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MIDNIGHT CRUISER Lyrics

Artist: Steely Dan
Album: Can't Buy A Thrill

Felonius my old friend
Step on in and let me shake your hand
So glad that you're here again
For one more time
Let your madness run with mine
Streets still unseen we'll find somehow
No time is better than now

CHORUS:
Tell me where are you driving
Midnight cruiser
Where is your bounty
Of fortune and fame
I am another
Gentlemen loser
Drive me to Harlem
Or somewhere the same

The world that we used to know
People tell me it don't turn no more
The places we used to go
Familiar faces that ain't smilin' like before
The time of our time has come and gone
I fear we been waiting too long

CHORUS

Comments/Interpretations
by Keef on 6/4/2008 10:54am It's not "Felonius" it's "Thelonius" as in Thelonius Monk.
by bizzydsick on 7/3/2008 1:57am i'm 19 yr old, this band makes me feel very fine, the '70 must back!!!
by roliver on 11/8/2008 1:12am well i'm 16 and my mate just gave me this LP (Can't Buy a Thrill). So far this is my fave song :D
by billyball on 11/18/2008 11:11pm no it is felonious, as in seriously criminal.
by y on 2/5/2009 9:10pm y
by Funnelvision on 2/5/2009 9:18pm You got it billyball. Felonious refers to a felony. In this case its also is a metaphor for taking chances in life. No time is better than now....
by Herr Karrack de Neer on 7/4/2009 11:37am Brilliant song. Aside from debate about 'feloniousness', it is interesting to note that the song was sung by the band's drummer, Jim Hodder. By the way, it is 'felonious'. Listen to the song and learn.
by jacko on 7/8/2009 10:54pm Keef is correct. It's Thelonious, as in Thelonious Monk the controversial jazz musician. How could they be referring to 'felonious' as 'my old friend'? Felonious is an adjective for heaven's sake.
by clarie on 7/30/2009 1:11am and just think, they were opening for the Humble Pie in 1970
by clarie on 7/30/2009 1:29am I have just now checked my original Can't Buy a Thrill album and lyrics included, the name is indead "Felonius my old friend".
by George on 8/28/2009 3:09am On my vinyl copy of "Can't Buy A Thrill" the jacket reads for "Midnight Cruiser" - "Drive me to Harlen". Same goes for "Felonious my old friend". I bought it when I was 16, in 1972.
by gary on 9/9/2009 7:32am One of Dan's finest tunes...to think? almost 40yrs old! WOW...Hey to settle the "felonious" debate...it is NOT a reference to Thelonious Monk...But rather as written: Felonious....how do I know for sure? Does anyone know who Elliot Randall is? he playes on a few Dan LP's (including the Reelin' in the years solo)...and I just happen to know him. If you doubt who he(Elliot) is...Google him...peace!
by FXL on 1/24/2010 9:45pm on the original lp album the lyrics are DEFINITELY "Felonius" -and true- if you listen, you will hear that clearly...and although the lyrics use the word "Harlen" instead of "Harlem", I gotta think thats a misprint or an inside comment. Sure sounds like Harlem, and that makes sense.
by eduardo on 5/3/2010 7:31am Who is the singer Midnight Cruiser Steely Dan? Johnny Rivers?
by richard on 6/13/2010 6:14pm steely dan is my favorite singer. I loving all his songs.
by harry on 9/24/2010 1:25pm ffs, wtf does it matter how you spell it???? stupid kids
by HH on 11/3/2010 12:11pm Felonius??? Thelonius I think would be better...
by jp on 12/11/2010 7:01am the singer is Jim Hodder. When I was a kid I thought the opening lyrics sounded like "Baloney is my old friend, step on it and let me shake your hand"
by Randy G 67 on 12/24/2010 9:20pm It's freaking Thelonius, duh. To the guy saying listen to the song, did you hapeen to hear the part about letting your madness run with mine, and streets still unseen we'll find somehow? I guess to a non-musician this might seem like a crime reference, but it is definitely referring to someone jammining with Thelonius at a club towards the end of his career and then having Thelonius ask him to drive him downtown to hook on the smack. C'mon people, it's not even a veled reference. I don't give a damn what the recoed or the studio guitarist says, it's Thelonius.
by TR on 2/21/2011 2:46pm Okay Dudes, here's my two cents. Two friends are re-acquainted, possible re-incarnated (The time of our time has come and gone). One was a Felon, but a (Gentlemen Loser) perhaps wrongly accused and put to death for the madness he used to preach. He was possibly a warrior (Harlen means Army-Land) I think he's talking about Socrates (Warrior-Philosher) who believed in Recollection and Reincarnation and was wrongly put to death for slamming the Aristocrates of Greece. We all know that "Home at Last" was about Odesseus. Who had his men tie him to the mast of his ships to listen the the Sirens. Am I out to lunch?
by tigressa on 4/27/2011 1:58pm It's Thelonious. I should know; my husband wrote this song and he's referring to me. (Thelonious is one of his nicknames for me.)
by human paraquat on 6/18/2011 9:13am On Steely Dan's official website it is Felonius and Harlem. I'll take their word over dipshit in this messageboard.
by jesco on 7/5/2011 9:04am It's Felonius, always has been. But you have to admire the righteousness of the dorks who insist it's "Thelonius", or wrongly interpret that the song is somehow about Thelonius Monk. It's kind of a testament to the power of music/lyrics, etc. that really strong multiple interpretations of a song can exist. Perhaps they are rolling on this high horse because they are nerdy musos who went to Berklee, love Steely Dan from that angle, and that just because the song Parkers Band is actually about jazz and jazz musicians that Steely Dan is somehow their musical church, supporting their decision to be nerdy music snobs, and singing to them about JAZZ all the time (cue corny beatnik finger snaps here) TR's interpretation sounds WAY more probable. Time to power down your JC-120s and read a book, jazzbos.
by Pliny on 9/12/2011 9:59am I actually prefer "Balony is my old friend." I also prefer to change "Rebel rebel" (from the Bowie song) to "Barny Rubble". Hot tramp...I love you so!
by DanFan on 10/3/2011 12:21pm There is absolutely no debate what the lyrics are, as they come with the LP and it is 'Felonius'. End Of. Great Song
by Just a listner on 4/6/2012 5:08pm Its Felonious. Go to the Steely Dan web sight they have the lyrics there. As far as the song goes, the narrator is talking to two people. The first, Felonious is heroin, is who he's getting reaquainted with. The second is the "midnight cruiser" who is the cab driver taking the narrator to score.
by alex on 6/8/2012 8:08pm who cares just enjoy the song man its a great melody tooooo.............
by David on 6/22/2012 7:30pm 'Baloney is my old friend' is hilarious. You might also enjoy my sister's version of CCR's Bad Moon Rising, entitled 'There's a Bathroom on the Right."
by dan steele on 4/29/2013 6:37pm With so much bickering going on i wonder how many have noticed the awesome guitar solo, great vocal from the late SD stixman Jim Hodder , and 41 years on this Album is still essential listening, no argument about that !, though the omission of Dallas and Sail the Waterway, does still raise an eyebrow !

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