MOTHERS
WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY

Side One (listen to this side first)

ARE YOU HUNG UP?

ARE YOU HUNG UP?
ARE YOU HUNG UP?
ARE YOU HUNG UP?
ARE YOU HUNG UP?
ARE YOU HUNG UP?

WHO NEEDS THE PEACE CORPS?

What's there to live for?
Who needs the peace corps?
Think I'll just DROP OUT
I'll go to Frisco
Buy a wig & sleep
On Owsley's floor
Walked past the wig store
Danced at the Fillmore
I'm completely stoned
I'm hippy & I'm trippy
I'm a gypsy on my own
I'll stay a week & get the crabs &
Take a bus back home
I'm really just a phony
But forgive me
'Cause I'm stoned
Every town must have a place
Where phony hippies meet
Psychedelic dungeons
Popping up on every street
GO TO SAN FRANCISCO . . .

CONCENTRATION MOON

Concentration Moon
Over the camp in the valley
Concentration Moon
Wish I was back in the alley
With all of my friends,
Still running free:
Hair growing out
Every hole in me
AMERICAN WAY
How did it start?
Thousands of creeps
Killed in the park
AMERICAN WAY
Try and explain
Scab of a nation
Driven insane
Don't cry
Gotta go bye bye
SUDDENLY: DIE DIE
COP KILL A CREEP! pow pow pow

Concentration Moon
Over the camp in the valley
Concentration Moon
Wish I was back in the alley
With all of my friends,
Still running free:
Hair growing out
Every hole in me
AMERICAN WAY
Threatened by US
Drag a few creeps
Away in a bus
AMERICAN WAY
Prisoner: lock
SMASH EVERY CREEP
IN THE FACE WITH A ROCK

Don't cry
Gotta go bye bye
SUDDENLY: DIE DIE
COP KILL A CREEP! pow pow pow

MOM & DAD

Mama! Mama!
Someone said they made some noise
The cops have shot some girls & boys
You'll sit home & drink all night
They looked too weird . . . it served
them right
Ever take a minute just to show a real
emotion
In between the moisture cream & velvet
facial lotion?
Ever tell your kids you're glad that
they can think?
Ever say you loved 'em? Ever let 'em
watch you drink?
Ever wonder why your daughter looked
so sad?
It's such a drag to have to love a plastic
Mom & Dad
Mama! Mama!
Your child was killed in the park today
Shot by the cops as she quietly lay
By the side of the creeps she knew . . .
They killed her too.

BOW TIE DADDY

Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
Everything's under control
Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
'Cause you think you're gettin' too old
Don't try to do no thinkin'
Just go on with your drinkin'
Just have your fun, you old son of a gun
Then drive home in your Lincoln

HARRY, YOU'RE A BEAST

I'm gonna tell you the way it is
And I'm not gonna be kind or easy
Your whole attitude stinks, I say
And the life you lead is completely empty
You paint your head
Your mind is dead
You don't even know what I just said
THAT'S YOU: AMERICAN
WOMANHOOD!
You're phony on top
Phony underneath
You lay in bed & grit your teeth
MADGE, I WANT YOUR BODY!
HARRY, GET BACK!
MADGE, IT'S NOT MERELY
PHYSICAL!
HARRY, YOU'RE A BEAST!
censored censored censored
censored censored censored
MADGE . . . I COULDN'T HELP IT
. . . I . . . DOGGONE IT!

WHAT'S THE UGLIEST PART OF YOUR BODY?

What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
Some say your nose
Some say your toes
But I think it's
YOUR MIND
I think it's your mind, woo woo
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE POOR
UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF
SYSTEMS BEYOND THEIR
CONTROL
A PLAGUE UPON YOUR
IGNORANCE & THE GRAY
DESPAIR OF YOUR UGLY LIFE
Where did Annie go
When she went to town?
Who are all those creeps
That she brings around?
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE POOR
UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF LIES
YOU BELIEVE
A PLAGUE UPON YOUR
IGNORANCE THAT KEEPS
THE YOUNG FROM THE TRUTH
THEY DESERVE . . .

ABSOLUTELY FREE

Discorporate & come with me
Shifting; drifting
Cloudless; starless
VELVET VALLEYS & A SAPPHIRE
SEA: Wah Wah

Unbind your mind
There is no time
To lick your stamps
And paste them in
DISCORPORATE
And we will begin . . .WAH WAH!

Diamonds on velvets on goldens on vixen
On comet & cupid on donner & blitzen
On up & away & afar & a go-go
Escape from the weight of your corporate
logo!

