(Front) (LP inside left) (LP inside right) (LP back)

Compilation

Linked material:

Mothermania - The best of the Mothers

 

  1 Brown shoes don’t make it
  2 Mother people [Alternate mono mix]
  3 Duke of prunes {+ Amnesia vivace + The duke regains his chops} [Frank Zappa, Ray Collins + Frank Zappa + Frank Zappa]
  4 Call any vegetable {+ Invocation and ritual dance of the young pumpkin + Soft-sell conclusion}
  5 The idiot bastard son [Alternate mono mix]
  6 It can’t happen here [Alternate stereo mix]
  7 You’re probably wondering why I’m here [New stereo mix]
  8 Who are the brain police? [New stereo mix]
  9 Plastic people [Richard Berry, Frank Zappa]
10 Hungry freaks, daddy [New stereo mix]
11 America drinks & goes home

 

All compositions by Frank Zappa, except as noted above.


1. Brown shoes don’t make it


[Mothers] Brown shoes don’t make it
Brown shoes don’t make it
Quit school, why fake it?
Brown shoes don’t make it
 

[Ray Collins] TV dinner by the pool
[Roy Estrada] Watch your brother grow a beard
[Jimmy Carl Black] Got another year of school
[Ray Collins] You’re OK, he’s too weird
[FZ & Ray Collins] Be a plumber
He’s a bummer
He’s a bummer
Every summer
[Ray Collins] Be a loyal plastic robot for a world that doesn’t care…
 
[FZ] Smile at every ugly
[Ray Collins] Shine on your shoes & cut your hair
 
[FZ] Be a joik and go t’woik
Be a joik and go t’woik
Be a joik and go t’woik
Be a joik and go t’woik
Do your job & do it right
Life’s a ball
TV tonight…
[FZ & Ray Collins] Do you love it?
Do you hate it?
There it is… the way you made it
YARRRRRRRRRRRGH-H-H!
 
[FZ & Ray Collins & Roy Estrada] A world of secret hungers
Perverting the men who make your laws
Every desire is hidden away
[FZ] In a drawer… in a desk by a Naugahyde chair
On a rug where they walk and drool past the girls in the office
 
[Ray Collins] Hratche-plche hratche-plche hratche-plche hratche-plche
 
[FZ] We see in the back of the City Hall mind
The dream of a girl about thirteen
 
OFF with her clothes and INTO a bed
Where she tickles his fancy all night long
 
His wife’s attending an orchid show
She squealed for a week to get him to go
[FZ & Ray Collins & Roy Estrada] But back in the bed, his teen-age queen
[FZ] Is rocking & rolling & acting obscene
 
[Ray Collins] BABY, BABY
Hratche-plche hratche-plche
BABY, BABY
Hratche-plche hratche-plche
 
And he loves it, he loves it, it curls up his toes
She bites his fat neck and it lights up his nose
But he cannot be fooled, old City Hall Fred
She’s nasty, she’s nasty, she digs it in bed!
 
Do it again and do it some more
That does it, by golly, it’s nasty for sure
Nasty nasty nasty, nasty nasty nasty
[FZ] (Only thirteen and she knows how to nasty…)
 
[FZ & Ray Collins & Roy Estrada] She’s a dirty young mind, corrupted, corroded
Well, she’s thirteen today and I hear she gets loaded
[FZ] P-pum-m-mum-m-mum-m-mum
P-pum-m-mum-m-mum-m-mum
P-bum
 
[FZ] If she were my daughter, I’d…
[Lisa Cohen] What would you do, daddy?
[FZ] If she were my daughter, I’d…
[Lisa Cohen] What would you do, daddy?
[FZ] If she were my daughter, I’d…
[Lisa Cohen] What would you do, daddy?
 
