Sign In Stranger

Album: The Royal Scam (1976)
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Songfacts®:

  • Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are rarely forthcoming about Steely Dan's songs. This song was said to be the name of a club Fagen was in as a child. However, the lyrics sound as if there is a man named PePe helping fugitives and immigrants get new identities. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Erica - Barrington, IL

Comments: 9

  • Terry Burns from Dublin Ireland Why were the lyrics changed in the track. Sign in stranger from you zombie to something else
  • Willy B from Uk Can we please acknowledge Jo from Tx's actually really great & insightful interpretation of the song?

    It did prompt me to look up the meaning of 'Turkish Dues' though:

    "unwillingly being man-handled by another man in a sexual manner"

    So, more pieces to these puzzles...

    P.s. I love this website for Steely Dan interpretations!
  • Paul Hartford from UkHa ha Morocco is in Turkey, well I never, geography not your strong point? Maybe in Texas they see the world differently?
  • Michael from Buffalo, NyJo from so.tx seems to have nailed it.
  • Don from Burlington, Mathe line "Pepe has a scar from ear to ear" leads me to believe plastic surgery has been used to alter ones appearance enough to hide ones identity. maybe something in our future?
  • Glenn from Seattle, Wa"Morroco is in Turkey"?
    Morocco is a country in North Africa.
  • Jo from So Tx, TxIt is about visiting a brothel/drug one stop shop entertainment district in a foreign land, Perhaps like Morroco (a well known 60's and 70's drug haven, where ou can satisfy all yur devlish desires.The authorities look th other way, you can also obtain fake passports ( Pepe, the local bouncer/thug can get rid of all our mug shots)People who go their are Zombies because they are lost souls or are drugged zombied out. The yo yo for a ride reference is about an experience with a prostitute (drugs, young women and prostitutes are reoccurring themes in Steely Dan's lyrics, no suprise here about the Rock and Roll decadent lifestlye)There is a mention about Turkish dues(Morroco is in Turkey and the can can jaques show are the sex shows which by the lines around the block must be very popular) There is a reference to yellow fever and scurvy (Perhaps he is mentioning the Asian women or unhealthy drug users due to needle sharing).
  • Carlton from Miami, FlMizar is a star in the constellation Ursa Major.
  • John from Wilmington, NcThis song, from what Fagen said and what I have read, is about a planet of criminals. Basically a science fiction tale of otherworldly criminals.
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