Behind the Meaning of Steely Dan’s Response to John Lennon, “Only a Fool Would Say That”

I heard it was you / Talking ’bout a world where all is free / It just couldn’t be / And only a fool would say that are the titular lyrics in Steely Dan‘s “Only a Fool Would Say That.” Based on the title alone, one could likely guess that this song is somewhat cutting. But just who are Steely Dan pointing a finger at? Well, as it turns out, another musical icon: John Lennon. Uncover the meaning behind this track, below.

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Behind the Meaning of Steely Dan’s Response to John Lennon, “Only a Fool Would Say That”

Lennon famously bared his desires for the world to know peace. Many would scoff at that idea. Lennon even acknowledged that in the lyrics in “Imagine”: You may say I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one. Steely Dan certainly thought the Beatle was dreaming.

The duo wrote “Only a Fool Would Say That” in response to Lennon’s tour for peace, in which he and Yoko Ono staged peaceful protests. The “Bed-Ins” shared a similar sentiment to “Imagine.” Lennon and Ono fought to end wars and close social divides. To Steely Dan, however, that idea seemed almost impossible.

You do his nine to five

Drag yourself home half alive

And there on the screen

A man with a dream

In “Only a Fool Would Say That,” they chide Lennon for being out of touch with reality. In the lines above, they shine a light on the fact that Lennon can spend his day dreaming of a better world, while the everyman has to live in it and muddle through. It’s certainly a strong opposition to Lennon’s peace-forward mentality.

Everyone will have their own opinions on the subject. What do you think? Do you agree with Steely Dan and believe Lennon had his head in the clouds? Or are you in Lennon’s camp, dreaming up a better world?

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Michael Bush/UPI/Shutterstock