DEACON BLUES   -   Steely Dan
                      ----------------------------------



                          From the album AJA

                          Chords by Howard Wright
                          H.Wright@astro.cf.ac.uk


INTRO:
------

Cmaj7   Gsus2/B   Bbmaj7    Fsus2/A    Dmaj7    Asus2/C#    Cmaj7    Gsus2/B 

Ebmaj7    E7#9


VERSE 1:
--------

G13         F13          G/A     F13
This is the day of the expanding man

G13                F13                 G/A      D9
  That shape is my shade there where I used to stand

Fmaj7           E7-9       Am7                      Bb13
  It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass

   E7              B7
At ramblers, wild gamblers

       B7#9       E7     B7#9    E7
That's all in the past


G13           F13                 G/A   F13
You call me a fool you say it's a crazy scene

G13              F13            G/A        A7   
  This one's for real I already bought the dream

Fmaj7          E7-9
  So useless to  ask me why

Am7              Gm7        F#maj7  Fmaj7
Throw a kiss and say goodbye

                Csus2/E
I'll make it this time

D9           F/G  
I'm ready to cross that fine line




CHORUS:
-------

Am7                    Em7       
I'll Learn to work the saxophone

Dm7       Cmaj7  
   I play just what I feel

Bbmaj7               Am        Am/G   Am/F#  Fmaj7
Drink scotch whiskey all night long

     Csus2/E    Fmaj7(Viii)       Am7
And  die      behind      the wheel

                         Em7 
They got a name for the winners in the world

Dm7      Cmaj7
I want a name when I lose

     Bbmaj7           Am      Am/G   Am/F#  Fmaj7
They call Alabama the crimson tide

Csus2/E     Fmaj7(Viii)  Am7            Em7
Call    me  Deacon       Blues  (Deacon Blues)


Dmaj7    Asus2/C#    Cmaj7    Gsus2/B   Ebmaj7   E7#9


VERSE 2 :    (Chords as VERSE 1)
---------

My back to the wall a victim of laughing chance

This is for me the essence of true romance

Sharing the things we know and love with those of my kind

Libations, sensations which stagger the mind

I crawl like a viper through these suburban streets

Make love to these women languid and bittersweet

I'll rise when the sun goes down

Cover every game in town

A world of my own

I'll make it my home sweet home


CHORUS:
-------

As before except for the last line of chords. Play these instead :

Dmaj7    Asus2/C#    Cmaj7    Gsus2/B    Bb13   Gsus2/B

Then it goes into .....

INSTRUMENTAL:
-------------

Cmaj7  Em7  A13  D7#5#9  G13   B7#9   Em7   A13

Fmaj7  F#7#9  Gmaj7  B7#9

Repeat these two lines once

Then play the INTRO chords to lead into the last verse...


Verse 3:
---------

G13         F13            G/A     F13
This is the night of the expanding man

G13                F13          G/A      A7
  I take one last drag as I approach the stand

Fmaj7             E7-9 
   I cried when I wrote this song

Am7          Gm7          F#maj7  Fmaj7
 Sue me if I play too long

                Csus2/E
This brother is free

D9              F/G
 I'll be what I want to be


CHORUS


OUTTRO:
-------

Same as first half of 1st Verse - except play D9-5 instead of D9
Keep repeating this half verse to fade



Chord Shapes
------------

A=10, B=11 to make the shapes simpler to type out


 EADGBE      EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE      EADGBE
 8X998X      7X778X       6X776X       5X556X       AXBBAX      9X99AX

 Cmaj7       Gsus2/B      Bbmaj7       Fsus2/A      Dmaj7       Asus2/C#


 EADGBE      EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE      EADGBE
 x68786      07678x       353453       3x345x       131231      1x123x

 Ebmaj7       E7#9         G13          G13          F13          F13
  
                           (Take your pick !)

 EADGBE      EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE      EADGBE
 x0543x      x5455x       133210       07676x       5x5555      6x678x

  G/A          D9          Fmaj7        E7-9         Am7         Bb13


 EADGBE      EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE      EADGBE
 020100      x24242       x2123x       3x3333       2x332x      x7x788
 
   E7          B7          B7#9         Gm7          F#maj7     Csus2/E


 EADGBE      EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE      EADGBE
 3x321x      x79787       x57565       x02210       3x2210      2x2210

  F/G         Em7           Dm7         Am           Am/G        Am/F#


 EADGBE      EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE       EADGBE     EADGBE
 x8a9a8      x54566       242355       3x443x       x5x554     5x56xx

Fmaj7(Viii)  D7#5#9       F#7#9        Gmaj7         D9-5        A7


Any mistakes with words or chords - please let me know.
I don't think I missed out any shapes , but I might have let one slip...

Enjoy!

Howard