Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as doo-wop and rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Dummy Up
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
George duke (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals)
Tom fowler (bass)
Ruth underwood (percussion)
Jeff simmons (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Don preston (synthesizer)
Bruce fowler (trombone)
Walt fowler (trumpet)
Ralph humphrey (drums)
Chester thompson (drums)
Debbie (background vocals)
Lynn (background vocals)
Robert camarena (background vocals)
Sunrise
Get up in the mornin'
You know, I dig this mornin'
The sun is shinin' bright
I'm gonna get outside
Gonna wash my face
Grab my hat
Put it on my head
I take a walk downtown
Yeah... because I feel so-oh good
I think I'm gonna take a walk downtown
Hey! sunrise!
Wo!
Somethin' I never seen before
Been walkin' down the street every day
Nobody like you ever passed my way
Maybe it must be too much sun
Couldn't be my hat, must be too much...
Wait a minute! is that you?
What's that? ...what, what's that? ...
What, what's that? ...what? ...
Dummy up
What is that? ...
I know what that is, I know what that is...
I bet you that's a restaurant menu...
Let me see!...let me see!
Not only do you get the desenex burger
What?
Not only...the desenex burger
Well you are in for a real treat, jim
Wait a minute...i think I like that dance better than...
What are you talkin' about, creep?
What I'm talkin' about is you've been in this killer fog down here too long
What?
You need somethin' to get up and go to school with
Wait a minute, you're not talkin' to an old fool now,
You know I wasn't born yesterday!
Heh heh heh!
Wait a minute...
I like that little dance you were doin' there...
(jeff simmons tries to corrupt napoleon murphy brock by showing him a lewd dance and suggesting that he'd smoke a high-school diploma...)
Hey! wait a minute!
Hey this, this stuff...
I never seen one of these before...that's not a menu...
This stuff is expensive
What is that?
You shoot it, you'll conserve all winter.
I do what?
It lasts longer
(not only do you get the desenex burger)
Now come on, try it.
No, no.
It's really good.
No. smoke that? !
Have I ever lied to you?
Have I ever seen you before?
I don't, I don't even know you!
Look...
I don't even know what that is!
And you're drivin' me to smoke it? !...
Just before, we smoked the tapes that you made.
Smoked the tapes?
Smoked the tapes of your group.
I think I'm with the damned.
You can really get off.
Let's try a joint of this.
A what?
A joint.
You mean this kinda joint?
No man!
Where you been in livin'? ...reseda?
No, san jose.
(the evil dope pusher is cutting up a white gym sock, formerly owned by carl zappa and still damp. the shredded sock will be placed inside of a high-school diploma and ignited with a sulphur-pre
Ion... his first taste of big city life!...)
That's okay, wait...
Hey! the roach of this is really gonna be good, so I'll...
Have mercy!
What do you do with that thing?
What do you do with that thing? yeah!
Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!
What do you do with that thing?
I wanna know!
Wait a minute!
(now the next step of this operation: the evil corrupter of youth is going to take him from step one, which is a mere high-school diploma stuffed with a gym sock, to step two, which is a college
Ee stuffed with absolutely nothing at all. smoke that and it'll really get you out there!...)
I still don't feel as good as I felt this mornin'...yeah yeah...
(you'll grow out of it...)
Dummy up!
I heard it again, somebody said...
You see this?
Wait a minute!...
College!
College!
That's college-rhythm.
You mean if I smoke that, it's the same as this,
As if I was at college?
Roll it on up!
Roll it on up!
Roll it on up!
Give me that!...
No no, the college degree is stuffed with absolutely nothing at all.
You get, you get nothing with your college-degree...
But that's what I want!
I forgot, I'm sorry...
Well, if you get nothin', well that's what I want.
(a true zen saying: nothing is what I want. the results of a higher education...)
