The Ball Street Journal, vol. 2
Today is August 4th, the 216th day of the year, with 149 days left in 2022. Texas football is just 32 days from kickoff, with the NFL another 40 days away. But as you know, in my world, it’s always basketball season.
Texas Basketball: A look at the top Longhorn recruits over the last 10 years
This year, Texas MBB landed a top-five player in Dillon Mitchell, a 6’9 small forward from Montverde Academy in Florida. I’ve talked ad nauseum about his potential and talent, which is lottery level, even in what looks like one of the strongest draft classes in recent memory. What I want to do here is look at the top player from each of the last 10 Texas basketball classes, and see how they fared.
2012 – Cameron Ridley
Cameron Ridley was a 6’10, 245-lb (285 by his senior season) center from Richmond, Texas who was a starter for nearly the entirety of his career, over which he averaged 8.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. The McDonald’s All-American was a dynamic rim protector for the Longhorns. The defensive specialist had a foot injury his senior year which ultimately sidelined him for the rest of his collegiate campaign; this injury was particularly unfortunate because of the stellar senior season leading up to it: 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game. He never played for an NBA team, despite playing Summer League for the Chicago Bulls.
Did he live up to the hype? If not for his ill-fated foot problems, it’s hard to say what Ridley would have been capable of during conference play and the NCAA Tournament his senior season. I would say dominating that way his senior year would lead to yes if he had more opportunity that season.
2013 – Kendal Yancey
Yancey was the highest-rated player in the 2013 class, despite Isaiah Taylor’s emergence later on as the most valuable player in this haul. Yancy, a guard from Berkner HS in Richardson, finished his career averaging 4.5 points per game with a career high of 6.3 points per game his sophomore season. Despite his high ranking, Yancy never really caught on the way that analysts and scouts thought he would, as he started just seven games his senior year.
Did he live up to the hype? No.
2014 – Myles Turner
Myles Turner, a valuable piece of the Indiana Pacers roster at center, played his single-season college career for the Longhorns, a stellar campaign that catapulted him into eventual NBA stardom. Turner put up 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, despite the fact that the team around him struggled, going 8-10 in conference and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed. However, Turner himself was all-Big-12, all-Big-12 defense, all-Big 12 freshman, and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He was drafted 11th overall by the Indiana Pacers, and continues to be a successful player in the NBA, with the following stats from last season: 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
Did he live up to the hype? I think it’s safe to say he did.
2015 – Kerwin Roach
Kerwin Roach first rose to fame after his high school dunking mixtapes hit the internet. Fabulously athletic, Roach was also a track star at North Shore High School, competing in the triple jump. Roach was the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year in his freshman season, going for 7.5 points per game; his sophomore year, he scored just shy of 10 a game (9.9); by his senior year, he led the team in scoring at 14.6 PPG. He stepped up in a major way for the team that year due to the loss of Andrew Jones, who was battling, and ultimately beating, leukemia.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes, being a leading scorer on a power five team is living up to the hype in my opinion, especially considering the circumstances.
2016 – Jarrett Allen
This year could also have been Andrew Jones, who was another five-star ranked top 25 in the nation, but technically, Allen was the higher-rated player. Allen is amongst the most successful Longhorns in the NBA, representing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA All-Star Game this past season, averaging 16.1 points (on 67% shooting), 10.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.6 assists per game. In college, he was equally excellent, averaging 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds (3.0 offensive), and 1.5 blocks. He was on the Big 12 all-freshman team before being drafted 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets, eventually being traded to the Cavaliers as part of the multi-team James Harden deal. As mentioned earlier, Allen is arguably the second-best Longhorn playing pro basketball right now (behind Kevin Durant).
Did he live up to the hype? Though his time on the 40 Acres was brief, it’s fair to say that Jarrett Allen, the Austin native, lived up to the hype.
