Discover the story of the song > Deacon Blues – Steely Dan

Steely Dan's song Deacon Blues was released in 1977 on the album Aja. The song was written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and was inspired by their friend and former classmate, Bruce Johnston, who dropped out of college to become a studio musician and lead singer for the Beach Boys. Johnston used to poke fun at Becker and Fagen, who were little-known session musicians at the time, and tell them that they would never become great musicians. The song Deacon Blues is a response to Johnston, and it tells the story of a musician who gives up his dream of becoming a great musician.