Versions

Fifty-Fifty
Frank Zappa Lyrics

Well, my dandruff is loose
An' my breath is chartreuse
I know I ain't cute
An' my voice is ka-poot

But that's awright people
I'm just crazy enough to sing to you
Any old way

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty

I just might have some thing to say

Ain't gonna sing you no love song
How my heart is all sore
Will not beg your indulgence
Cause you heard it before

But that's awright people
I'm just crazy enough to sing to you
Any old way

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty
I just might have some thing to say

I have taken your time
I have sung you my song
Ain't no great revelation
But it wasn't too long

But that's awright people
I'm just crazy enough to sing to you
Any old way

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty
I just might have some thing to say

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Zappa

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

The only two historical claims Frank Zappa's song "Fifty-Fifty" has are that it is the only track from the successful 1973 LP Over-Nite Sensation that is largely forgotten nowadays and that it represents one of the very few recordings featuring Ricky Lancelotti's distinctive vocals. And on this song, the mad lion (please believe these two words make the best possible description of his talent) got the chance to stretch his singing further than usual. Read Full BioThe only two historical claims Frank Zappa's song "Fifty-Fifty" has are that it is the only track from the successful 1973 LP Over-Nite Sensation that is largely forgotten nowadays and that it represents one of the very few recordings featuring Ricky Lancelotti's distinctive vocals. And on this song, the mad lion (please believe these two words make the best possible description of his talent) got the chance to stretch his singing further than usual. The lyrics jab at empty-headed one-hit-wonder singers: "I'm just crazy enough to sing to you/Any old way/I figured the odds be fifty-fifty/I just might have something to say." Zappa often complained about the inanity of rock lyrics, even his, the result of the music industry diktat stating that instrumental music is worthless.
The song was not a crowd-pleaser. Lancelotti's vocals on the studio version are really off-the-wall: he screams in an intentionally awful Roger Daltrey/Robert Plant kind of way as a show of the narrator's total lack of talent. The middle-section guitar solo (featuring Zappa's rockiest sound to date) should not be overlooked. Live, without Lancelotti -- he only appeared as a guest at one show -- it just was not the same; thus the song was performed a few times in 1973 only (bootleg recordings can be found on Dupree's Paradise and Tiny Nightmares). The singer's real talent can be fully experienced on "Zomby Woof" from the same LP.

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

01Camarillo Brillo4:01

PT6M8S

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ferry Ratelband

4y↑7

Well, my dandruff is loose
And my breath is chartreuse
I know I ain't cute
And my voice is kaput
But that's alright, people
I'm just crazy enough to sing to you
Any old way

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty
I just might have something to say

I ain't gonna sing you no love song
How my heart is all soft
Will not beg your indulgence
Cause you heard it before
And that's alright, people
I'm just crazy enough to sing to you
Any old way

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty
I just might have something to say
In my pants

Now I've taken your time
I have sung you my song
Ain't no great revelation
But it wasn't too long
And that's alright, people
I'm just crazy enough to sing to you
Any old way

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty
I just might have something to say

All comments from YouTube:

Richard Bird

6y↑19

This one is like a Zappa response to Return to Forever, and pretty dope, at least to me. George Duke Zappa is the Zappa I like best.

parahycodan

3y↑47

George duke's solo's like getting slung fast and hard in a tilt o whirl at a cheesy carnival operated by drunken carneys.

Pismo T Clam

46w

Check out George live with Billy Cobham in "Stratus"...unreal.

Kathy Erickson

2y↑2

That is so damn I'm amusing.

Ferry Ratelband

4y↑7

colin6768

3y↑10

Damn - George Duke smokes on this. IMO his playing on this song is as good as Emerson's on Karn Evil 9. Very underrated keyboard player.

Peter D

6y↑85

The entire album is full of innovative, catchy songs that bend genres and minds. And the LP art, what can you say, Zappa at his absolute finest, surrounded by some of the most talented musicians of their generation.

