Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals)
Steve Vai (guitar)
Ray White (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Tommy Mars (keyboards)
Bobby Martin (keyboards, saxophone, vocals)
Ed Mann (percussion)
Chad Wackerman (drums)
Roy Estrada (vocals)
Ike Willis (vocals)
Bob Harris (vocals)
Arthur Barrow (bass)

No not now
No not now
No not now
No not now
Maybe later
Maybe later
She say I'm free
She say I'm free
She say I'm free
She say I'm free
But I like her sister
But I like her sister
She can't decide
Whom she wanna ride
She can't decide
Whom she wanna ride
Tonight - tonight - tonight

She changed her mind
She changed her mind
She changed her mind
She changed her mind
And I don't blame her
And I don't blame her

No not now
(No no not now)
No not now
(No no not now)
No not now
(No no not now)
No not now
(No no not now)
Maybe later
Maybe later
(Shut up! You need a vacation, boy!)
The big ol' hat
(The big ol' hat)
The cowboy pants
(Those cowboy pants)
Transcontinental
(It's a transcontinental)
Hobby horse
(A hobby hobby horse)
String beans to Utah
(That's right)
String beans to Utah
Tonight

Ah, the wife
(Ah, the wife)
Oh, the waitress
(And the waitress too)
Oh, the drive
(Yes, yes the drive)
All night long
(All night long)
String beans to Utah
(Yum yum)
String beans to Utah
Deliver string beans
To Utah tonight
(Giddyup)
I better go fast
Or they won't be all right
(All right)
Deliver string beans
To Utah tonight
(Yum yum)
Donny 'n Marie
Can both take a bite
(Bite it Marie)
Hawaiian - Hawaiian - Hawaiian
Lunch
(Hawaiian lunch!)
Boog, boog 'em Dano...Murder One!

No not now
(No no not now)
No not now
(No no no no not now)
No not now
(No no not now)
No not now
(No no no no not now)
Maybe later
Maybe later

She changed her mind
(She changed her mind)
She changed her mind
(You know she changed her mind)
She changed her mind
(She changed her mind)
She changed her mind
(You know she changed her mind)
And I don't blame her
And I don't blame her
She's sorta wild
(She wild, she wild)
She's sorta wild
(Really wild, really wild)
She's sorta wild
(She wild, she wild)
A crazy child
(Crazy child, crazy child)
Tonight - tonight - tonight

There she goes
(There she goes)
Up and down
(Up and down)
Ride that bull
(She's ridin' the bull)
All around
(All around)
The best in town
(She's the best in town)
Oh she goes
(She go up, she go down)
Up and down
(I said up and down)
Oh the bull
(The whole bull)
The whole bull
(The whole bull)
The whole bull
(The whole damn thing)
The best in town
(Where she go? Ebzen Sauce...)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Frank Zappa's song No Not Now can be interpreted as a humorous commentary on the pitfalls of indecisiveness and infidelity in relationships. The opening lines of the song - No not now, maybe later - suggest that there is a decision to be made, but the singer isn't ready to make it just yet. The repeated phrase "She say I'm free" suggests that the singer is in a relationship, but perhaps not a committed one. He likes someone else, specifically his partner's sister, but she can't or won't make up her mind about whom she wants to be with, hence the line "She can't decide whom she wanna ride."

As the song progresses, the focus shifts from the indecision of the partner to the singer's own desires and experiences. He admits that he doesn't blame his partner for changing her mind, and then goes on to describe a range of random and seemingly disconnected images, such as "The big ol' hat," "cowboy pants," "transcontinental," "hobby horse," and "string beans to Utah." These images could be interpreted as a stream of consciousness or free association, representing the singer's scattered thoughts as he contemplates his options.

