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Only a Fool Would Say That

"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.

"Only a Fool Would Say That"
Song by Steely Dan
from the album Can't Buy a Thrill
A-side"Reelin' In the Years"
ReleasedMarch 1973[1]
GenreSoft rock
Length2:57
LabelABC
Songwriter(s)Donald Fagen • Walter Becker
Producer(s)Gary Katz
Official audio
"Only a Fool Would Say That" on YouTube

Background

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"Only a Fool Would Say That" is a song with lyrics aimed at Beatles musician John Lennon.[2][unreliable source?] In 2024 American Songwriter said that the lyrics were chiding Lennon for "being out of touch with reality."[3][unreliable source?]

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

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"Only a Fool Would Say That" was released in March 1973 as the B-side to the single "Reelin' In the Years".[4]

Reception

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Mojo magazine ranked it number 25 in their list of Steely Dan's 30 Greatest Songs.[5]

Personnel

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Steely Dan

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Production

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References

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  1. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  2. ^ "The one song Steely Dan wrote to attack John Lennon". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  3. ^ Hopper, Alex (2024-07-31). "Behind the Meaning of Steely Dan's Response to John Lennon, "Only a Fool Would Say That"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  4. ^ Sweet, Brian (2018-08-16). Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years. Omnibus Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-78759-129-5.
  5. ^ "Steely Dan's 30 Greatest Songs Ranked". Mojo. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-10-25.