UNBIND YOUR MIND
THERE IS NO TIME
Boin-n-n-n-n-n-g
TO LICK YOUR STAMPS
AND PASTE THEM IN
DISCORPORATE
AND WE'LL BEGIN
FREEDOM! FREEDOM!
KINDLY LOVING!
YOU'LL BE ABSOLUTELY FREE
ONLY IF YOU WANT TO BE

Dreaming on cushions of velvet & satin
To music by magic by people that happen
To enter the world of a strange purple
Jello
The dreams as they live them are all
mellow yellow

UNBIND YOUR MIND
THERE IS NO TIME
Boin-n-n-n-n-n-g
TO LICK YOUR STAMPS
AND PASTE THEM IN
DISCORPORATE
AND WE'LL BEGIN
FREEDOM! FREEDOM!
KINDLY LOVING!
YOU'LL BE ABSOLUTELY FREE
ONLY IF YOU WANT TO BE

FLOWER PUNK

Hey Punk, where you goin' with that
flower in your hand?
Hey Punk, where you goin' with that
flower in your hand?

Well, I'm goin' up to Frisco to join a
psychedelic band.
Well, I'm goin' up to Frisco to join a
psychedelic band.

Hey Punk, where you goin' with that
button on your shirt?
Hey Punk, where you goin' with that
button on your shirt?

Well, I'm goin' to the love-in to sit & play
my bongos in the dirt.
Well, I'm goin' to the love-in to sit & play
my bongos in the dirt.

Hey Punk, where you goin' with that
hair on your head?
Hey Punk, where you goin' with that
hair on your head?

I'm goin' to the dance to get some action,
then I'm goin' home to bed.
I'm goin' to the dance to get some action,
then I'm goin' home to bed.

Hey Punk, where you goin' with those
beads around your neck?
Hey Punk, where you goin' with those
beads around your neck?

I'm goin' to the shrink so he can help me
be a nervous wreck . . .

(Just at this moment, the 2700
microgram dose of STP ingested by
FLOWER PUNK shortly before the
song began TAKES EFFECT: before
your very ears his head blows up . . .
leaving a bizarre audial residue all over
your teen-age record player!)

Side Two

NASAL RETENTIVE CALLIOPE MUSIC

(an instrumental overture to a series of
songs about people with strange personal
habits . . . many of which happen to be
my dearest freinds.)

LET'S MAKE THE WATER TURN BLACK

Now believe me when I tell you that my
song is really true
I want everyone to listen and believe
It's about some little people from a long
time ago
And all the things the neighbors didn't
know
Early in the morning Daddy Dinky went
to work
Selling lamps & chairs to San Ber'dino
squares
And I still remember Mama with her
apron & her pad
Feeding all the boys at Ed's Cafe!

Whizzing & pasting & pooting through
the day . . .
(Ronnie helping Kenny helping burn his
poots away!)
And all the while on a shelf in the shed:
KENNY'S LITTLE CREATURES ON
DISPLAY!

Ronnie saves his numies on a window in
his room
(A marvel to be seen: dysentery green)
While Kenny & his buddies had a game
out in the back:
LET'S MAKE THE WATER TURN
BLACK

We see them after school in a world of
their own
(To some it might seem creepy what
they do . . . )
The neighbors on the right sat & watched
them every night
(I bet you'd do the same if they was you)

Whizzing & pasting & pooting through
the day . . .
(Ronnie helping Kenny helping burn his
poots away!)
And all the time on a shelf in the shed:
KENNY'S LITTLE CREATURES ON
DISPLAY!

Ronnie's in the Army now & Kenny's
taking pills
Oh! How they yearn to see a bomber
burn!
Color flashing, thunder crashing,
dynamite machine!
(Wait till the fire turns green . . . wait till
the fire turns green)
WAIT TILL THE FIRE TURNS
GREEN!

THE IDIOT BASTARD SON

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! (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! (all the time he
would spend all the colors he'd blend . . .
where are they now?)

IT'S HIS VOICE ON THE RADIO

You're a lonely little girl
But your Mommy & your Daddy don't
care
You're a lonely little girl
The things they say
Just hurt your heart
It's too late now
For them to start
To understand
The way you feel
The world for them
Is too unreal
So you're lonely, lonely, lonely,
Lonely little girl

TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF WHEN YOU
DANCE

There will come a time when everybody
Who is lonely will be free . . .
TO SING & DANCE & LOVE

There will come a time when every evil
That we know will be an evil . . .
THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE

Who cares if hair is long or short
Or sprayed or partly grayed . . .
WE KNOW THAT HAIR AIN'T
WHERE IT'S AT

(there will come a time when you won't
even be ashamed if you are fat!)

WAH WAH-WAH WAH

There will come a time when everybody
Who is lonely will be free . . .
TO SING & DANCE & LOVE (dance
and love)

There will come a time when every evil
That we know will be an evil . . .
THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE (rise
above)

Who cares if you're so poor you can't
afford
To buy a pair of Mod A Go-Go
stretch-elastic pants . . .
THERE WILL COME A TIME
WHEN YOU CAN EVEN
TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF WHEN
YOU DANCE

WHAT'S THE UGLIEST PART OF YOUR BODY

(reprise)
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
Some say your nose
Some say your toes
But I think it's your MIND . . .
I think it's your mind
(fade out babbling inanities)

MOTHER 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?
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 (the verse that really
goes here has been censored out &
recorded backwards in a special section
at the end of side one . . . )
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
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?