[Mothers] Smother my daughter in chocolate syrup
And strap her on again, oh baby!
Smother that girl in chocolate syrup
And strap her on again
[FZ] She’s a teen-age baby and she turns me on
I’d like to make her do a nasty on the White House lawn
[Mothers] Gonna smother my daughter in chocolate syrup
And boogie till the cows come home
 
[Ray Collins] Time to go home, Madge is on the phone
[FZ] Gotta meet the Gurneys and a dozen grey attorneys

[Jimmy Carl Black] TV dinner by the pool, I’m so glad I finished school
[Mothers] Life is such a ball, I run the world from City Hall!
 
[Instrumental]

2. Mother people [Alternate mono mix]


We are the other people
We are the other people
We are the other people
You’re the other people too
Found a way to get to you
 
Do you think that I’m crazy? Out of my mind?
Do you think that I creep in the night and sleep in a phone booth?
 
Lemme take a minute & tell you my plan
Lemme take a minute & tell who I am
If it doesn’t show, think you better know I’m another person
 
Do you think that my pants are too tight?
Do you think that I’m creepy?
 
Better look around before you say you don’t care
Shut your fuckin’ mouth about the length of my hair
How would you survive if you were alive, shitty little person?
 
We are the other people
We are the other people
We are the other people
You’re the other people too
Found a way to get to you
 
We are the other people
We are the other people
We are the other people
You’re the other people too
Found a way to get to you
 
Do you think that I love you, stupid & blind?
Do you think that I dream through the night of holding you near me?

3. Duke of prunes {+ Amnesia vivace + The duke regains his chops}


[Ray Collins] A moonbeam through the prune, in June
Reveals your chest
I see your lovely beans

And in that magic go-kart
I bite your neck
The cheese I have for you, my dear
Is real
And very new!
 
A moonbeam through the prune, in June
Reveals your chest
I see your lovely beans
And in that magic go-kart
I bite your neck
The love I have for you, my dear
Is real
And very new!
 
[FZ] Doh-doh-doh doh-doh
 
[Ray Collins] Prune!
[FZ] Pah-da-dahhh!
[Ray Collins] If it is a real prune…
[FZ] Pah-da-dahhh!
[Ray Collins] KNOWS NO CHEESE…
[FZ] Chunka chunk chunka chunka chunka chunka chunk
[Ray Collins] AND STANDS…
[FZ] Oh no-o-o-o!
[Ray Collins] TALLER & STRONGER THAN ANY TREE OR BUSH!
AND I KNOW
THE LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU
WILL GROW & GROW & GROW, I THINK
AND SO MY LOVE
I OFFER YOU
A LOVE THAT IS STRONG
A PRUNE THAT IS TRUE!
 
[Ray Collins] LA LA LALA LA LA LALALA LAH LAH LAH LA LA LA LA LA LA OOOOOOOOH!
[FZ] Chunka chunka chunka
[Ray Collins] LA LA LA LALA
 
[Ray Collins] My darling… you mean so very much to me!
I love you so deeply…
It just makes me…
 
[Ray Collins] LA LA LALA LA LA LALALA LAH LAH LAH LA LA LA LA LA LA OOOOOOOOH!
[FZ] Chunka chunka chunka
[Ray Collins] LA LA LA LALA
 
[FZ] Duke, duke, duke, duke of prunes, prunes
[Ray Collins] I hardly recognize you, darling, oh… I’ll never forget you, darling…
[FZ] Prunes, duke of prunes, prunes, prunes
[Ray Collins] Oh, I suppose I will forget you eventually… in fact, I’ve already forgotten you…
[FZ] Duke of prunes, prunes, prunes
[Ray Collins] What is your name? Nice to see you again!
 
[FZ] And you’ll be my douchess
My douchess of prunes
 
[Ray Collins] A moonbeam through the prune, in June
Reveals your chest
I see your lovely beans

And in that magic go-kart
I bite your neck
The cheese I have for you, my dear
Is real
And very new!
[FZ] NEW CHEESE!
 
