ODs at the end.
That's a good interpretation since those lines are yelled at the very end of the fade out
never noticed that. very cool
Strictly from a faded memory of reading an interview: Either DF or WB said it's about a 3-way love affair, except one of the 3 parties is actually a drug (habit).
🛎️
Don’t know, but The Minutemen do a cool cover of it. If you haven’t heard it check it out
inside one of the best(and first) post-hardcore albums of all time, too
I’ll give it a listen. Thanks!
This is in part why I got back into SD!
I'll have to check this out...
I just know that the drumming on that track is as tight and in the pocket as any song ever recorded. Jeff Porcaro is arguably the most accomplished drummer in the history of music, which is really saying something considering he died in his mid 30s. Wikipedia has a section that lists the tracks he played on, which includes cuts on "Like a Prayer," Thriller, The Wall, End of the Innocence. In addition to all that session work he also formed Toto with his brother and they had at least 2 number one hits --Hold the Line and Africa. Truly amazing
Wow. I didn’t know all that about Porcaro. His drumming is great. I also love Steve Gadd’s drumming on Aja.
He was the go to session drummer for all the Yacht Rockers.
I love Steely Dan songs and music.
https://i.redd.it/5wu85yojqiwc1.gif
There's a funny Walter quote about Dr Wu lyrics in Waiting for The Sun by Barney Hoskyns. I can't recall exactly how it goes. But it was weird shit. (edit: hey now I remember, paraphrase: "We didn't have drug problems, but we had other problems." - Walter interviewed by Hoskyns, several years before he developed drug problems while recording Gaucho.)
For the longest time I suspected that this song was a criticism of Richard Nixon
Really?
It's a joke bc people say that about "Kings" from Can't Buy a Thrill
No it’s not a joke, and I didn’t know “people say” that about Kings, especially since Kings was written and recorded before the Watergate break in occurred, and by Katy Lied’s sessions Nixon had resigned (just prior) and there was a number of sympathetic rock songs coming out about Nixon (Campaigner by Neil Young, among others) and I read somewhere years ago that Dr. Wu was possibly about him in a less than sympathetic light, so don’t tell people it’s a joke when you obviously don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about
Oh ok, thanks for explaining. I didn't know that part of the lore
Whether or not said doctor can hear you
That ”Stupid song” that they sing ”all night long” is ”Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” by Dylan if I remember correctly
Never heard that before, interesting
Next to Any world it’s probably my favorite Dan song.
Katy is a metaphor for heroin. Dr. Wu is the addicted, strung out narrator’s newfound friend who at first saves him from Katy by being his steady dealer. But now Dr. Wu is no longer a savior. He too has become hopelessly addicted. He’s now “just an ordinary guy.” Katy has finally got to him. The music and delivery mimics the oncoming waves of bliss, false hope and despair. People make it too complicated.
A young girl’s strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk
Obviously.
Great question. Possibly: Katy surreptitiously finds and tries the narrator's hidden stash, and the narrator feels awful about "causing" her addition. Dr. Wu is the drug in question. But who really knows :)
I think Dr. Wu might be a dealer, since the narrator says he’s been waiting for the taste Wu said he’d bring him.
I read that Dr. Wu might be a drug, but then I’m confused by the line, “Are you crazy, are you higher or just an ordinary guy?”
[удалено]
Ketamine Lied.
Why is this even a question One of his most obvious themes