Conrad Tips

3y↑1

50-50 review hopefully with the tools of much chutzpah. with revelation revealed to the best of my ability by HCT. as follows, a analysis of excellence and discernment while calling those things as they appear from the perspective of the 3rd heaven where only God and angels and the Father Son and the Holy Spirit abide and provide wisdom to me and you I might add. as .......follows dudes and dudettes catch the fire of revelation in the knowledge of Him and speak mysteries and oracles at all times. Be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. Frank Zappa is a filthy translator of truth in music. The nuggets of revelation are few and far between. Go figure...sela... therefore , we glean truth in the message warily and with knowledge and wisdom... Iron sharpens iron and diamonds sharpen iron in order to create nuggets of purity in song and message. We love Franks discernment of praiseworthy message in that he chooses occasionally carefully his musicians according to their eternal talent portrayals. Jean luk ponty is hearing from heaven in his talent as is this drummer billy cob-lam ma bee? the Frankenstein style keyboards reminiscent of castles in Germany reveal the breath of satanically inspired atmosphere albeit entertaining to the nth degree. The screaming moaning of Frank Zappas guitar is but a reflection of a sad desperate state of mind willing to endanger others, in its quest for fulfillment. Coupled together we see a excellent miraculous presentation of evangelical music presented attractively by a humble screaming spokesman in unorthodox delivery.. He who has eyes to hear let him hear. I have taken your time i have sung you my song aint not great revelation but it wasent too long and thats alright people...."just crazy enough to sing to you any old way." I figure the odds be 50 50 that i might just have something to say to you.

Mike Johnston

3y↑2

Yeah if you listen closely you can hear the geinus at work,!!!!!

Kevin Walcott

3y↑2

Mimis Amimos . . but mainly the instrumentals and composing . .

Mimis Amimos

4y↑3

the singing is what makes the album 10/10

Jari Rannikko

4y↑22

This song is the one how I found Zappa's music. It was in 1973 when I won a Phillips cassette recorder playing bingo at a local bingo hall. I was there with my father. Soon I bought an empty cassette and went to my friend's to record some music on it. CCR album Cosmo's factory and some Beatles songs. They were already familiar to me and so good. After recording them there was still about 10 minutes empty room in the end of the cassette and my friend said maybe i should try this. It was my friend's older brothers Zappa lp Over nite sensation and song Fifty fifty from it. Ok, I said i'll try. When listening to it, I remember I was thinking what the hmmm is this. At home next day I played the cassette once but kept on playing Fifty Fifty again and again. That day I forgot CCR and Beatles and found Zappa. And that is the road i am still on.

Marvelous Software

1y↑1

Great story

Jari Rannikko

4y↑1

Adding... I was about 15 years old then and after that i have bought all 60s and 70s Zappa albums. Some of them are pure s..t but the others just kind of soul food for me. Greetings from Finland.

Charles Murphy

4y↑13

I'm surprised Les Claypool hasn't covered this song yet. He's got the personnel to do it. Flip flop the George Duke keyboards with Mike Dillon going off on his vibraphone.

Snow the Jam Man

2y↑10

Ricky Lancelotti is an absolute madman and i love it, some of the sickest vocals on any Zappa song

Rizzo Roy

10y↑7

This vocalist was amazing, Frank always had the best musicians...

Goral

2y↑6

George Duke goes bananas on the organ , love it.

theJaydog

6y↑61

Jean Luc Ponty's Violin at 2:35....rules!

666frankh

12w↑1

One of my all time favorite solos!!!

Barry Dixon

14w↑1

Jean Luc Ponty - SO GOOD - IT'S IN MY BRAIN !!!!

Obdelwellx Frank

49w

@R.L. Shallbetter A Baritone Violin 🎻

dstroviolin

R.L. Shallbetter Might be a 5 string or a violectra

R.L. Shallbetter

4y↑3

theJaydog is it a viola? The lower notes on that solo (C3) correspond to the viola. I could just be on drugs.

Whistle Blower

5y↑74

Bass is killer in this one

Andrew Margileth

26w

@Dan Farenger yup

Joe Chicky

43w

Bass is awesone!!!! Damn

Alfonzo Blevins

2y↑1

OH YES THAT BASS MAKES IT

Griffin B

2y↑2

Tom Fowler was a truly underrated bassist. Love him!

Conrad Tips

I’ll say it’s a class act these guys have synergy if I know what that means seems to apply

4 More Replies...

Derek Scanlon

3y↑11

Just when you think the song has reached its peak, another solo shows up!

colin6768

7y↑33

As usual another great drum part in a Zappa song. It seems like you never hear Ralph Humphrey when the great drummers of Zappa are brought up. You always hear Colaiuta, Wackerman, and Bozzio. Don't get me wrong those guys are brilliant drummers, but please let's give Ralph Humphrey his props too. If you need further proof listen from :10 to about :15 on "Montana". Simply brilliant.