[Ray Collins] Prunes!
[FZ & Roy Estrada] Pah-da-dahhh!
[Ray Collins] If they are fresh prunes…
[FZ & Roy Estrada] Pah-da-dahhh!
[Ray Collins] Know no cheese!
[FZ] Chunka chunka chinky chunky stinky stanky
[Ray Collins] And they just lie there
Drowning & sickening and it’s just… I dunno
Oh-h-h-h-h!
And I know, I think
The love I have for you
Will never end
Well, maybe
[FZ] Whah!
 
[Ray Collins] And so my love
[FZ] I offer you
[Ray Collins] A LOVE THAT IS STRONG
A PRUNE THAT IS TRUE!
[Roy Estrada] Ha ha!
 
[FZ] This is the exciting part…
[Ray Collins] It’s like the Supremes
[FZ] See the way it builds up
[Ray Collins] BABY, BABY
D’ya feel it?
BABY, BABY
MY PRUNE IS YOURS, MY LOVE
MY CHEESE FOR YOU
[FZ] MY BABY PRUNE
MY BABY PRUNE
I DO LIKE YOU
MY BABY CHEESE
[Ray Collins] YOU KNOW I DO
MY DEAR
I LOVE YOU
OH, CHEESY FAT
OH, CHEESY FAT
OH, CHEESY FAT
OH, BABY FAT
OH, CHEESY FAT
OH, BABY BLUE
Cheesy, cheesy!

4. Call any vegetable {+ Invocation and ritual dance of the young pumpkin + Soft-sell conclusion}


[FZ] (This is a song about vegetables… they keep you regular; they’re real good for ya)
 
[Ray Collins] Call any vegetable
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Call it by name
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Call one today
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] When you get off the train
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Call any vegetable
And the chances are good
Ooooh, the vegetable will respond to you
 
[FZ] (Some people don’t go for prunes… I dunno… I’ve always found that if they…)
 
[Ray Collins] Call any vegetable
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Pick up your phone
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Think of a vegetable
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Lonely at home
[FZ] Call any vegetable
[Ray Collins] Call any vegetable
And the chances are good
That a vegetable will respond to you-hoooo
 
[Jimmy Carl Black] RUTA-BAY-AY-AYGA RUTA-BAY-AY-AYGA
RUTA-BAY-AY-AYGA RUTA-BAY-AY-AYGA
RUTA-BAYYYYY
 

[FZ] (A prune isn’t really a vegetable . Cabbage is a vegetable)
 
[Ray Collins] No one will know if you don’t want to let ‘em know
[FZ & Ray Collins] No one will know ‘less it’s you that might tell ‘em so
[Ray Collins] Call and they’ll come to you covered with dew
[FZ & Ray Collins] Vegetables dream of responding to you
[Ray Collins] Standing there shiny & proud by your side
[FZ & Ray Collins] Holding your hand while the neighbors decide
Why is a vegetable something to hide?
 
[Instrumental]
 
[FZ] A lot of people don’t bother about their friends in the vegetable kingdom. They think: “Ah, what can I say? What can a person like myself say to a vegetable?” But the answer is simple, my friends… just call… and tell them how you feel… about muffins, pumpkins, wax paper, Caledonia, mahoganies, elbows and green things in general…

And soon: a new rapport! You and your new little green & yellow buddies… grooving together! Oh no! Maintaining your coolness together! Worshipping together in the church of your choice!
Only in America!
Woh-oh-oh-ah-agh-h
 
Call any vegetable
Call it by name
You gotta call one today
When you get off the train
Call any vegetable
And the chances are good
AR-R-H-R, that the vegetable will respond to you
Oh no! Can you see them responding?
The pumpkin is breathing hard:
 
HUFFA PUFFA HUFFA PUFFA HUFFA PUFFA HUFFA PUFFA
What a pumpkin

5. The idiot bastard son [Alternate mono mix]


The idiot bastard son:
The father’s a Nazi in Congress today
The mother’s a hooker somewhere in L.A.
 