The song "Dummy Up" by Frank Zappa is a satirical commentary on drug culture and the allure of "getting high." The song begins with the singer enjoying the simple pleasures of a sunny day, but as he walks downtown, he is approached by a drug dealer who attempts to sell him various narcotics. The dealer uses various tactics, such as showing him a restaurant menu with a bizarre item called the "Desenex Burger," which contains an anti-fungal foot powder as a secret ingredient, and suggesting that smoking a high-school diploma would be a mind-altering experience.
Throughout the song, the singer remains skeptical of the drug dealer's claims and attempts to "dummy up" or ignore his temptations. However, as the song progresses, he becomes more and more curious and ultimately succumbs to the allure of drugs, smoking a joint and trying the college degree, which is stuffed with nothing.
The song is a humorous and scathing critique of drug culture, highlighting the absurdity of the ways in which people attempt to alter their perceptions and escape from reality. Zappa uses ironic and surreal imagery to illustrate the madness of the drug dealer's claims, presenting drug use as a destructive and ultimately futile pursuit.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunrise
The start of a new day
Get up in the mornin'
Waking up in the morning
You know, I dig this mornin'
Feeling good and enjoying the morning
The sun is shinin' bright
The sun is out and shining
I'm gonna get outside
Going outside to enjoy the day
Gonna wash my face
Getting ready for the day
Grab my hat
Grabbing a hat to wear outside
Put it on my head
Putting the hat on your head
I take a walk downtown
Going for a walk to downtown
Yeah... because I feel so-oh good
Going for a walk because feeling good
I think I'm gonna take a walk downtown
Deciding to go for a walk downtown
Hey! sunrise!
Noticing the sunrise
Wo!
Expressing surprise
Somethin' I never seen before
Something new or unusual
Been walkin' down the street every day
Walking every day
Nobody like you ever passed my way
Never seen anyone quite like you before
Maybe it must be too much sun
Blaming the sun for something
Couldn't be my hat, must be too much...
Not sure what's causing the unusual sight
Wait a minute! is that you?
Realizing that you recognize someone
What's that? ...what, what's that? ...What, what's that? ...what? ...
Asking someone what they're holding or talking about
Dummy up
Stop talking or making noise
What is that? ...I know what that is, I know what that is... I bet you that's a restaurant menu... Let me see!...let me see!
Trying to identify what someone is holding in their hand
Not only do you get the desenex burger
Promoting a food item
What?
Asking what the person is talking about
Not only...the desenex burger Well you are in for a real treat, jim
Continuing to promote the food item as a treat
Wait a minute...i think I like that dance better than...
Referring to a dance that was happening before
What are you talkin' about, creep?
Asking someone what they mean
What I'm talkin' about is you've been in this killer fog down here too long
Suggesting that someone has been in the area too long and needs something to keep them going
You need somethin' to get up and go to school with
Suggesting that someone needs a pick-me-up
Wait a minute, you're not talkin' to an old fool now, You know I wasn't born yesterday! Heh heh heh!
Asserting that you're not naive
I like that little dance you were doin' there...
Complimenting someone's dance moves
(jeff simmons tries to corrupt napoleon murphy brock by showing him a lewd dance and suggesting that he'd smoke a high-school diploma...)
Describing a scenario where someone tries to get others to do something questionable
Hey! wait a minute!
Stopping someone for a moment
Hey this, this stuff...
Referring to some kind of substance
I never seen one of these before...that's not a menu...
Trying to identify the substance
This stuff is expensive
Commenting that the substance is costly
What is that?
Asking what the substance is
You shoot it, you'll conserve all winter.
Suggesting that the substance will last a long time if used
I do what?
Asking what someone is supposed to do with the substance
It lasts longer
Explaining why the substance is better to use
(not only do you get the desenex burger)
Promoting the food item again
Now come on, try it.
Encouraging someone to try the substance
No, no.
Refusing to try the substance
It's really good.
Trying to convince someone to try the substance
No. smoke that? !
Expressing disgust at the suggestion
Have I ever lied to you?
Asking if you've ever been lied to before
Have I ever seen you before?
Asking if you've met before
I don't, I don't even know you!
Asserting that you don't know the person well enough to do what they're suggesting
Look...