THE CHROME PLATED MEGAPHONE OF
DESTINY

instructions for the use of this material . . .
READ CAREFULLY:

  1. If you have already worked your way
    through "IN THE PENAL
    COLONY" by Franz Kafka, skip
    instructions #2, #3, #4.
  2. Everybody else: go dig up a book of
    short stories & read "IN THE PENAL
    COLONY".
  3. DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS PIECE
    UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE
    STORY.
  4. After you have read the story, put the
    book away & turn on the record player
    . . . it is now safe to listen (DO NOT
    READ & LISTEN AT THE SAME
    TIME).
  5. As you listen, think of the
    concentration camps in California
    constructed during world war II to
    house potentially dangerous oriental
    citizens . . . the same camps which
    many say are now being readied for use
    as part of the FINAL SOLUTION to
    the NON-CONFORMIST (hippy?)
    PROBLEM today. You might allow
    yourself (irregardless of the length of
    your hair or how you feel about greedy
    wars & paid assassins) to imagine
    YOU ARE A GUEST AT CAMP
    REAGAN. You might imagine you
    have been invited to try out a
    wonderful new RECREATIONAL
    DEVICE (designed by the Human
    Factors Engineering Lab as a method
    of relieving tension & pent-up
    hostilities among the members of the
    CAMP STAFF . . . a thankless job
    which gives little or no ego gratification
    . . . even for the chief warden).
  6. At the end of the piece, the name of
    YOUR CRIME will be carved on your
    back.

TECHNICAL NOTES & INTERESTING EXTRA
STUFF

THE MOTHERS TODAY: (from left
to right in the center fold)
FRANK ZAPPA: Guitar, piano, lead
vocals, weirdness & editing
BILLY MUNDI: Drums, vocal, yak &
black lace underwear
BUNK GARDNER: All woodwinds,
mumbled weirdness
ROY ESTRADA: Electric bass, vocals,
asthma
DON PRESTON: retired
JIMMY CARL BLACK: Indian of the
group, drums, trumpet, vocals
IAN UNDERWOOD: Piano,
woodwinds, wholesome
EUCLID JAMES MOTORHEAD
SHERWOOD: (visible on back cover)
Road Manager, soprano & baritone
saxophone, all purpose weirdness &
TEEN APPEAL (we need it
desperately)
SUZY CREAMCHEESE: Telephone
DICK BARBER: SNORKS

ALSO:

GARY KELLGREN (picture in badge
on cut-out page), engineer for two
months of basic sessions at MAYFAIR
STUDIOS is the one doing all the
creepy whispering.
DICK KUNC (unfortunately invisible),
record & re-mix engineer for the final
month of recording at APOSTOLIC
STUDIOS is the one responsible for the
cheerful interruptions.
ERIC CLAPTON (noted philosopher &
guitarist with THE CREAM) has
graciously consented to speak to you in
several critical area. (Courtesy ATCO
Records.)
SPIDER (from a group that hasn't
destroyed your minds yet . . . ) is the one
who wants you to turn your radio
around.

NOTE:

All the music heard on this album was
composed, arranged & scientifically
mutilated by Frank Zappa (with the
exception of a little bit of surf music).
None of the sounds are generated
electronically . . . they are all the product
of electronically altering the sounds of
NORMAL instruments. The orchestral
segments were conducted by SID
SHARPE under the supervision of the
composer.

"THE PRESENT DAY COMPOSER
REFUSES TO DIE!" Edgard Varese,
July 1921

PHOTOGRAPHY: JERROLD
SCHATZBERG
FASHIONS: TIGER MORSE
PLASTER FIGURES & ALL OTHER
ARTWORK: CAL SCHENKEL
(holding eggs lower right front cover)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: TOM
WILSON (for MGM-Verve)
(in the high school sweater with no shirt
left front cover)
PRODUCED BY FRANK ZAPPA FOR
BIZARRE PRODUCTIONS
PACKAGING CONCEPT: NIFTY,
TOUGH & BITCHEN Youth Market
Consultants for
BIZARRE PRODUCTIONS & Herb
Cohen
THIS WHOLE MONSTROSITY WAS
CONCEIVED & EXECUTED BY
FRANK ZAPPA AS A RESULT OF
SOME UNPLEASANT
PREMONITIONS, AUGUST
THROUGH OCTOBER 1967.
© All lyrics copyright for the world by
FRANK ZAPPA MUSIC CO., INC. a
subsidiary of Third Story Music, Inc.
BMI

IS THIS PHASE ONE
OF LUMPY GRAVY?