2017 – Mo Bamba
Bamba was the highest-rated recruit since Kevin Durant, rated fourth nationally on Rivals. The Mo Bamba hype hit an absolute peak when the song with his namesake took off, becoming one of the hottest songs in America for a few weeks (I still hear that song when I go out sometimes). Bamba was dominant in his single season as a Longhorn, averaging 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. He finished up as a member of the all-Big-12 team and all-Big-12 defensive team before being drafted sixth overall to the Orlando Magic. This past season, he really caught on, as well as becoming more consistent with the three ball. In 2021-22, Bamba averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.2 assists. He shot 38.1% from deep as well, really adding to his arsenal with the ability to spread the floor from the center position.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes.
2018 – Courtney Ramey
Courtney Ramey was the highest-rated recruit Shaka Smart landed in 2018, a tough-nosed guard from St. Louis, Missouri who ended up becoming a lockdown defender in addition to his scoring capabilities. In his four seasons at Texas, he averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, with his peak offensive performance being in his junior season: 12.2 points per game and 41.4% from three. In his senior year, he was tasked with guarding the opponent’s best players, and was very successful very often. His two performances against NBA first-rounder Ochai Agbaji of Kansas was an indication of his prowess on this end of the floor. He transferred to Arizona in the offseason, but Texas fans across the country have to put respect on his name, as he gave it his all in Austin.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes.
2019 – Will Baker
Will Baker was a five-star center from Austin Westlake who finished as the 28th overall recruit in the 2019 class. Kai Jones was also a member of this class, but Baker finished higher, and that’s the focus of this piece. Baker never really got his footing in Austin, and played just a single season for the Longhorns, where he averaged 2.1 points per game. He transferred to Nevada his sophomore season, but sat out the 2020-21 season before arriving at his new school. He averaged 11.5 points per game in his first season with the Wolfpack, but never delivered for the Longhorns.
Did he live up to the hype? No.
2020 – Greg Brown
Five-star Vandergrift forward Greg Brown was one of the highest-rated recruits of the Shaka Smart era, and helped lead Texas to their first-ever Big 12 Tournament championship over Cade Cunningham’s Oklahoma State Cowboys. Brown was pretty impressive in his one year stay in Austin, averaging 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and playing really solid defense from the wing spot. The season ended brutally with a first-round loss to Abilene Christian with the team that experts would say was easily Shaka Smart’s best. Brown was drafted 45th overall to the Portland Trailblazers and plays a few minutes per game as an energy guy. Despite the loss at the end of the season, Brown was a good player for Texas and for Shaka Smart.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes.
2021 – Jaylon Tyson
Well, there’s not much to say here. Tyson got less than seven minutes per game before transferring mid-season to Texas Tech, where he is part of an elite transfer class.
Did he live up to the hype? No, though he could for Texas Tech.
2022 – Dillon Mitchell
Mitchell is the fourth-overall ranked recruit in the country and second at his position, behind his former Montverde teammate and Duke commit Dariq Whitehead. Mitchell is a highly athletic small forward with ridiculous hops and foot speed. He glides across the floor like a gazelle, which I can confirm from watching him in person yesterday. He also has a great attitude, as Chris Beard mentioned in his post-practice media availability. Part of a top-five class this year, Mitchell looks to be a part of the team that improved on last year’s team which won its first tournament game since 2014. Will he live up to the hype? Obviously it’s hard to tell now, but considering his pedigree, I believe he will.
National Basketball Association
Today, LeBron James has the choice to pick up his player option and remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal would be $97 million for two years. The problem with the Lakers is that they (a) have no cap space and (b) are really, really old. James could also take a one-year extension and leave the next year on the table, as he has said he wants to play with Bronny James whenever Bronny makes it to the NBA. Technically, James’ son will be eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft as a member of the high school class of 2023. He is a four-star recruit right now, but his ability to be a one-and-done seems to be in doubt.
Bill Russell, a true NBA Legend and voice of political activism, passed away on July 31st last week. Russell dealt with horrendous racism during his playing days in Boston, having his house vandalized nearly every time he left town for a road game. Despite the hate he received from his own fan base, Russell still played his heart out for his entire career. From 1956 to 1969, he dominated defensively for the Celtics, winning 11 NBA Titles and five MVPs, making 12 ASG appearances, and earning the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award for his work both on and off the court. President Obama also gave Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Bill Russell is truly an example of what a man can do with his platform in sports, and that athletes have a voice when it comes to important social issues.
