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https://songmeaning.ai/songs/Steely-dan-time-out-of-mind
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Steely Dan's song 'Time Out of Mind' explores the euphoric but fleeting escape of heroin use, with the term 'chase the dragon' being a central metaphor for the pursuit of the initial high. The song paints a vivid picture of substance-induced transformation where reality warps into an enticing, addictive fantasy.
The song begins by luring the listener into a false sense of celebration and preparedness, setting up the narrative for an illusory escape from reality. Steely Dan co-founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen frame the 'glory day' with an invitation to believe and dream, but there's a sinister undertone to the promises made, symbolized by the payment into a 'kitty' and the altered state of the moon that looks 'pretty.' This sense of monetary transaction and altered perception foreshadows the metaphorical and literal cost of experiencing the 'chase.'
As we delve into the chorus, the emotional journey peaks in a hedonistic fantasy where the ordinary turns extraordinary through the heroin experience. Steely Dan eloquently transforms the simple visuals of water into 'cherry wine' and silver into 'gold,' illustrating the consuming nature of the drug altering one's perceptions of reality. The repetition of this chorus throughout the song mimics the cyclical and obsessive nature of addiction, as the users continually attempt to reach an unattainable high, seeking a 'Time out of mind' that they can never permanently reside in.
The mystical and exotic imagery experienced 'far from the world we know' deepens the emotional journey, transporting the listener to a dissociated, dreamlike state akin to the high described. The 'mystical sphere' of opium and references to Lhasa imply an otherworldly escape, a disconnection that cuts users off from the reality that the rest of society inhabits.
Finally, the pre-chorus of the song introduces a contrast between the visceral feeling of being high and the eventual come-down. The euphoric 'perfection and grace' and the 'smile on my face' hauntingly present the happiness the user feels while under the influence, as if offering an apostrophe to the substance itself. Yet, as the song fades out instrumentally, the listener is left to ponder the after-effects of such a fleeting, deceptive joy.
"Tonight when I chase the dragon"
'Chase the dragon' is a slang term for smoking heroin, often referring to inhaling the vapor from a heated surface. The phrase alludes to an addict's pursuit of the ultimate high.
"The water may change to cherry wine"
This metaphorical transformation signifies the illusionary effects of drugs and the drastic changes in perception that the substance causes.
"And the silver will turn to gold"
Mirroring the alchemical pursuit of turning base metals into gold, this line symbolizes the user's transformative experience under the influence of heroin.
"It's the light in my eyes"
Here, we see a glimpse into how heroin use is romanticized, presenting it as bringing a shine or 'light' to the user's existence.