Them Or Us

Them Or Us

(Zappa, 2LP, Barking Pumpkin SVBO-74200, October 18, 1984)

  1. The Closer You Are (Lewis/Robinson) 2:58
  2. In France 3:30
  3. Ya Hozna 6:26
  4. Sharleena 4:33
  5. Sinister Footwear II 8:40
  6. Truck Driver Divorce 9:03
  7. Stevie's Spanking 5:24
  8. Baby, Take Your Teeth Out 1:24
  9. Marque-son's Chicken 7:34
  10. Planet Of My Dreams 1:40
  11. Be In My Video 3:39
  12. Them Or Us 5:08
  13. Frogs With Dirty Little Lips (FZ/Ahmet Zappa) 2:46
  14. Whipping Post (Allman) 7:32

Produced and arranged by Frank Zappa

Engineered by Mark Pinske & Bob Stone
at the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

Cover painting by Donald Roller Wilson
Graphics by Gabrielle Raumberger, New Age Art
Photo by Steve Schapiro

1. The Closer You Are 2:58

(Earl Lewis & Morgan "Bobby" Robinson)

FZ—lead vocal
harmony: Ray White, Ike Willis, Bobby Martin
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Arthur Barrow—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

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
We'll always be in love
We'll always be in love
We'll always be in love
We'll always be in love
We'll always be in love
We'll always be . . .

2. In France 3:30

Johnny "Guitar" Watson—lead vocal
harmony: Ray White, Ike Willis, Napoleon Murphy Brock
Ray White—guitar
Bobby Martin—harmonica solo
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Arthur Barrow—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

(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)
'N 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 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 . . . )
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 . . . )
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 6:26

includes reversed fragments of Sofa and Lonely Little Girl

FZ—vocal, rhythm guitar
Moon Zappa—vocal
George Duke—vocal
Napoleon Murphy Brock—vocal
Steve Vai—guitar solo
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Arthur Barrow—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

[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
(AIEE-AH!)
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:
I'm like reach
I'm like squat
I'm like roll
Repeat
Like roll over
Like thrust
Okay, like pull
Like push
I'm like . . .
Okay, 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:
You're never too old
To, like, blow
I'm like, blow
I'm like, blow
Okay, like . . .

Ich bin hier
Und du bist mein Sofa
Yeah-ha-ha-ay
Yah-ha
Yeah, my Sofa
Yeah-ha-hey

Moon:
Hey, alright, faster, faster
Go, do it, do it, right, YEAAH
I'm feelin' good
'N 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

4. Sharleena 4:33

Basic track recorded live
c. September, 1981-July, 1982

vocals: FZ, Bobby Martin, Ray White
Dweezil Zappa—guitar solo
Steve Vai—rhythm & fills
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

I'm cryin'
I'm cryin'
Cryin' for Sharleena,
Can't you see

I called up all my baby's friends
'N 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've been lovin' her
Ten long years
And I thought deep down in my heart
She was mine
Ten long years I've been lovin' her
Ten long years
I would call her my baby, and now,
I'm always cryin'

UH . . . 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 8:40

1st half:
Painter's Mill Music Fair, Owings Mills, Maryland
November 15, 1981
Guitar solo:
Sporthalle, Boeblingen, Germany
June 23, 1982

FZ—guitar solo
Steve Vai—written guitar lines
Ray White—rhythm guitar
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Bobby Martin—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

 

6. Truck Driver Divorce 9:03

Basic track recorded live
c. May-July, 1982

Guitar solo from Zoot Allures:
Ritz, NYC
November 17, 1981

FZ—vocal and guitar solo
Steve Vai—rhythm guitar
Ray White—rhythm guitar
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Bobby Martin—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

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
OVER-SIZED
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 trying' to pooch yer
HOME-TOWN SWEETHEART!

Oh, go ride the bull!
Yes, go ride the bull!
Make it go up 'n down
'N 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!

