Pop Song 445 of 500 'Peg' Steely Dan 1977

Pop Song 445 of 500 'Peg' Steely Dan 1977

Thank you William 'Bruno' Santos, Mallory and Frannie for your wonderful hospitality in Todi, Italy.

"Peg" has been described s a "sunny pop" song with "layers of jazzy vocal harmonies", while music scholar Stephen K. Valdez said it features a fusion of jazz and rock elements. In the opinion of jazz musician and academic Andy LaVerne, the song "has the blues at its core, though it might not be apparent at first listen".

Michael McDonald provides multi-tracked backup vocals in the choruses, and keyboardist Paul Griffin can be heard talking and improvising background vocals in the final chorus and fadeout.

Although there was speculation that the name was a reference to Broadway star and one-time Hollywood actress Peg Entwistle, in 2000 the band said the song was written about a real person but not Entwistle. In 2020, Donald Fagen said "There's no hidden meaning. We just wanted a dotted half note for that spot and 'Peg' was short enough to fit with the music.Fagen added that the song "takes place at a seedy photo shoot in L.A...from the perspective of [a] jilted boyfriend.

I've seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It's like a dream come true
So won't you smile for the camera?
I know they're gonna love it
Peg
I like your pin shot
I keep it with your letter
Done up in blueprint blue
It sure looks good on you
And when you smile for the camera
I know I'll love you better
Peg, will come back to you
Peg, will come back to you
Then the shutter falls (shutter falls)
You see it all in 3D (foreign movie)
It's your favorite foreign movie
I like your pin shot
I keep it with your letter
Done up in blueprint blue
It sure looks good on you
And when you smile for the camera
I know I'll love you better
Peg, will come back to you
Peg, will come back to you
Then the shutter falls (shutter falls)
You see it all in 3D (foreign movie)
It's your favorite foreign movie
Peg, it will come back to you
Peg, will come back to you
Then the shutter falls (shutter falls)
You see it all in 3D (foreign movie)
It's your favorite foreign movie
Peg, it will come back to you
Peg, will come back to you
Then the shutter falls (shutter falls)
You see it all in 3D (foreign movie)
It's your favorite foreign movie
Peg, it will come back to you
Peg, will come back to you
Then the shutter falls (shutter falls)
You see it all in 3D (foreign movie)
It's your favorite foreign movie