Album: Pretzel Logic (1974)

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• I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change
  But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
  And though you're not my enemy
  I like things like they used to be
  And though you'd like some company
  I'm standing by myself
  Go play with someone else
  I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
  
  Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
  I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
  And don't think that I'm out of line
  For speaking out for what is mine
  I'd like to see you do just fine
  But look at what you wear
  And the way you cut your hair
  
  I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
  
  In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
  Barrytown people got to be from another world
  
  Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
  They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
  And don't you scream or make a shout
  It's nothing you can do about
  It was there where you came out
  It's a special lack of grace
  I can see it in your face
  
  I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown Writer/s: DONALD FAGEN, DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
  Publisher: Royalty Network, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

• Paul Nolte from MichiganUnfortunately the song was written before the Moonies, so no.
• Mark In Taos from Taos NmDigging the site!
• Nemesis GuitarsIMO I believe it's about the moonies as well but with The Dan who knows for sure, At least thats what they want you to think
• Rickard from ChicagoJess from Pelham NY - I think he's saying came out of the birth canal. not the closet.
• Jess from Pelham, Ny“...it was there when you came out, it’s a special lack of grace — I can see it in your face...” I always assumed this song was about gay people. Certainly, the venom of the lyrics fits.
• Jeffrey from Kingston, NyI grew up in Barrytown and we always believed the song was written about the "Christian Brothers," whose seminary was in existence just prior to the Moonies on the same estate. What the brothers carried was a small bible (perhaps concordance, or other books) and their hair was very short. They stood out in the 60s counter culture era.
  
  https://bit.ly/3Wsb8qW
  https://bit.ly/3zLAt5l
• Nydanfan from New York, NyWell, I may have to stand corrected. I just heard from a friend that in a radio interview Donald Fagen did admit to writing the song about the Unification Church. Have to figure out the time line on this (anyone have DF's email address?).
• Nydanfan from New York, NyA lot of references point to the song being about Rev. Moon's property in Barrytown. Problem is that the song was written before Rev. Moon purchased the property. I was at the Moon Barrytown property in Jan. 1975, it was purchased in 1974, but Pretzel Logic was recorded in 74 and the song written probably in 72 or 73. Fagen and Becker had left the area by then having graduated from Bard years before.
  Many of us enjoyed singing the song there, it certainly seemed to fit the moonies (err, Unificationists) at that time! Maybe a bit prophetic on Don Fagen's part.
  see: https://bit.ly/3T94jHQ
• Cadanfan from Jackson, Ca"I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown" references the Moonies selling flowers as a means of making money.

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