From: Jon Naurin
Quite fascinating to imagine Frank singing these warm, open-hearted words,
far from the cynicism we're used to (notice how he avoids placing the words
'love' and 'you' next to each other, though :)From: Johan Wikberg
This song was written by Frank for his wife, Gail, in the 1970s.
It was rehearsed in 1980, but it was never played on tour. It has been
recorded on one or more rehearsal tapes, and on a demo tape by the
ex-sidemen in the cover band Banned from Utopia. Steve Vai described it as
"the least typical Zappa tune I've ever heard".From: Jon Naurin (naurin@mbox300.swipnet.se_remove_to_reply)
It's FZ's only real love song, written for Gail. Here's what Steve Vai had to
say about it in the last issue of T'Mershi Duween:"It was a song that we rehearsed in the 1980 band. Frank had written it
before then, but we had rehearsed it in an attempt to persuade Frank to play
it - which you really can't do! It was the least typical Zappa song I ever
heard. When I asked him if it was written for Gail, he said 'No'. But I know
it was because Gail told me so. Obviously it's written for her.[Interviewer] It wasn't actually recorded, just rehearsed?
Vai: I have heard a tape, I believe, of tracks for that song with the David
Logeman band - for the 'You are what you is' album. And we rehearsed it, and
Frank came in, as he does sometimes if he's in a certain mood - he just
started chopping songs from the list. We learned a hundred songs and that was
the one that was cut. But I remember Arthur Barrow had a tape of it from
rehearsal and years later I wanted to record it but Gail's very sensitive
about that song. It's a very special song for her, and rightly so.[Interviewer] Did you actually sing it at that time?
Vai: Yeah, I did. I got the tape from Arthur. And then I learned it and I did
a little version of it for Gail at the soundcheck for Zappa's Universe. I
totally blew it. I remember she just sat there with her hand over her mouth.
But I talked to her about that song.[Interviewer] So probably it'll never see the light of day officially?
Vai: There were other people who wanted to record it, but I think Gail wants
Dweezil to record it first."The 'other people' who wanted to record it were probably Banned from Utopia,
who recorded it on a demo in 1995. The rehearsal tape Steve mentions is also
in circulation, and Arthur Barrow once posted here that he had a tape of FZ,
Ray and Ike singing it - sounds like quite a gem!
You have brought me solitude,
And I believe it is the time for me to show some gratitude.
I think I'll take a minute to reflect upon your attitude,
But most of all I love the way that you have brought me solitude.
You have been a friend to me,
And I believe it is the time for me to show some sympathy.
I watch the way you suffer with the problems only I can see,
But most of all I love the way that you have been a friend to me.
You have been misunderstood,
And I believe it is the time for you to feel the way you should.
I'd love to see you smile a while and know that you was feeling good,
But mostly I regret the way that you have been misunderstood.
You have been a friend to me,
And I believe it is the time for me to show some sympathy.
I watch the way you suffer with the problems only I can see,
But most of all I love the way that you have been a friend to me.
You have brought me solitude, you have brought me solitude ...
[repeats]
Original lyric transcription: Jon Naurin (naurin@mbox300.swipnet.se)
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