Steely Dan - Haitian Divorce | REACTION/REVIEW 

Back when the song was written in 1975, Americans could go to Haiti to get around state laws by getting divorced from their partner without both people having to agree to it. Becker & Fagen got the idea for the song from the guy who transcribed into musical notation their arrangements. He mysteriously was away for a few weeks and when he returned, he told them he'd gone to Haiti for a quickie divorce.

Only Steely Dan could come up with lyrics for the song telling the story of a married woman who travels all by herself to Haiti to get a quick divorce from her husband. Then she has a very brief romantic affair with a Haitian man and somehow ends up being unable to get the divorce that took her to the Caribbean country in the first place. She returns home to America only to find out that she’s pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to a half-Haitian baby. Fagen and Becker and Steely Dan's Lyrics are always a fever dream set to music.

This is in my top 5 all time from Steely Dan. I love everything about it. The instrumentation, the harmonies, the production values. A great song, perfectly executed.

This entire Album is a masterpiece...We used to rock this out on the corner here in philly...Great band!

One of my favourite Steely Dan song choruses .. "And Papa say oh no no hesitation no tears and no hearts breaking no remorse .. ah ha congratulations this is your Haitian divorce". "Papa" Doc Duvalier was the Haitian dictator at the time and encouraging tourists to come to Haiti to get a quick divorce.

Got to love the Dan. Not only is their instrumentation, arrangements and composition musical genius, their lyrics are always interesting and profound, they almost always are mixed with humor. After all, they did name themselves after a female sex toy. They appropriately added a Reggae flavor to this. Feel fortunate to have grown up in such a marvelous musical age that included the unique sound and groove of Steely Dan. RIP WALTER BECKER. Thanks for helping to bless us with such timeless tunes!

I'm a huge Steely Dan fan. What next? Anything, they are all gems.

Love Donald Fagens voice in this one, great lyrics, great talk box solo.

Love Steely Dan ❤ any song is 🔥🔥🔥

nice breakdown of song ! Would love you to review their jazzy funky song Green Earrings

Some of the best music ever made. Thanks.

HEY MANNNN, WHAT'S HAPPENING BABY! 😊HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT WEEKEND BIZ! 💯GOTTA HAVE THOSE SCHLYRICCCSSS!😊 REMEMBER JONI'S TURNING 80 ON TUESDAY ( 7 NOV ) 👍GOD BLESS HER HEART, SOUL AND THOSE INSANE BEAUTY VOCALS!

Great groovy track from one of a great band's best albums. Love the talk-box/wah-wah/wotevr guitar, everything is 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤😊

More Steely Dan please. Always a pleasure

From what I’ve read, Walter Becker went in after the fact and laid down all the talk box stuff. Brilliant! ❤ And Fagen’s vocals are always so cool.

The "Royal Scam" the song from album of same name,, is also a Haitian theme.

Love the vibraphone on this too.

I’m subscribed - enjoy your reactions!

Best Steely Dan tune ever!

with a history of bringing some of the best studio musicians in the biz, I dont think this bad ever cut a bad song. Ever. 😎😎

This song came out in 76. Reggae wasnt popular in the USA then, so it wasn't well received. I think it did well in the UK

Their use of the vocoder is cool right at the start! Great track review!

The video thumbnail says "Big Iron".

It's more Donald Fagen solo than Steely Dan, but I've been hoping someone would try "true companion". It's mostly instrumental with a few lyrics at the end, but really good.

I would argue that the Royal Scam album is every bit as good, if not better, than AJA. Agree or not, they're both awesome and I wish we had artists like this today. Kids growing up have no idea how good music can be.

Bizmatic-o, you took my (and prob. many others) advice to react to this. Steely Dan fans (like me) are rabid! Stay with them. I reviewed your reactions and the next SD reaction should probably be "Josie." Play this and I'll subscribe, Don't think it a bribe, but an invitation into the tribe! Dumb Dad poem.

Up your alley, Biz.

Ok subbed. Daddy dont live in that new york city...fine Dan.

Great beat and phrazing excellent guitar 👍Look for Donald Fagen Big noise , New York use the headphones , enjoy all those sounds . Always a good story in there .💯+

The Royal scam! The whole record is 🔥🔥🔥! Pick a song!

Haitian or not the music and story is good.

Talk box = a wicked dope guitar effect. Voice box = a larynx, an organ in the throat you use to speak, sing, or scream. The more you know. . .

I liked it

It’s a guitar with a mouth piece to get the sound you here

Donald Fagan is the real deal

Always wondered what Haitians thought about this song. Now I know. As long as the music is good, it's all good. N'est pas?

Reggae

Not my favorite SD song, but this is my favorite SD album. Check the rest!

We were listing to the Great Steely Dan Band back when I was in Jr high school .Cant go wrong have seen them in concert twice ,Even better Live Concert What a great time to be a teenager .Party On