The idiot bastard son:
Abandoned to perish in back of a car

Kenny will stash him away in a jar
The idiot boy!
 

Try and imagine the window all covered in green
All the time he would spend
At the church he’d attend
Warming his pew
 
Kenny will feed him & Ronnie will watch
The child will thrive & grow
And enter the world
Of liars & cheaters & people like you
Who smile & think you know
What this is about
 
You think you know everything, maybe so
The song we sing, do you know?
We’re listening
The idiot boy!
 
Try and imagine the window all covered in green
All the time he would spend
All the colors he’d blend
Where are they now?

6. It can’t happen here [Alternate stereo mix]


It can’t happen HERE
It can’t happen HERE
I’m telling you, my DEAR
That it can’t happen HERE
Because I been checkin’ it out, baby
I checked it out a coupla times
But I’m telling you it can’t happen here
 
Oh, darling, it’s important that you believe me
Bop bop bop bop
That it can’t happen here
 
Who COULD IMAGINE that they would freak out somewhere in Kansas?
Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas
Kansas, Kansas, do-do-dun to-to Kansas, Kansas, la la la
Kansas, Kansas, do-do-dun to-to Kansas, Kansas
 
Who COULD IMAGINE that they would freak out in Minnesota?
Mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi
Mama Minnesota, mama Minnesota, mama Minnesota, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma
Mama Minnesota, mama Minnesota, mama Minnesota, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma mama Minnesota
 
Who COULD IMAGINE that they would freak out in Washington D.C.?
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
AC/DC do-do-do-dun AC/DC ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma AC/DC
But it can’t happen here
Oh baby, it can’t happen here
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
Oh baby, it can’t happen here
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
It can’t happen here
Everybody’s safe and it can’t happen here
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
No freaks for us
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
It can’t happen here
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
Everybody’s clean and it can’t happen here
No, no, it won’t happen here
No, no, it won’t happen here
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
I’m telling you it can’t…
AC/DC bop-bop-bop
It won’t happen here
Bop-bop-ditty-bop
I’m not worried at all, I’m not worried at all
Ditty-bop-bop-bop
Plastic folks, you know
It won’t happen here
You’re safe, mama
No, no, no
You’re safe, baby
No, no, no
You just cook a TV dinner
No, no, no
And you make it
Bop bop bop
No, no, no
Oh, we’re gonna get a TV dinner and cook it up
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, get a TV dinner and cook it up
Cook it up
Oh, and it won’t happen here
Who could imagine that they would freak out in the suburbs!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Man, you guys are really safe
Everything’s cool
 
I remember Tu-tu
I remember Tu-tu
I remember Tu-tu
They had a swimming pool
I remember Tu-tu
I remember Tu-tu
They had a swimming pool
I remember Tu-tu
I remember Tu-tu
They had a swimming pool
 
And they thought it couldn’t HAPPEN HERE
Duh duh duh
They knew it couldn’t happen here
They were so sure it couldn’t happen here, but…
 

[FZ] Suzy?
YES, YES, OH YES! I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT
YES, I AGREE, MAN, IT REALLY MAKES IT, YEAH!
Psychedelic!
IT’S A REAL THING, MAN, IT REALLY MAKES IT
 
[FZ] Suzy? You just got to town, and we’ve been… we’ve been very interested in your development since you first took the shots
 
[Jeannie Vassoir] Forget it!
 
