‘Dirty Work’ is a song written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, which appeared on the band's 1972 debut album Can't Buy a Thrill. The song's lyrics describe an affair between a man and a married woman, sung by the man. Steely Dan FAQ author Anthony Robustelli describes ‘Dirty Work’ as a "song of self-loathing", while The Guardian describes the narrative as soap operatic. The singer recognizes that the woman is using him, but is too infatuated to end the affair. The second verse lyric "Like a castle in its corner in a medieval game" references the rook, a piece in chess, which was a hobby of Becker's.
‘Dirty Work’ is one of the songs on Can't Buy a Thrill on which David Palmer provided the lead vocal. Brian Sweet hypothesizes that Fagen did not want to sing the song himself because he and Becker did not even want to include it on the album, but the executives at ABC Records wanted some more conventional tunes on the album and therefore insisted that ‘Dirty Work’ be included. The ABC executives had also thought the song would be ideal for Three Dog Night or The Grass Roots to record. After Palmer left the group, touring vocalist Royce Jones would sing the song live in concert. It was revived in 2006, however, with the band's female backing vocalists singing it from the perspective of a woman having an affair with a married (or attached) man.
The song was included on the band's 1972 debut album Can't Buy a Thrill. The same year it was released as a single on the Probe label in the Netherlands. The song's vocalist, David Palmer, toured with the band until 1974; when he left they mothballed the song. When Steely Dan started touring again in 2000 after a long hiatus, they put ‘Dirty Work’ back in their setlist with a new arrangement, sung by their female backup singers.
AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes ‘Dirty Work’ as a "terrific pop song that subverts traditional conventions" and is one of the best songs on Can't Buy a Thrill, while MusicHound author Gary Graff refers to it as being "instantly memorable." Rolling Stone critic James Isaacs attributes the song's success to the fact that it "juxtaposes David Palmer's sweet tenor voice with misogynistic lyrics." Robustelli similarly agrees that part of the song's effect is the contrast between Palmer's smooth voice and the harsh lyrics. ‘Dirty Work’ was included on several Steely Dan compilation albums, including Citizen Steely Dan in 1993, Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story, 1972–1980 in 2000 and Steely Dan: The Definitive Collection in 2006.
This song shows up in various TV shows and movies when some underhanded business is going on, most famously at the beginning of the 2013 movie American Hustle and in the 2001 Sopranos episode "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood," where Tony Soprano sings along to it while he's driving. Other uses include the movies Mask (1985) and The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002).
Label – ABC
Songwriters – Donald Fagen, Walter Becker
Producer – Gary Katz
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Times are hard, you're afraid to pay the fee
So you find yourself somebody
Who can do the job for free
When you need a bit of lovin'
'Cause your man is out of town
That's the time you get me runnin'
And you know I'll be around
[Chorus]
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
I don't wanna do your dirty work no more
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
[Verse 2]
Light the candle, put the lock upon the door
You have sent the maid home early
Like a thousand times before
Like the castle in its corner in a medieval game
I foresee terrible trouble
And I stay here just the same
[Chorus]
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
I don't wanna do your dirty work no more
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
[Saxophone solo]
[Chorus]
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
I don't wanna do your dirty work no more
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
I don't wanna do your dirty work no more
I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah
I don't wanna do your dirty work no more