Conceptually, the album could be considered Phase Two of Burnt Weeny Sandwich. Both albums consist of previously unreleased Mothers tracks released after the demise of the original band. Whereas the pieces on Burnt Weeny Sandwich generally have a more rigid and planned feel captured by quality studio equipment, Weasels Ripped My Flesh mostly captures the Mothers on stage, where they employ frenetic and chaotic improvisation characteristic of avant-garde free jazz. The album's infamous closer and title track is nothing more than every man on stage producing as much noise and feedback as they can for two minutes. Interestingly, an audience member is heard yelling for more at its conclusion. The album also contains Don "Sugarcane" Harris's straight-ahead blues violin and vocal performance of "Directly From My Heart to You".
The CD version of the album features different versions of "Didja Get Any Onya?" and "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask", which featured music edited out of the LP versions. Some of this extra music was used as the backing track for "The Blimp" on the Captain Beefheart album Trout Mask Replica, produced by Frank Zappa.
Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My Flesh were also reissued together on vinyl as 2 Originals of the Mothers of Invention, with the original covers used as the left and right sides of the inner spread, and the front cover depicting a pistol shooting toothpaste onto a toothbrush.
Frank Zappa recruited artist Neon Park to create a subversive image based on a cover story from the September 1956 issue of Man's Life, a men's adventure magazine. After showing Neon a copy of the magazine, Zappa inquired, "This is it. What can you do that's worse than this?" Neon's answer was to craft a parody of an advertisement for Schick brand electric razor based on the "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" theme.
German releases of the album featured an album cover showing a metal baby caught in a rat trap. This cover was not approved by Zappa.
Didja Get Any Onya?
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
MOO-AHHH
MOO-AHHH
Lowell: Years ago in Germany when I was a very small boy, zere was a lot of people standing around on ze corners asking questions: "Why are you standing on ze corner, acting ze way you act, looking like you look? WHY DO YOU LOOK THAT WAY?" And they ask me and I only would say: "I don't... I don't know, I'm just standing 'round ze corner waiting here... just in... in ze evening, and... and it's so nice outside... the night is so nice... why... are you just asking these questions..."
Didja
Get any
Onya onya onya onya...
(Onya...)
MOO-AHHH
MOO-AHHH
MOO-AHHH
MOO-AHHH
The Mothers of Invention's song "Didja Get Any Onya?" starts off with a sound of people mooing, which may be a reference to cows or animals being herded. The lyrics are based on an encounter that Lowell George, the songwriter, had as a child in Germany. People would approach him and ask why he looked the way he did while standing on the corner. Lowell didn't have an answer for them and simply said that he was enjoying the night outside. The lyrics seem to be mocking these people who are overly concerned with appearances and social norms, which is a common theme throughout The Mothers of Invention's music.
The chorus of the song is "Didja get any Onya?" which is a slang term for sex. The phrase is repeated over and over again, almost like a chant, which could be interpreted as a commentary on how society obsesses over sex and places so much value on it. The song as a whole is a mix of nonsensical lyrics and social commentary, which is a common style for The Mothers of Invention. The use of sound effects like mooing and the repetition of certain phrases echoes their avant-garde style and experimentation with sound.
Overall, "Didja Get Any Onya?" is a song that critiques societal norms and attitudes towards sex, while also showcasing the band's unique style and experimentation with sound. The lyrics and sound effects used in the song create a surreal atmosphere that reflects the absurdity of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Lowell: Years ago in Germany when I was a very small boy, zere was a lot of people standing around on ze corners asking questions:
The singer introduces themselves and mentions an experience in Germany where people would inquire about why others were standing on street corners.
"Why are you standing on ze corner, acting ze way you act, looking like you look? WHY DO YOU LOOK THAT WAY?" And they ask me and I only would say: "I don't... I don't know, I'm just standing 'round ze corner waiting here... just in... in ze evening, and... and it's so nice outside... the night is so nice... why... are you just asking these questions..."
People would ask why others look and act a certain way, and the singer responds that they are simply standing on the corner enjoying the nice evening.
Didja
Did you
Get any
Have sex with anyone
Onya onya onya onya...
On you, on repeat (referring to having sex on someone repeatedly)
(Onya...)
On you, as in having sex on someone.
MOO-AHHH
Sounds in the song.
MOO-AHHH
Sounds in the song.
MOO-AHHH
Sounds in the song.
MOO-AHHH
Sounds in the song.
Contributed by Jayden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.