Vinnie Zummo

ABSOLUTELY.And he was funky as hell playing this unique music. LOVE the fill at 1:35.Would love to know if that was one of the fills Frank wrote out for him or if he just spit it out while playing.

colin6768

2y↑1

@petec9686 Damn straight - you really had to be on top of your game to play with Zappa.

Griffin B

2y↑1

@colin6768 Aynsley was sick. Bozzio once said he was one of his biggest influences.

Griffin B

2y↑1

I couldn't agree more...Humphrey is one helluva drummer. And let's not forget Chester Thompson (Inca Roads, RDNZL, etc.).

Arthur Santana

4y↑1

If you haven't done so yet, check out the Roxy DVD. Ralph, Chester and Ruth going all crazy on percussion-only Cheepnis, simply amazing.

4 More Replies...

nick robinson

3y↑6

Where the hell did that bass player learn to play? I wanna go there.

nick robinson

16w

@Declined Also Declined Jack Bruce???? Doesn't sound like him to me but whatever.

Declined Also Declined

16w

That was Jack Bruce on bass.

ottovonmaybach

6y↑24

George Duke's keyboards - sublime

Charles Chauffe

I used to always crank up the volume when his solo started!

Steve Binning

You probably know this but GD's keyboards on Inca Roads are superhuman.

B Stu

6y↑28

It`s funny, this makes me cry.

Inacius Tenacius

5y↑2

+B Stu ahah :D its has spine climbing hair lifting properties!!!

Doomkid

5y↑55

Those 3 solos are just INTENSE! The whole song is genius!

dstroviolin

IAMTOPWRENCH1 Hell yeah. One of my favorite JLP’ solos ever in there, Zappa is on fire and George Duke, is well...George g&d#mned Duke.

john doe

Doomkid thanks for the Zappa video compilation

KingWTFuck

In the Kansas song Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel there is an absolutely amazing well decided switch off of solos between the keys/organ, guitar and violing. My favourite few moments of music to feature those three instruments.

John Christy

5y↑1

Made it almost impossible for Steve Vai to go on the road with him. Beat that

Doomkid

5y↑6

I remember a few people along the road saying stuff like "Zappa wasn't a shredder", but some of his stuff I've been hearing lately proves otherwise. The guy (when he wanted to, anyway) had lightning fingers that could move as fast as some modern metal shredders, back in the early 70s! That's impressive stuff. Ahead of his time by several decades.

1 More Replies...

Jeffro D.

2y↑3

I started listening to Frank back in 1973. This album was produced and recorded in that year I believe. Never stopped after that.

Random PC-User

3y↑5

Love the bass on this track.

Jeff Felderman

6y↑5

The speeds FZ reaches on the guitar solo is mind-boggling, especially when you combine the passion and execution that went along with it. Everything about this tune is sick!

dstroviolin

1y↑2

Jeff Felderman I think one thing that makes FZ great as a guitarist is that he thinks like a composer. That solo is so beautifully structured.

Craig Anderson

6y↑18

What a lot of people don't realize is that Zappa was so well-respected as both a musician and composer by his peers in Rock and Jazz fusion. The guy just transcended so many different musical styles - his work is so eclectic

Jim Little

2y↑3

And Classical, too . . .

Dan Farenger

6y↑7

"!One of the tightest bands "ever"!

Josh Fowler

3y↑5

R.I.P Frank
Damn I wish I were alive when you were.

Peter Fat Kid

6y↑9

Jon -Luc Ponty and Frank ....awesome

Alfonzo Blevins

2y↑4

LOVE THAT BASS

dana trepanier

5y↑8

Songs been stuck in my head for days,, had to break down an play it. post it. Wow what incredible leads throughout

Anthony Festa

3y↑5

I miss Frank Zappa!

Robert Vonnahme

5y↑31

started listening to frank in '69 and haven't stopped yet...

MultiSync3V

Oooft, might be time to take a break for a bit?

myearsloveit

me i confess are ya gonna punish me?

Michael Anthony O'Reilly

72...these is a great song...

David McPherson

5y↑1

Will do, Anthony. I'm actually more optimistic than that. I'm quite persistent when I listen to music, especially great artists like Frank, so even if I don't like something at first I keep listening until I "get it." I had to struggle a bit with "Lumpy Gravy" and "200 Motels" but now I really like both of those. I also struggled with about a four-minute section of the song "The Grand Wazoo." But after listening to it around 60 times :) I was able to gain an appreciation for that part. I already liked the rest of the track. We'll see how I do with "The Yellow Shark" and "Civilization Phaze III" when I get to those.

