Everyone's Gone to the Movies

Everyone's Gone to the Movies is the sixth track from Steely Dan's 1975 album, Katy Lied [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:k9frxqu5ldte allmusic ((( Katy Lied > Overview ))) ] ] . The strange lyrics of this particular track have made it of particular interest to Steely Dan fans (see [http://steelydan.com/lyrkaty.html#track6 full lyrics] ). The song's upbeat feel contrasts with the disturbing content of the narrative delivered by Donald Fagen. While no official interpretation of the song exists (since neither Fagen nor Walter Becker has as yet stated the meaning outright), the theme is clear. The song, while being a favorite of many Steely Dan fans, was not released as a single, and is not thought to have contributed in any significant way to the album's commercial success.

Lyrical Theme

Fagen addresses the audience, "kids," and says that "if [they] want some fun, Mr. Lapage is [their] man. He's always laughing, having fun, and showing his films in the den." The song develops a vague but certainly perverse story as the listener learns that Mr. Lapage desires that the "kids" not tell their parents about their visits to his home ("Don't tell your Momma, your Daddy or Momma. They'll never know where you've been."). Because he is showing 8mm film ("I know you're used to sixteen or more. Sorry we only have eight.") using a "projection machine," it is very plausible that Mr. Lapage is showing pornography in his home, and inviting young teens over to watch it. The lyric "...see what you never have seen..." appears to confirm this interpretation of the song.

The chorus of the song is (apparently) delivered from the point of view of the parents of the "kids" who are visiting Mr. Lapage. They are under the impression that the children have "...gone to the movies," (presumably to a legitimate movie theater). They are relieved to be alone together while the children are out.

References

* [http://steelydan.com/lyrkaty.html#track6]