7. Stevie's Spanking 5:24

Basic track recorded live:

Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
November 28, 1981

Ritz, NYC
November 17, 1981

Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
June 26, 1982

and maybe some other unidentified sources

Bobby Martin—lead vocal
chorus: Ray White, Ike Willis, Roy Estrada
FZ—rhythm guitar
Ray White—rhythm guitar
Steve Vai—first guitar solo
Dweezil Zappa—second guitar solo
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

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 night
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 did she 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

8. Baby, Take Your Teeth Out 1:54

Basic track:
Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
June 11-12, 1982 (soundcheck)

Ike Willis—lead vocal
harmony: Bob Harris, Thana Harris, Ray White
Steve Vai—guitar
Tommy Mars—keyboard solo
Bobby Martin—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

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 smile 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 7:34

Unknown location in Europe
c. June-July, 1982
Guitar solo:
Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK
June 19, 1982, 2nd show

FZ—guitar solo
Steve Vai—written guitar lines
Ray White—rhythm guitar
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Bobby Martin—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

 

10. Planet Of My Dreams 1:40

Basic track:
Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado
December, 1974
Bass overdubs:
Record Plant, LA
c. 1976
Drums & Vocals overdubs:
UMRK
c. 1981-84

Bob Harris—lead vocal
harmony: Ray White, Ike Willis, Thana Harris
George Duke—piano
Patrick O'Hearn—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

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 it's muffled screams
The EARTH, my EARTH
And though it often seems
From televison 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 3:39

FZ insinuations
harmony: Ike Willis, Ray White, Napoleon Murphy Brock
Bobby Martin—saxophone & falsetto
Brad Cole—piano
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

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 'outa-site'
(I say they'll say you're 'outa-site')

You can show your legs
(You can show the pretty legs)
While you're getting in the car, then
(In my red hot-rod car, then I . . . )
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-ahhhh

Reen-toon-teen-toon-teen-toon
Tee-nu-nee-nu-nee,
Moo-ahhhh

Reen-toon-teen-toon-teen-toon
Tee-nu-nee-nu-nee,
Moo-ahhhh

Tee-nu-nee—moo-ahhhh
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, while we

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-AHHHH!

12. Them Or Us 5:08

Guitar solo from Black Page
Stadio Communale, Bolzano, Italy
July 3, 1982

FZ—guitar solo
Scott Thunes—bass & Minimoog
Chad Wackerman—drums

 

13. Frogs With Dirty Little Lips 2:46

(FZ & Ahmet Zappa)

includes a quotation from Sinister Footwear II

FZ—lead vocal
harmony: Ray White, Bobby Martin, Roy Estrada, Bob Harris
Steve Vai—guitar
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Arthur Barrow—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

Frogs with dirty little lips
Dirty little warts on their finger-tips
Dirty 'n green
Tiny 'n 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 'n 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
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la
La-la la-la la-la

14. Whipping Post 7:32

(Gregg Allman)

Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
December 11, 1981
and
Fox Theater, San Diego, California
December 12, 1981

Bobby Martin—lead vocal & keyboards
FZ—guitar solo
Steve Vai—rhythm guitar
Ray White—rhythm guitar
Tommy Mars—keyboards
Ed Mann—percussion
Scott Thunes—bass
Chad Wackerman—drums

I been run down
Lord, 'n 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
'N wrecked my new car
Now she's with one of my good-time buddies,
Drinkin' in some cross-town bar

Sometimes I feel
Sometimes 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've done
But nothin' seems to change;
That bad times stay the same,
And I can't run

Sometimes I feel
Sometimes 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'

Lord
Lord, no no
Yeah
Lord
Been tied down

Sometimes I feel
Sometimes 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 sometimes I try to believe
That just there ain't no such thing
As dyin'

 

All compositions by Frank Zappa except as noted
Site maintained by Román García Albertos
http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/
Lyrics from the album booklet
Backward lyrics on "Ya Hozna" originally transcribed by Todd Poynor
Further corrections and additions by Román, Maciej Jachimek, Sam, Charles Ulrich, Stu Mark and Matt Olmos
This page updated: 2018-05-01