Album review:
The Nightfly by Donald Fagen (1982)
Donald Fagen, the frontman of legendary band Steely Dan, released a solo album in 1982 called The Nightfly, a beautiful, eight-song record that is easily one of my favorites of all time. It brings me back to a time when I was doing Indian Guides (RIP), driving with my dad to our campsite as a kid. More than just being sentimental, it’s an album that creates emotion in so many different directions. It will always remind me of my dad, who is a long-time OB member who will read this later today, so shout out to him.
Here’s my track-by-track review of the album. A concept album, the songs are held together by an imaginary deejay called “Lester the Nightfly.” I highly recommend giving it a listen if you're unfamiliar, especially if you’re a fan of the original band.
1. IGY, which may be my favorite song of all time, opens the album with soft synths, kept together by syncopated hits on the ride cymbal before the driving melody comes through. The lyrics are about a new world in which many beautiful things happen, i.e., “90 minutes from New York to Paris,” discussing the way things will go in the future. It’s a beautiful ode to what the future holds, and where society can go if positivity is the primary mindset.
2. The second song on the record, Greenflower Street, is a funky jam that is heavily driven by synths. The song talks about Fagen’s girlfriend, a “mandarin plum,” which is an archaic way of saying that the woman is Asian (it was the ‘80s!). The song discusses the dangerous street on which she lives, and how they mentally ‘escape’ the reality of real-life danger. It’s a song about escapism in life and how sometimes it’s necessary for survival.
3. Ruby is the third song on Fagen’s The Nightfly; this time, it’s a standard love song. The song is in a shuffle beat, and uses elements of saxophone, horns, and synths. A beautiful piano solo takes over the middle of the track, replacing the choruses with solos and four verses, all of which add up to a record that shows how Donald Fagen feels about this Ruby: “I’d give the world to set her heart aflame.”
4. A beautiful piano solo starts off the next track, Maxine, before the drums and vocals come in and set up a 6/8 time signature. Taken over by saxophones and horns, the listener sort of drifts away from reality in the track, lifted by the instrumental. It’s a beautiful song, although it is a bit sad, especially when compared to the rest of the album, which is mostly upbeat, or at least, has elements of such.
5. New Frontier, which is my dad’s favorite song on the album, is interesting, as the opening lyrics describe a party in a fallout shelter, as if the world has ended, and they are trying to find some kind of joy in a post-apocalyptic situation. The instrumental is stellar, led by synths and a wailing guitar track that weaves itself in and out of the melody. The song is a bit ironic in its upbeat sound contrasted with lyrics about the apocalypse. If you’re familiar with Steely Dan, you’re aware this is their forte.
6. The title track, The Nightfly, is a direct conversation between the deejay Lester the Nightfly and his callers. People call in and discuss conspiracy theories and complain about the government, as is typical late-night radio fodder. He sarcastically thanks the callers, saying he waits “all night for calls like these.” The song is important for tying the tracks together and establishing a motif of dealing with the future and either struggling with it or making it work.
7. The Goodbye Look starts off with an intricate melody played on a xylophone, accompanied by just drums before the guitars start and Fagen begins to sing. The song is about being in a country before a revolution, specifically in Cuba. Fagen realizes he needs to leave, but unfortunately, it seems to be too late, as “they’re knocking,” with the “colonel’s standing in the sun.” Another song that uses juxtaposition to create irony, the song sounds upbeat despite the subject matter.
8. The final track of The Nightfly, called Walk Between Raindrops, ties up the record by continuing themes of dealing with tough relationships but rebounding, heavy dreaming, the bond between two lovers, and looking towards the future. The final refrain, which is, “That happy day / we’ll find each other on that Florida Shore…we’ll walk between the raindrops to your backdoor,” is thematic in its ending of the album. The future is scary, but in order to progress, Fagen must have optimism, no matter what happens going forward.