The final verses return to the theme of his partner's wildness, with the singer describing her as "sorta wild" and a "crazy child." The last lines of the song suggest that she is riding something, perhaps a bull, which could be a metaphor for her untamable spirit or a literal reference to a rodeo or amusement park ride. Overall, the lyrics of No Not Now suggest a playful but sardonic take on the complexities of human desire and relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

No not now
I do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Reiterating that I do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Still reiterating that I do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Continuing to reiterate that I do not want to engage in this activity currently

Maybe later
Perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

Maybe later
Reiterating that perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

She say I'm free
She states that I am not currently in a committed relationship

She say I'm free
Reiterating that she states that I am not currently in a committed relationship

She say I'm free
Continuing to reiterate that she states that I am not currently in a committed relationship

But I like her sister
However, I am attracted to her sister

But I like her sister
Reiterating that I am attracted to her sister

She can't decide
She is indecisive

Whom she wanna ride
She cannot decide whom she wants to engage with in romantic activities

She can't decide
Reiterating that she is indecisive

Whom she wanna ride
Reiterating that she cannot decide whom she wants to engage with in romantic activities

Tonight - tonight - tonight
This will happen tonight

She changed her mind
She has altered her previous decision

She changed her mind
Reiterating that she has altered her previous decision

She changed her mind
Continuing to reiterate that she has altered her previous decision

And I don't blame her
I am not holding this against her

And I don't blame her
Reiterating that I am not holding this against her

No not now
I still don't want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Reiterating that I still don't want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Continuing to reiterate that I still don't want to engage in this activity currently

Maybe later
Perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

Maybe later
Reiterating that perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

The big ol' hat
A large hat

Those cowboy pants
Pants resembling those worn by cowboys

It's a transcontinental
This is a trip that spans across continents

Hobby horse
A children's toy resembling a horse

String beans to Utah
Transporting green beans to Utah

String beans to Utah
Reiterating that we are transporting green beans to Utah

Tonight
This will happen tonight

Ah, the wife
Referring to one's spouse

And the waitress too
Referring to the waitress at a restaurant

Yes, yes the drive
Referring to the vehicle ride taken

All night long
For the duration of the entire night

String beans to Utah
Transporting green beans to Utah

Deliver string beans
Transporting green beans to a destination

To Utah tonight
Delivering green beans to Utah tonight

I better go fast
I need to travel quickly

Or they won't be all right
The green beans may spoil if I do not travel quickly

Deliver string beans
Transporting green beans to a destination

To Utah tonight
Delivering green beans to Utah tonight

Donny 'n Marie
Referring to Donny and Marie Osmond, a popular singing duo

Can both take a bite
They both can consume the green beans

Hawaiian lunch!
A lunch comprising of Hawaiian cuisine

Boog, boog 'em Dano...Murder One!
An exclamation without clear meaning

No not now
Still do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Reiterating that I still do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Continuing to reiterate that I still do not want to engage in this activity currently

Maybe later
Perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

Maybe later
Reiterating that perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

She changed her mind
She has altered her previous decision

You know she changed her mind
Reiterating that she has altered her previous decision

She changed her mind
Continuing to reiterate that she has altered her previous decision

You know she changed her mind
Continuing to reiterate that she has altered her previous decision

And I don't blame her
I am not holding this against her

And I don't blame her
Reiterating that I am not holding this against her

She wild, she wild
She has a wild personality

Really wild, really wild
Reiterating that she has a very wild personality

She wild, she wild
Continuing to emphasize that she has a wild personality

Crazy child, crazy child
She is an unpredictable individual

Tonight - tonight - tonight
This will happen tonight

There she goes
She is leaving

Up and down
She is moving rhythmically

She's ridin' the bull
She is riding a mechanical bull

All around
She is moving in every direction

She's the best in town
She is the most talented at riding the mechanical bull in town

She go up, she go down
She is moving up and down rhythmically

I said up and down
Reiterating that she is moving up and down rhythmically

The whole bull
Referring to riding the mechanical bull in its entirety

The whole damn thing
Reiterating that she rode the entire mechanical bull

The best in town
Reiterating that she is the most talented at riding the mechanical bull in town

Where she go? Ebzen Sauce...
An unusual and unclear statement

No not now
Still do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Reiterating that I still do not want to engage in this activity currently

No not now
Continuing to reiterate that I still do not want to engage in this activity currently

Maybe later
Perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

Maybe later
Reiterating that perhaps I will engage in this activity at a later time

Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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