Trying to show or point something out to someone
I don't even know what that is! And you're drivin' me to smoke it? !...
Refusing to try the substance and questioning why someone would suggest it
Just before, we smoked the tapes that you made.
Referring to something else that was previously consumed or used
Smoked the tapes?
Questioning what it means to smoke tapes
Smoked the tapes of your group.
Explaining what happened to some tapes
I think I'm with the damned.
Feeling like you're stuck in a bad situation or group
You can really get off.
Suggesting that someone can have a good time
Let's try a joint of this.
Suggesting trying another substance along with what was previously discussed
A what?
Asking what someone is talking about
A joint.
Explaining what a joint is
You mean this kinda joint?
Confirming what a joint looks like
No man!
Correcting someone's assumption about a joint
Where you been in livin'? ...reseda?
Asking where someone is from
No, san jose.
Correcting someone's assumption about where you're from
(the evil dope pusher is cutting up a white gym sock, formerly owned by carl zappa and still damp. the shredded sock will be placed inside of a high-school diploma and ignited with a sulphur-pre Ion... his first taste of big city life!...)
Describing in detail what is happening with the substances
That's okay, wait...
Stopping someone momentarily
Hey! the roach of this is really gonna be good, so I'll...
Commenting on the quality of the substance
Have mercy!
Expressing shock or surprise
What do you do with that thing?
Asking what someone is supposed to do with something
What do you do with that thing? yeah!
Repeating the question for emphasis
Wait a minute!
Stopping the conversation for a moment
(now the next step of this operation: the evil corrupter of youth is going to take him from step one, which is a mere high-school diploma stuffed with a gym sock, to step two, which is a college Diploma stuffed with absolutely nothing at all. smoke that and it'll really get you out there!...)
Describing the next step in the operation to try to get someone to use a substance
I still don't feel as good as I felt this mornin'...yeah yeah...
Commenting on feeling differently than before
(you'll grow out of it...)
Suggesting that someone will eventually change or grow out of something
Dummy up!
Telling someone to be quiet and stop talking
I heard it again, somebody said...
Hearing something and wondering what it is
You see this?
Asking someone if they see something
Wait a minute!...
Stopping someone for a moment
College!
Referring to college education or customs
College!
Calling to someone about college
That's college-rhythm.
Explaining what college rhythm is
You mean if I smoke that, it's the same as this,
Asking if smoking the new substance will have the same effect as smoking the other substances
As if I was at college?
Comparing the effect of the substance to a college experience
Roll it on up!
Encouraging someone to roll up the substance
Roll it on up!
Repeating the encouragement to roll up the substance
Roll it on up!
Encouraging someone for a third time to roll up the substance
Give me that!...
Asking someone to give you the substance
No no, the college degree is stuffed with absolutely nothing at all.
Explaining that the college degree is not worth anything
You get, you get nothing with your college-degree...
Emphasizing the uselessness of the college degree
But that's what I want!
Asserting that you still want the college degree
I forgot, I'm sorry...
Apologizing for forgetting something
Well, if you get nothin', well that's what I want.
Concluding that you still want the college degree even if it's worthless
(a true zen saying: nothing is what I want. the results of a higher education...)
A commentary on the futility of higher education or learned behavior
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Watts103rd
...love George´s funky clav...roxy is a masterpiece record.
@chriscochran9397
" Where you been living, Reseda?". I've used that line for years when somebody is clueless About something, and nobody has any idea What the hell I'm talking about
@johnmichel4865
Great work posting this!
@robskyle
You mean if I smoke that... It's the same as if I went to college? TRUEST statement ever. RIP Frank, you were the best!
@kunal963somaiya
Rob Kyle
I'm replying to you... Because... You're the only one to comment here. You must be cool :P
@laoisemeehan
+Kunal Somaiya im here too
@WinslowLincoln
But it is true.. :>) RIP Frank
@mortenhake
Here! 🤭
@thomimarshall
Napoleon Murphy Brock is The best 👍😉
@WinslowLincoln
You mean if I smoke that... It's the same as if I went to college.. been in my head since High School..