Only a Fool Would Say That explained

"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 aimed at Beatles musician John Lennon.^[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]

Personnel

Steely Dan

• Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitar, pedal steel guitar, spoken Spanish
• Walter Becker – electric bass guitar, backing vocals
• Denny Dias – guitar
• Donald Fagen – piano, electric piano, lead vocals
• Jim Hodder – drums, percussion, backing vocals
• David Palmer – co-lead vocals, backing vocals

Production

• Gary Katz – producer
• Roger Nichols – engineer
• Tim Weston – assistant engineer
• Doug Sax – mastering engineer

Notes and References

1. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 -
2. Web site: 2024-09-17 . The one song Steely Dan wrote to attack John Lennon . 2024-10-25 . faroutmagazine.co.uk . en-US.
3. Web site: Hopper . Alex . 2024-07-31 . Behind the Meaning of Steely Dan's Response to John Lennon, "Only a Fool Would Say That" . 2024-10-25 . American Songwriter . en-US.
4. Book: Sweet, Brian . Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years . 2018-08-16 . Omnibus Press . 978-1-78759-129-5 . 51 . en.
5. Web site: 2024-09-07 . Steely Dan's 30 Greatest Songs Ranked . 2024-10-25 . Mojo . en.