Today is August 4th, the 216th day of the year, with 149 days left in 2022. Texas football is just 32 days from kickoff, with the NFL another 40 days away. But as you know, in my world, it’s always basketball season.
Texas Basketball: A look at the top Longhorn recruits over the last 10 years
This year, Texas MBB landed a top-five player in Dillon Mitchell, a 6’9 small forward from Montverde Academy in Florida. I’ve talked ad nauseum about his potential and talent, which is lottery level, even in what looks like one of the strongest draft classes in recent memory. What I want to do here is look at the top player from each of the last 10 Texas basketball classes, and see how they fared.
2012 – Cameron Ridley
Cameron Ridley was a 6’10, 245-lb (285 by his senior season) center from Richmond, Texas who was a starter for nearly the entirety of his career, over which he averaged 8.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. The McDonald’s All-American was a dynamic rim protector for the Longhorns. The defensive specialist had a foot injury his senior year which ultimately sidelined him for the rest of his collegiate campaign; this injury was particularly unfortunate because of the stellar senior season leading up to it: 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game. He never played for an NBA team, despite playing Summer League for the Chicago Bulls.
Did he live up to the hype? If not for his ill-fated foot problems, it’s hard to say what Ridley would have been capable of during conference play and the NCAA Tournament his senior season. I would say dominating that way his senior year would lead to yes if he had more opportunity that season.
2013 – Kendal Yancey
Yancey was the highest-rated player in the 2013 class, despite Isaiah Taylor’s emergence later on as the most valuable player in this haul. Yancy, a guard from Berkner HS in Richardson, finished his career averaging 4.5 points per game with a career high of 6.3 points per game his sophomore season. Despite his high ranking, Yancy never really caught on the way that analysts and scouts thought he would, as he started just seven games his senior year.
Did he live up to the hype? No.
2014 – Myles Turner
Myles Turner, a valuable piece of the Indiana Pacers roster at center, played his single-season college career for the Longhorns, a stellar campaign that catapulted him into eventual NBA stardom. Turner put up 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, despite the fact that the team around him struggled, going 8-10 in conference and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed. However, Turner himself was all-Big-12, all-Big-12 defense, all-Big 12 freshman, and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He was drafted 11th overall by the Indiana Pacers, and continues to be a successful player in the NBA, with the following stats from last season: 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
Did he live up to the hype? I think it’s safe to say he did.
2015 – Kerwin Roach
Kerwin Roach first rose to fame after his high school dunking mixtapes hit the internet. Fabulously athletic, Roach was also a track star at North Shore High School, competing in the triple jump. Roach was the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year in his freshman season, going for 7.5 points per game; his sophomore year, he scored just shy of 10 a game (9.9); by his senior year, he led the team in scoring at 14.6 PPG. He stepped up in a major way for the team that year due to the loss of Andrew Jones, who was battling, and ultimately beating, leukemia.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes, being a leading scorer on a power five team is living up to the hype in my opinion, especially considering the circumstances.
2016 – Jarrett Allen
This year could also have been Andrew Jones, who was another five-star ranked top 25 in the nation, but technically, Allen was the higher-rated player. Allen is amongst the most successful Longhorns in the NBA, representing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA All-Star Game this past season, averaging 16.1 points (on 67% shooting), 10.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.6 assists per game. In college, he was equally excellent, averaging 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds (3.0 offensive), and 1.5 blocks. He was on the Big 12 all-freshman team before being drafted 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets, eventually being traded to the Cavaliers as part of the multi-team James Harden deal. As mentioned earlier, Allen is arguably the second-best Longhorn playing pro basketball right now (behind Kevin Durant).
Did he live up to the hype? Though his time on the 40 Acres was brief, it’s fair to say that Jarrett Allen, the Austin native, lived up to the hype.