ANTHONY BLAKEY

5y↑2

Your gonna love the journey, David, Some will suit your taste, some will not, but its never boring, keep listening David.

1 More Replies...

Shaun Kelley

4y↑3

Tom Fowler kicks this one's ass!

Gilles Tremblay

6y↑44

Here, I'll say it: George Duke totally beats both Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman on that one.

Ted Burke

3y↑2

@Rob Kerin Seen both Duke and Emerson more than once, Duke with Weather Report, CObham Duke Bandand Zappa,and Emerson twice with ELP. Duke, hands down. He can play it all flawlessly, and he can swing. No contest

Nick Brandon

IT'S NOT EVEN A CLOSE COMPETITION LOL

TSM

Agreed, till the day he passed away, George was a master.

greenberet61

totally

Norbert Languedoil

I love KE, but no, Gilles is not on drugs. To convince yourself seek out a piece by the Jean-Luc Ponty band entitled "Hypomode de sol" (on Live At Donte's), and hear a man shred on a grand piano, and I mean shred...

4 More Replies...

Jen Moore

2y↑3

When that JLP solo hits 👌 goosebumps

dstroviolin

27w↑1

It’s hard to imagine three consecutive solos of this magnitude, ever, at least on a “rock” record. I will never forget the first time I heard this piece. It literally shook me out of a depression. Truth.

Joe Beeber

3y↑3

Now these cats can play !!!

earth human

4y↑23

FRANK ZAPPA IS THE STANLEY KUBRICK OF MUSUC!

Richard Seeley

45w

Amen!

The Supernatural Anaesthetist

1y↑1

Musuck?

Broke Dick Dawg

Frank's better than Stanley, may they both rest in peace. Huge fan of both. Kubrick = Pink Floyd, Frank has no equal.

Vivian Stanshall

That's what my mum said
I said pink floyd was
But i get it

Snow the Jam Man

25w↑1

Love Tom Fowler's licks on this, he and Ralph Hunphrey provide one hell of a backdrop for the soloists to kill it.

terrypussypower

6y↑6

How is it humanly possible to play the way Zappa plays the solo on this amazing track...because he was inhumanly talented, that's why!

J. Wright

2y↑2

That's why you hear Zappa covers so seldom.

terrypussypower

@mano a mano It's like a machine gun!

mano a mano

5y↑1

+terrypussypower
The way he kicks in after the electric violin, with a sort of electric violin tone on his guitar, is just part of the brilliance of this cut.

Jet Ferry

1y↑1

The three solos in the middle of this are really amazing. Duke kills it. I have never heard anything better by John Luc and of course Zappa rips it up. Sometimes being in the company of other fantastic musicians raises everybody's level of greatness. That happened here. One of the great Zappa pieces.

Crimson Kng

3y↑4

All of the sudden, I had an urge to hear this song.

Kathy Erickson

Me too.

Chris McDade

5y↑6

This song which happens to be one of my favorites since it is memorable because of its solo appearances.
Especially, the solo by Jean-Luc Ponty!, George Duke and Ian Underwood, et al.

John Romig

3y↑5

Bizarre fusion with Jean luc ponty on fiddle electric, the same artist who plays violin on Baba O'Reilly by the Who.

Kristopher Doe

2y↑1

Dave Arbus played the violin solo at the end of Baba O'Reilly

Fernando Kosovel

5y↑2

Got this Lp in the excellent argentine edition

Cindy Meeks

2y↑3

The three best solos ever played . twist ur head and blend it .. Best ever

Jerry Meeuwse

Great comment, first I thought it said, "twist ur head and bend it." Not blend. Love it, fits Zappa perfectly.

buntobe1508

6y↑4

Caught my mother huddled over the speaker smiling to this

Peter Maxwell

2y↑1

Franks guitar was killing you're momma' ..

tostare

3y↑6

Just discovered that Ricky Lancelotti died in a car crash in 1980, aged just 35. RIP Ricky, we will remember you forever thanks to your work on this album (and others).

RVC74

He died way too young.

V PODER

39w↑1

Absolutely Enormissime !!!

Vinnie Zummo

2y↑1

Still sounds amazing and ...Ralph Humphrey!!! A true beast on drums.

William Boulton W.

