The Caves Of Altamira
Steely Dan · The Royal Scam [1976]
How I spent my days alone
The busy world was not for me
So I went and found my own
I would climb the garden wall
With a candle in my hand
I'd hide inside a hall of rock and sand
On the stone an ancient hand
In a faded yellow-green
Made alive a worldly wonder
Often told but never seen
Now and ever bound to labor
On the sea and in the sky
Every man and beast appeared
A friend as real as I
CHORUS:
Before the fall when they wrote it on the wall
When there wasn't even any Hollywood
They heard the call
And they wrote it on the wall
For you and me we understood
Can it be this sad design
Could be the very same
A wooly man without a face
And a beast without a name
Nothin' here but history
Can you see what has been done
Memory rush over me
Now I step into the sun
CHORUS
The Caves Of Altamira
Steely Dan's "The Caves Of Altamira" stands as a quintessential example of the band's polished, jazz-inflected rock style, released on the 1976 album The Royal Scam. The track showcases the group's signature approach to songwriting, blending intricate arrangements with witty, narrative lyrics that explore themes of deception and hidden truths. As part of their mid-1970s discography, the recording reflects the band's evolution toward a more sophisticated sound, characterized by precise instrumentation and a sophisticated production aesthetic. The song remains a defining piece of their catalog, illustrating how they balanced complex musical structures with accessible, character-driven storytelling that became a hallmark of their public musical identity.