(Front) Art by Donald Roller Wilson (LP inside left) (LP inside right) (LP back) Photo by Steve Schapiro

Linked material:

Them or us

 

  1 The closer you are [Earl Lewis, Bobby Robinson]
  2 In France
  3 Ya Hozna
  4 Sharleena
  5 Sinister footwear II
  6 Truck driver divorce
  7 Stevie’s spanking
  8 Baby, take your teeth out
  9 Marque-son’s chicken
10 Planet of my dreams
11 Be in my video
12 Them or us {Black page}
13 Frogs with dirty little lips [Frank Zappa, Ahmet Zappa]
14 Whipping post [Gregg Allman]

 

All compositions by Frank Zappa, except as noted above.


1. The closer you are


[FZ] The closer you are
The brighter the stars in the sky
And, darling, I realize
That you’re The One in my life
Oh oh
 
My heart skips a beat
Every time you and I meet
My life, my love, my dear, I can’t defeat
This yearning deep in my heart
To have only you
 
When I first saw you
I did adore you
And all your loving ways
Your loving ways
But then you went away
But now you’re back to stay
And my love for you grows stronger every DAY-AHHH WAY-AHHH WAY
 
The closer you are
The brighter the flames in my heart
And, darling, we’ll never part
We’ll always be in love
We’ll always be in love
[Repeat]

2. In France


[Johnny Watson] Mm-hmm, yeah
 
Down, down, down in
Down, down, down in
Down, down, down in
Down, down, down in
 
We’re playin’ in a tent
Down, down, down in
It’s payin’ the rent
Down, down, down in
If you pooch a civilian
Down, down, down in
It’s a major event
Down, down, down in
 
Down in France
Did you hear where that’s located?
Way down
I say in France
Yeah, hey, it’s the first time you hear som’thn’ like…
Way on down
And then it smells
Way on down
Uh, down in France
Ain’t that som’thn’? Listen…
 
I say the girls is all salty
Down, down, down in
An’ the boys is all sweet
Down, down, down in
I said the food ain’t too shabby
Down, down, down in
An’ they piss in the street
Down, down, down in
 
Down in France
Ain’t that cold?
Way down
Hah, say down in France
Now, now, you know what? I… I saw ‘em walkin’, it wou it would…
Way on down
And did they say it
Way on down
Uh, down in France
Under France
Oh yeah, now you won’t believe it
 
They got the diseases
Disea-seases
Like you ain’t never seen
Disea-seases

I said they got a mystery blow job
Disea-seases
Turn your peter green
Disea-seases
 
Down in France
Ain’t that somethin’?
Way down
Say down in France
Say, look, I saw the color, i i it looks just like i it was…
Way on down
And then it turned
Way on down
That was under France
Oh yes, it would… listen… look!
 
They got some coffee
Co-co-coffee
Eatin’ right through the cup
Co-co-coffee
An’ when you go ka-ka
Co-co-coffee
They make you stand up
Co-co-coffee
 
Down in France
That’s where it’s located
Way down
Uh, down in France
No-now listen, I ka-ka one time and then I heard it
Way on down
And then I went…
Way on down
That was down in France
Under France
 
Now listen…
If you’re not careful
Care-care-careful
It’ll stick to your cheeks
Care-care-careful
You’ll smell like a native
Care-care-careful
For a couple of weeks
Care-care-careful
 
Down in France
Ooh, somethin’ smellin’, I guess
Way down
Down in France
That’s where it were, listen, I… I smelled it, it went…
Way on down
And then it smelled like…
Way on down
That was down in France
Under France
Ooh, smell it in front of him
 
Oh, smell your harmonica, go on, smell it, son
Uh-huh
Hold your nose
Uh-huh, they’re comin’ too after you
 
Now we cannot wait
Wait, wait waiting
Till we go back
Wait, wait waiting

Gets so exciting
Wait, wait waiting

When the poodles “react”
 
In France
Uh-huh, rough
Way down in France
I’m talkin’ ‘bout bow-wow, uh-huh, say, they… they’re rough
Way on down
And then they’re kinda…
Way on down
Never try to get yo’ peter sucked in France
Merci… oui… OW!

3. Ya Hozna


 
[Backwards]
I am the heaven
I am the water
Ich bin deine Ritze
Ich bin deine Ritze und Schlitze
I am the clouds
Ich bin der Chrome Dinette
Ich bin Eier aller Arten
 
Ich bin alle Tage und Nächte
Ich bin alle Tage und Nächte
I am embroidered
Ich bin der Dreck unter deinen Walzen
(Oh no, whip it on me, honey!)
AIEE-AH!
AIEE-AH!
Ich bin hier
AIEE-AH!
Ich bin der Autor aller Felgen
Und Damast-Paspeln
Ich bin der Chrome Dinette
 
You’re a lonely little girl
But your Mommy & your Daddy don’t care
 
Ich bin hier
AIEE-AH!
Und du bist mein Sofa
 
You’re a lonely little girl
 
Ich bin hier
Und du bist mein Sofa
Yeah-ha-ha-ay
Yah-ha
Yeah, my sofa
Yeah-ha-hey
 
[Moon Zappa] I’m like reach
I’m like squat
I’m like roll…
Repeat
Like roll over
Like thrust
OK, like pull
Like push
I’m like…
OK, like… blow
I’m blow
 
Ich bin dein geheimer Schmutz
Und verlorenes Metallgeld
Metallgeld!
AIEE-AH!
Und du bist mein Sofa
Ich bin hier
AIEE-AH!
 