2017 – Mo Bamba
Bamba was the highest-rated recruit since Kevin Durant, rated fourth nationally on Rivals. The Mo Bamba hype hit an absolute peak when the song with his namesake took off, becoming one of the hottest songs in America for a few weeks (I still hear that song when I go out sometimes). Bamba was dominant in his single season as a Longhorn, averaging 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. He finished up as a member of the all-Big-12 team and all-Big-12 defensive team before being drafted sixth overall to the Orlando Magic. This past season, he really caught on, as well as becoming more consistent with the three ball. In 2021-22, Bamba averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.2 assists. He shot 38.1% from deep as well, really adding to his arsenal with the ability to spread the floor from the center position.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes.
2018 – Courtney Ramey
Courtney Ramey was the highest-rated recruit Shaka Smart landed in 2018, a tough-nosed guard from St. Louis, Missouri who ended up becoming a lockdown defender in addition to his scoring capabilities. In his four seasons at Texas, he averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, with his peak offensive performance being in his junior season: 12.2 points per game and 41.4% from three. In his senior year, he was tasked with guarding the opponent’s best players, and was very successful very often. His two performances against NBA first-rounder Ochai Agbaji of Kansas was an indication of his prowess on this end of the floor. He transferred to Arizona in the offseason, but Texas fans across the country have to put respect on his name, as he gave it his all in Austin.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes.
2019 – Will Baker
Will Baker was a five-star center from Austin Westlake who finished as the 28th overall recruit in the 2019 class. Kai Jones was also a member of this class, but Baker finished higher, and that’s the focus of this piece. Baker never really got his footing in Austin, and played just a single season for the Longhorns, where he averaged 2.1 points per game. He transferred to Nevada his sophomore season, but sat out the 2020-21 season before arriving at his new school. He averaged 11.5 points per game in his first season with the Wolfpack, but never delivered for the Longhorns.
Did he live up to the hype? No.
2020 – Greg Brown
Five-star Vandergrift forward Greg Brown was one of the highest-rated recruits of the Shaka Smart era, and helped lead Texas to their first-ever Big 12 Tournament championship over Cade Cunningham’s Oklahoma State Cowboys. Brown was pretty impressive in his one year stay in Austin, averaging 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and playing really solid defense from the wing spot. The season ended brutally with a first-round loss to Abilene Christian with the team that experts would say was easily Shaka Smart’s best. Brown was drafted 45th overall to the Portland Trailblazers and plays a few minutes per game as an energy guy. Despite the loss at the end of the season, Brown was a good player for Texas and for Shaka Smart.
Did he live up to the hype? Yes.
2021 – Jaylon Tyson
Well, there’s not much to say here. Tyson got less than seven minutes per game before transferring mid-season to Texas Tech, where he is part of an elite transfer class.
Did he live up to the hype? No, though he could for Texas Tech.
2022 – Dillon Mitchell
Mitchell is the fourth-overall ranked recruit in the country and second at his position, behind his former Montverde teammate and Duke commit Dariq Whitehead. Mitchell is a highly athletic small forward with ridiculous hops and foot speed. He glides across the floor like a gazelle, which I can confirm from watching him in person yesterday. He also has a great attitude, as Chris Beard mentioned in his post-practice media availability. Part of a top-five class this year, Mitchell looks to be a part of the team that improved on last year’s team which won its first tournament game since 2014. Will he live up to the hype? Obviously it’s hard to tell now, but considering his pedigree, I believe he will.
National Basketball Association
Today, LeBron James has the choice to pick up his player option and remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal would be $97 million for two years. The problem with the Lakers is that they (a) have no cap space and (b) are really, really old. James could also take a one-year extension and leave the next year on the table, as he has said he wants to play with Bronny James whenever Bronny makes it to the NBA. Technically, James’ son will be eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft as a member of the high school class of 2023. He is a four-star recruit right now, but his ability to be a one-and-done seems to be in doubt.
Bill Russell, a true NBA Legend and voice of political activism, passed away on July 31st last week. Russell dealt with horrendous racism during his playing days in Boston, having his house vandalized nearly every time he left town for a road game. Despite the hate he received from his own fan base, Russell still played his heart out for his entire career. From 1956 to 1969, he dominated defensively for the Celtics, winning 11 NBA Titles and five MVPs, making 12 ASG appearances, and earning the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award for his work both on and off the court. President Obama also gave Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Bill Russell is truly an example of what a man can do with his platform in sports, and that athletes have a voice when it comes to important social issues.
