From
Steely Dan's
The Royal Scam, a song about a genius drug chemist and dealer, formerly openly notorious, forced to flee
San Francisco at the end of the
psychedelic era. The character may be loosely based on Augustus
Owsley Stanley III, a friend of
Timothy Leary who created such
titbits as the famous "Purple Owsley" variety of
acid. The comparison to
Charlemagne is obscure but glorious.
Lyrics by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, ©1976:
"On the Hill the stuff was laced with kerosene
But yours was kitchen clean
Everyone stopped to stare at your Technicolor motorhome
Every A-frame had your number on the wall..."
Long-time Dan fans say that it is traditional for concert-goers, when this song is performed, to raise drinks, lighters, et cetera to celebrate the high-pitched end note of the following exchange:
"Is there gas in the car?"
"Yes, there's gas in the caaar!"