Way back when in ’67

“Hey Nineteen” is a song by American jazz rock band Steely Dan. It was released in 1980 on their seventh studio album “Gaucho.” The song became a commercial success for the band, reaching the 10th spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The lyrics of “Hey Nineteen” refer to an aging man’s failed attempt to connect with a younger woman, who is just 19 years old. The song’s narrative is based on lead singer Donald Fagen’s real-life experience with a girl who was born in the same year as the song’s title. The song’s chorus, “Hey Nineteen, that’s ‘Retha Franklin, she don’t remember the Queen of Soul,” refers to the generational gap between the two characters in the song, as the younger woman is unaware of Franklin’s music.

The song’s smooth jazz instrumentation and laid-back tempo are hallmarks of Steely Dan’s sound. The band was known for their meticulous attention to detail in the studio, which often resulted in complex and layered arrangements. “Gaucho” was the last album that Steely Dan released before breaking up in 1981, and “Hey Nineteen” is considered one of their signature songs.

The era in which “Hey Nineteen” was released, the early 1980s, was a time of social and political change in America. The country was recovering from the economic recession of the late 1970s and dealing with the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The music of Steely Dan and other jazz rock bands was seen as a refreshing departure from the disco and punk rock sounds that dominated the charts in the late 1970s. “Hey Nineteen” is often cited as a nostalgic tribute to a bygone era, as it references the music and culture of the 1960s and 70s.