Hmmmmmmmmm
It can’t happen HERE
Can’t happen HERE
Can’t happen HERE

7. You’re probably wondering why I’m here [New stereo mix]


Bop bop-bop bop-bop bop-bow
Bop bop-bop bop-bop bop-bop
 
You’re probably wondering why I’m here
And so am I, so am I
 
Just as much as you wonder ‘bout me bein’ in this place
YEAH!
That’s just how much I marvel at the lameness on your face
 
You rise each day the same old way
And join your friends out on the street
Spray your hair and think you’re neat
I think your life is incomplete
But maybe that’s not for me to say
They only pay me here to play
 

I wanna hear “Caravan” with a drum sola
 
You’re probably wondering why I’m here
And so am I, so am I
 
Just as much as you wonder ‘bout me starin’ back at you
YEAH!
That’s just how much I question the corny things you do
 
You paint your face and then you chase
To meet the gang where the action is
Stomp all night and drink your fizz
Roll your car and say: “Gee whiz!”
You tore a big hole in your convertible top
What will you tell your mom and pa?
 
Mom, I tore a big hole in the convertible
 
You’re probably wondering why I’m here
And so am I, so am I
 
Just as much as you wonder if I mean just what I say
YEAH!
That’s just how much I question the social games you play
 
You told your mom you’re stoked on Tom
And went for a cruise in Freddie’s car
Tommy is asking where you are
You boogied all night in a cheesy bar
Plastic boots and plastic hat
And you think you know where it’s at
 
You’re probably wondering why I’m here
Not that it makes a heck of a lot of a difference to ya

8. Who are the brain police? [New stereo mix]


AAH AAH AAAH AAH
AAH AAH AAAH AAH
 
What will you do if we let you go home
And the plastic’s all melted and so is the chrome?
Who are the brain police?
 
Oohh oohh ohohohooo
Oohh oohh ohohohooo
 
What will you do when the label comes off
And the plastic’s all melted and the chrome is too soft?
 
WAAAAHHHH!
I think I’m gonna die
I think I’m gonna die
I think I’m going to die
I think I’m going to die
I think I’m going to die
I think I’m going to die
I’m gonna die
I think I’m going to die
I think I’m gonna die
I’m going to die
I think I’m gonna die
I think I’m gonna die
I think I’m gonna die
Going to die
 
Who are the brain police?
 
Oohh oohh ohohohooo
Oohh oohh ohohohooo
 
What will you do if the people you knew
Were the plastic that melted and the chromium too?
Who are the brain police?
 
[Instrumental]

9. Plastic people


[FZ] Ladies & Gennelmen… the President of the United States!
 
[Ray Collins] Fella Americans
DOOT DOOT DOOT… DOOT…
[FZ] He’s been sick
[Ray Collins] DOO-OO-OOT… DOOT! DOOT!
Teet-teet teet-teet teet-teet teet-teet-teet
[FZ] And I think his wife is gonna bring him some chicken soup
[Ray Collins] DOOT DOOT… teet-teet
 
[FZ & Ray Collins] PLASTIC PEOPLE
OH BABY, NOW… YOU’RE SUCH A DRAG
 
[FZ] (I know it’s hard to defend an unpopular policy every once in a while…)
 
[FZ & Ray Collins] PLASTIC PEOPLE
OH BABY, NOW… YOU’RE SUCH A DRAG
 
[FZ] (And there’s this guy from the CIA and he’s creeping around Laurel Canyon)
 
A fine little girl, she waits for me
She’s as plastic as she can be
She paints her face with plastic goo
And wrecks her hair with some shampoo
 
[FZ & Ray Collins] PLASTIC PEOPLE
OH BABY, NOW… YOU’RE SUCH A DRAG
 
[FZ] (I dunno… sometimes I just get tired of ya, honey… it’s… uh… it’s your hair spray… or something)
 
[FZ & Ray Collins] PLASTIC PEOPLE
OH BABY! YOU’RE SUCH A DRAG
 
[FZ] (I hear the sound of marching feet… down Sunset Boulevard to Crescent Heights, and there, at Pandora’s Box, we are confronted with… a vast quantity of plastic people)
 
Take a day and walk around
Watch the Nazis run your town
Then go home and check yourself
You think we’re singing ‘bout someone else
 
[FZ & Ray Collins] BUT YOU’RE PLASTIC PEOPLE!
[Roy Estrada] WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
[FZ & Ray Collins] OH BABY, NOW… YOU’RE SUCH A DRAG
 
[Roy Estrada] Ooo-ooo-ooo ooo-ooo-ooo ooo-ooo-ooo ooooooooh!
 