[Moon Zappa] You’re never too old
Like blow
I’m like blow
I’m like blow
OK, like…
 
Ich bin hier
Und du bist mein Sofa
Yeah-ha-ha-ay
Yah-ha
Yeah, my sofa
Yeah-ha-hey
 
[Moon Zappa] Hey, alright, faster, faster
Go, do it, do it, right, YEAAH
I’m feelin’ good
An’ I’m lookin’ great

Yeah, fer sure
Like NO WAY!
 
Ich bin hier
Und du bist mein Sofa
Yeah-ha-ha-ay
Yah-ha
Yeah, my sofa
Yeah-ha-hey
Ich bin hier
Und du bist mein Sofa
Yeah-ha-ha-ay
Yah-ha
Yeah, my sofa
Yeah-ha-hey
 
[Instrumental]

4. Sharleena


I’m cryin’, I’m cryin’
Cryin’ for Sharleena, can’t you see?
I called up all my baby’s friends an’ ask’n ‘um where she done went
But nobody ‘round here seems to know where my Sharleena’s been
Where my Sharleena’s been
 
Ten long years I been lovin’ her
Ten long years and I thought deep down in my heart she was mine
Ten long years I been lovin’ her
Ten long years I would call her my baby and now I’m always cryin’
 
[Instrumental]
 
Ugh!
 
Cooh!
 
I would be so delighted (I would be), I would be so delighted (yes, I would be)
If they would just send her on home to me
 
I would be so delighted (I…), I would be so delighted (YEAH-HE-EY)
If they would just send her on home to me
Send my baby home to me!
Send my baby home to me!
Send my baby home to me!
Send my baby home to me-ee-ee-ee!

5. Sinister footwear II


[Instrumental]

6. Truck driver divorce


[FZ] Truck driver divorce
It’s very sad
(Steel guitars usually weep all over it)
 
The bold & intelligent masters of the road with their Secret Language
And their giant
Oversized
Mechanical

Trans-continental hobby-horse!
 
Truck driver divorce
It’s very sad

Oh, the wife!
Oh, the kids!
Oh, the waitress!
Oh, the drive all night!
 
Sometimes when you come home
Some ugly lookin’ son-of-a-bitch is tryin’ to pooch yer home-town sweetheart
 

Oh, go ride the bull
Yes, go ride the bull
Make it go up an’ down
An’ when you fall off you can eat the mattress
 
Truck driver divorce
IT’S VERY SAD
Bust yer ass
To deliver some string beans
Deliver some string beans

Deliver a whole bunch of string beans to Utah!
 
[Instrumental]

7. Stevie’s spanking


[Bobby Martin] His name is Stevie Vai
And he’s a crazy guy
Last November, I recall, he needed a spanking
 
He decided then
A female specimen
Would be exciting for a night to give him a spanking
 
Laurel was her name
She came to Notre Dame
(He told me just the other day he oughta be thanking her for the spanking)
 
She was large and soft
And she beat him off
Made him drool upon his dork and gave it a wanking after the spanking
 

Hair brush!
Ah, a hair brush!
Oh! What a hair brush!
Hey, Frank, it’s a hair brush!
(It’s not that he requires grooming!
Honey… wah! Splash!
Guys with light blue hair NEVER DID)
 
Then she did exclaim:
“There’s another game
That we can play with this device and then a banana”
 
It was slightly green
Vapors in between
Rising up to fill the room and cook the banana
 
She said it was dry
Stevie, won’t you try
To drool a little drool on it and grease the banana”
 
Later in the dawn
Laurel carried on
She got right up and dressed herself and ate the banana
 
[Instrumental]

8. Baby, take your teeth out


MOO-AHHH!
 
Baby, take your teeth out
Try it one time
Baby, take your teeth out
Try it one time
Baby, take your teeth out
Leave ‘em on the kitchen table
 
WELL
 
MOO-AHHH!
 
Baby, take your teeth out
It’ll be fine
Baby, take your teeth out
It’ll be fine
Baby, take your teeth out
There ain’t nothin’ left to talk about
 
C’mon, baby
That’s what I like
Yeah, well, c’mon
Mm… yeah… MOO-AHHH
The way you handle that…
No, oh, marvel
Don’t mind your […] on your hand
MOO-AHHH
 
Baby, take your teeth out
You look divine
MOO-AHHH
Baby, take your teeth out
You look divine
Baby, take your teeth out

Go ahead and eat the label
 
Boiling water kills germs
Mmm-hmm, yeah, I told you!
 
