Relationship of Donald Fagen and Rollerskating...

[Mighty Favog]

Anyone know what's that all about about. He works into his lyrics more than once on sperate albums. i.e.- "Skating backwards at the speed of light." and "You were a roller skater.", etc.

[PHC1]

I came up with 3 scenarios.

One, he couldn't roller-skate and wished he could subconsciously writing lyrics about it...

Two, he was great at rollerskating and loved it so much that he made up song lyrics about it...

Three, he knew how popular rollerskating rinks were back then and was a good businessman promoting his music to more people...

I am leaning more towards scenario number three...

[vintage_tube]

The draw of the roller rink was huge toward the end of the 70s, and beginning of the 80s. Fagan even throws in ad-lib sounding line ♫Skate a little lower now♫ in Hey Nineteen (off Gaucho).

I believe Serge is correct in guessing #3.

Bob

[f1 fan]

I'll go with Serge on # 3

Dave

[jdandy]

I am guessing Donald had a girlfriend who like to roller skate, and he liked to watch her.

[wpines]

Some random terms and phrases ascribed to Steely Dan by fans and critics;
-euphemismistically
-mocking
-sarcastic wit
-arcane
-illusory aberration
-faintly sinister
-irreverent
-Steely Dan's gothic, demon-riddled world
well-crafted and uncommonly intelligent schlock
-Almost every character in each of these...songs is engaged in furtive behavior.
-Steely Dan's "cerebral, wry and eccentric" lyrics, often filled with sharp sarcasm, touch upon such themes as drugs, love affairs, crime, and their true-to-life "contempt of west coast hippies."

These two mock everything. My guess would be that rollerskating is probably ridiculous and absurd to these guys.
Their last tour (which I had the privilege to see) was called the "'mo Rent Party". Everyone knows all of these old rockers are touring to pay the rent... Becker and Fagan are irreverent enough to put it out there.
Geezus I love these guys