[FZ & Ray Collins] Me see a neon moon above
I searched for years, I found no love
I’m sure that love will never be
A product of plasticity
A product of plasticity
A product of plasticity
 
[FZ] Plastic! Plastic people!
Pla-ha-ha-ha-ha
Plastic… people
Plastic people oo-oooh oo-ooh
Plastic…
A prune is a vegetable. No, a prune is not a vegetable. Cabbage is a vegetable, makes it OK.
Plastic people, plastic people, plastic people!
Ooo-hoo-hoo ooo-ooh-ooh-ooh hoo-hoo
Ooh-ooh ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo
 
[Ray Collins] You are. Your foot. Your hair. Your nose. Your arms. You eat. You suck. You love. You are. Your being is… You’re plastic… people… blah, blah, blah, blah… plastic pepples… You drive. You live in. You dream about… You think only of… You eat… You are… pepples… plastic… plastic pepples… Purple prancing. Plastic people. Every pepples…
 
[FZ] Peep-peep pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-peep

10. Hungry freaks, daddy [New stereo mix]


Mister America, walk on by
Your schools that do not teach
Mister America, walk on by
The minds that won’t be reached
Mister America, try to hide
The emptiness that’s you inside
When once you find that the way you lied
And all the corny tricks you tried
Will not forestall the rising tide
Of hungry freaks, daddy
 
They won’t go for no more
Great midwestern hardware store
Philosophy that turns away
From those who aren’t afraid to say
What’s on their minds
(The left-behinds of the Great Society)
 
[Instrumental]
 
Hungry freaks, daddy
 
[Instrumental]
 
Mister America, walk on by
Your supermarket dream
Mister America, walk on by
The liquor store supreme
Mister America, try to hide
The product of your savage pride
The useful minds that it denied
The day you shrugged and stepped aside
You saw their clothes and then you cried:
“Those hungry freaks!”, daddy
 
They won’t go for no more
Great midwestern hardware store
Philosophy that turns away
From those who aren’t afraid to say
What’s on their minds
(The left-behinds of the Great Society)

11. America drinks & goes home


[Ray Collins] Is a special request… hope you’ll enjoy it
 

I tried to find how my heart could be so blind

Dear, how could I be fooled just like the rest?

You came on strong with your fast car and your class ring

Soft voice and your sad eyes, I fell for the whole thing

 

I don’t regret having met up with a girl

Who breaks hearts like they were nothing at all

I’ve done it too, now I know just what it feels like

And (just like I said) there’s no regrets

 
Well, it’s about time to close…
I hope you’ve had as much fun as we have
Don’t forget the jam session Sunday…
Mandy Tension will be by
Playing his xylophone troupe
It’s really been a lot of fun
Monday night is the Dance Contest Night:
The Twist Contest…
We’re gonna give away peanut butter & jelly & baloney samwiches for all of ya
It really has been fun
I hope we’ve played your requests…
The songs you like to hear…
Last call for alcohol
Drink it up, folks. Wonnerful.
Nice to see you, Bob… how’s it goin’?
How’s the kids? Wonnerful. Nice to see ya. Yes.

Oh, “Bill Bailey”? Oh… we’ll get to that tomorrow night. Yeah.

“Caravan” (with a drum sola)? Right. Yeah… we’ll do that.
Wonnerful. Nice to see you again. Yeah.
 
La la la la lah-h-h-h!
Down at the Pompadour a Go Go
La la la la lah-h-h-h!
Vo do dee oh pee pee
Shoobe doot-n-dah-dah-dah
Ya da da-a-a-a-h-h-h-h-h!
Na nya da da da da dah-h-h-h-h-h!
Nite all





English lyrics from site Information Is Not Knowledge.