Baby, take your teeth out
I will recline

The little girl must be praketin’ richcraft
Baby, take your teeth out
I will recline
Baby, take your teeth out
There ain’t nothin’ left to talk about

9. Marque-son’s chicken


[Instrumental]

10. Planet of my dreams


[Bob Harris] The planet of my dreams
The Earth, my Earth
Is bulging at the seams
The Earth, my Earth
It’s full of many schemes
And as the sunlight beams
The glory of our sciences
And militant alliances

Reveal their basic worth along THE MOUNDS OF DEAD APPLIANCES!
 
The planet of my dreams
The Earth, my Earth
I hear its muffled screams
The Earth, my Earth
And though it often seems
From television beams
That ignorance is rampant there
And Governmental Goons don’t care
I know that I shall not despair and CHEAT LIKE ALL THE REST
I’LL JUST KEEP ON WITH WHAT I DO THE BEST
 
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
I CAN’T DO IT!
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
I CAN’T DO IT!
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
I CAN’T DO IT!
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
I CAN’T DO IT!
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
NO… I CAN’T DO IT!
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
I CAN’T DO IT!
Cheat-cheedly-cheat! Go ahead!
I CAN’T DO IT!

11. Be in my video


Be in my video
Darling, every night
I will rent a cage for you
And mi-j-i-nits dressed in white
Teeny-little-tiny-little…
 
Twirl around in a lap dissolve
Pretend to sing the words
I’ll rent a gleaming limousine
Release a flock of ber-herna-herna-herna-herna-her-nerds
 
Wear a leather collar
Wear a leather collar
And a dagger in your ear
A dagger in your ear
Stabbinitin-stabbinitin-stabbinitin-stabbinitin-YOU!

I will make your nose smell the glove
And try to look sincere
Then we’ll…
 
Dance the blues
Oh yes

Let’s dance the blues
We’ll dance the blues
Let’s dance the blues
We’ll dance them very much

Under the megawatt moonlight
 

Pretend to be Chinese
One-hung-low

I’ll make you wear red shoes
There’s a cheesy atom bomb explosion all the big groups use
 
Atomic light will shine
Will shine
Through an old Venetian blind
Venetian blind
Making patterns on your face
On your face
Then it cuts to outer space
With its billions & billions & billions & billions
 
Be in my video
In my video
Darling, every night
Darling, every night
Everyone in cable-land
Everyone in cable-gable-land
Will say you’re outasite
I say they’ll say you’re outasite
 
You can show your legs
You can show the pretty legs
While you’re getting in the car
In my red hot rod car, then I…
Then I will look repulsive
With my big ears and all
While I mangle my guitar
 
Reen-toon-teen-toon-teen-toon-tee-nu-nee-nu-nee
MOO-AHHH
Reen-toon-teen-toon-teen-toon-tee-nu-nee-nu-nee
MOO-AHHH
Reen-toon-teen-toon-teen-toon-tee-nu-nee-nu-nee
MOO-AHHH
Tee-nu-nee
MOO-AHHH
Tee-nu-nee
Moo-wah-wah-wah-ooo
 
After all the close-up shots of you
In bondage leather

They’ll spray an alley with a hose
And we’ll escape together
Then we’ll…
 
Dance de blude agin
I’m dancing the blues
Oh yes, we’ll dance the blues
Led dance de blude agin
I’m dancing the blues
Sure we will
Led dance de blude agin
I’m dancing
We’ll dance them blues
In de middle o’ de alley
 
Let’s dance your face
Let’s dance your face
Let’s dance your lips
And dance your lips
Let’s dance your nose
We can dance your nose
And then we’ll dance your sinus
 
MOO-AHHH!

12. Them or us {Black page}


[Instrumental]

13. Frogs with dirty little lips


[FZ] Frogs with dirty little lips
Dirty little warts on their finger-tips
Dirty an’ green
Tiny an’ mean
Floppin’ around
By the edge of the stream
 
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la
 
Frogs with dirty little eyes
Dirty little tongues all covered with flies
Dirty brown
Floppin’ around
Puffed up an’ bloated when the sun goes down!
 
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la
 
Frogs with dirty little nose
Dirty little spots all over their clothes
Dirty legs
Dirty feet
Dirty little frogs is what you eat
 
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la
[Repeat]

14. Whipping post


[Bobby Martin] I been run down
Lord, an’ I been lied to
And I don’t know why
I let that mean woman make me out a fool
 
She took all my money
An’ wrecked my new car
Now she’s with one of my good-time buddies
Drinkin’ in some cross-town bar
 
Sometime I feel…
Sometime I feel…
Like I been tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Good Lord, I feel like I’m dyin’
 
My friends tell me
That I been such a fool
I have to stand back an’ take it, babe
All for loving you
 
I drown myself in sorrow
As I look at what you done
But nothin’ seems to change
That bad times stay the same and I can’t run
 
Sometime I feel…
Sometime I feel…
Like I been tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Oh, good Lord, I feel like I’m dyin’
 
[Instrumental]
 
Lord
Lord, no, no
 
Yeah
Lord
Been tied down
 
Sometimes I feel…
Sometime I feel…
Like I been tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
LAWD-NO-OOOH!
Oh Lord, Lord, Lord
You know sometime I try to believe
That just there ain’t no such thing… as dyin’



From “The Real Frank Zappa Book”

English lyrics from site Information Is Not Knowledge.