Album review:
The Nightfly by Donald Fagen (1982)
Donald Fagen, the frontman of legendary band Steely Dan, released a solo album in 1982 called The Nightfly, a beautiful, eight-song record that is easily one of my favorites of all time. It brings me back to a time when I was doing Indian Guides (RIP), driving with my dad to our campsite as a kid. More than just being sentimental, it’s an album that creates emotion in so many different directions. It will always remind me of my dad, who is a long-time OB member who will read this later today, so shout out to him.
Here’s my track-by-track review of the album. A concept album, the songs are held together by an imaginary deejay called “Lester the Nightfly.” I highly recommend giving it a listen if you're unfamiliar, especially if you’re a fan of the original band.
1. IGY, which may be my favorite song of all time, opens the album with soft synths, kept together by syncopated hits on the ride cymbal before the driving melody comes through. The lyrics are about a new world in which many beautiful things happen, i.e., “90 minutes from New York to Paris,” discussing the way things will go in the future. It’s a beautiful ode to what the future holds, and where society can go if positivity is the primary mindset.
2. The second song on the record, Greenflower Street, is a funky jam that is heavily driven by synths. The song talks about Fagen’s girlfriend, a “mandarin plum,” which is an archaic way of saying that the woman is Asian (it was the ‘80s!). The song discusses the dangerous street on which she lives, and how they mentally ‘escape’ the reality of real-life danger. It’s a song about escapism in life and how sometimes it’s necessary for survival.
3. Ruby is the third song on Fagen’s The Nightfly; this time, it’s a standard love song. The song is in a shuffle beat, and uses elements of saxophone, horns, and synths. A beautiful piano solo takes over the middle of the track, replacing the choruses with solos and four verses, all of which add up to a record that shows how Donald Fagen feels about this Ruby: “I’d give the world to set her heart aflame.”
4. A beautiful piano solo starts off the next track, Maxine, before the drums and vocals come in and set up a 6/8 time signature. Taken over by saxophones and horns, the listener sort of drifts away from reality in the track, lifted by the instrumental. It’s a beautiful song, although it is a bit sad, especially when compared to the rest of the album, which is mostly upbeat, or at least, has elements of such.
5. New Frontier, which is my dad’s favorite song on the album, is interesting, as the opening lyrics describe a party in a fallout shelter, as if the world has ended, and they are trying to find some kind of joy in a post-apocalyptic situation. The instrumental is stellar, led by synths and a wailing guitar track that weaves itself in and out of the melody. The song is a bit ironic in its upbeat sound contrasted with lyrics about the apocalypse. If you’re familiar with Steely Dan, you’re aware this is their forte.
6. The title track, The Nightfly, is a direct conversation between the deejay Lester the Nightfly and his callers. People call in and discuss conspiracy theories and complain about the government, as is typical late-night radio fodder. He sarcastically thanks the callers, saying he waits “all night for calls like these.” The song is important for tying the tracks together and establishing a motif of dealing with the future and either struggling with it or making it work.
7. The Goodbye Look starts off with an intricate melody played on a xylophone, accompanied by just drums before the guitars start and Fagen begins to sing. The song is about being in a country before a revolution, specifically in Cuba. Fagen realizes he needs to leave, but unfortunately, it seems to be too late, as “they’re knocking,” with the “colonel’s standing in the sun.” Another song that uses juxtaposition to create irony, the song sounds upbeat despite the subject matter.
8. The final track of The Nightfly, called Walk Between Raindrops, ties up the record by continuing themes of dealing with tough relationships but rebounding, heavy dreaming, the bond between two lovers, and looking towards the future. The final refrain, which is, “That happy day / we’ll find each other on that Florida Shore…we’ll walk between the raindrops to your backdoor,” is thematic in its ending of the album. The future is scary, but in order to progress, Fagen must have optimism, no matter what happens going forward.
