"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.
[4][5] 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.
"[5] "Dirty Work" is one of the songs on Can't Buy a Thrill on which David Palmer provided the lead vocal.
[citation needed] 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.
"[8] 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.
"[9] Robustelli similarly agrees that part of the song's effect is the contrast between Palmer's smooth voice and the harsh lyrics.