2y↑1

That guitar solo is like someone has 50,000 volts of electicity running through them and is almost not responsible for the notes they are hitting. The more I hear it the better it gets. There's my 50/50.

Grandpa Theobald

2y↑1

Am I the only one hearing Paul di Anno's voice in this song from time to time? Reminiscence of Killers tone.

Santo Sgarlato

1y↑1

Frank was a unique talent who never fit into any categorie

Craig Doucette

4y↑7

Ponty's solo @ 2:40 absolutely smokes!

Chris Boos

That's Exactly the word.

Mike Vlade

sister marriage with moon ? Mike .

fugallik

10y↑1

wow! thanks for this! I use to listen all the LP while my browsing. thanks to you Im a FZ fan, love him very much, I miss him ;) ciao

Pismo T Clam

46w

I've seen FZ many times since the 60's...such a complex composer!!! How the hell he could put together sooo many talented musicians is, in itself, AMAZING!!!! ABSOLUTELY NUMBER ONE BEST EVER!!!!!!

Tom Vanallemeersch

hard to categorize this under "rockin' hits", this is "sui generis" !

Jazzouche Jazzouche

35w

My favourite JLP solo on a frank album . I was lucky enough to see this band play in Sydney in 1973 with Ruth Underwood. They played this song with no vocals. Great concert.

lukat93

3y↑1

3:35 that solo is on fire

Colin Gillis

39w

Can we give it up for Tom Fowler on bass?! One of my favorite players of all time.

TheMainChannel

4y↑1

ELP + James Brown singing + Jethro Tull = "Fifty-Fifty". Amazing!!!

Al Marzian

2y↑1

The Bass is orgasmic

o p

41w

I’ve always wondered what keyboard it is on the solo...it’s not a sound I’ve heard on any other of Zappa’s records...sounds like a church organ. Anyone know what it is?

Arven Saunders

14w

The keyboard work is amazing!

Nick Wade

3y↑1

my moms coworker said she had a zappatite in 78, it was on eversince,many many albums later

Ethan Whately

what a monster album by FZ! This is amazing stuff!!

Flunder

Oh man. this takes me back to a great time in my life. gettin out of the boxes. learnin theres more to guitar than the jerk off blues scale. thanks frank rip.

Peter Maxwell

3y↑1

1973 this band we're playing their ass off !

pobinr

2y↑1

The gold standard for complex jazz rock music

Haakan Sten

Great! Was only 7 when i heard this first time

Edi Curcan

48w

I adore this track!!!

Barry Thompson

10y↑1

A masterpiece years ahead of it's time, George Duke, Jeanluc ponty, and the guitar master himself Frank Zappa, all render golden classics on each solo. Sit back and enjoy.

Steve Clark

A 6am earworm... I had to hear it! Thanks Frank!

zwwwz12

I was 10 when this album came out. I was amazed. I still am

Simone Pettinau

44/5000
my heart beats to the rhythm of his music

bassandguitarguy

5y↑3

DAMN! Put a saddle on this one and ride it around the track! smokin' basswork! (i'm a bassist/guitarist/singer) Still have this on Vinyl. FYI - today is Frank Zappa's Birthday -RIp 12-04-93 at 52 - wonder what he'd be putting out now?

Al Marzian

He will take up where Edgard Varèse left off

Mark Martinelli

What a truly appropriate name for the album. My favorite from FZ.
\m/ (>_<) \m/

wedgem

10y

R.I.P. Frank! Your body of work lives on! Still never ceases to amaze me and gives me great pleasure and so much joy! Thanks for giving Jean-Luc Ponty the opportunity to do the incredible violin solo. This song is unquestionably a true masterpeice!

ExLionTamer2

This is probably my favourite Zappa track. Alongside the amazing solos, the chord progressions in the backing music really brings them to life

Peter Harrington

2y↑1

Everyone needs to check out the live versions from the '73 tour of Australia.

Peter Maxwell

2y↑1

I remember it well cuz I wuz there 🎵

Rockin' Hits

Got a link?

Rhon243243243

10y

Tonight my breath is Chartreuse :)

Chris Collins

43 years and still kickin' and grinnin' with wholesale satisfaction! Truly amazing early "Jam Band!"

Pierre St-Martin

10y

I bought this album in '79, and recently I noticed that every guitar solo are gritty, aggressive sounding..... Montana is the best solo on the album.

Peter Maxwell

His music I proving itself now after not being taken seriously for so long ..

Sklid Plasmatic

Does anybody know how he plays guitar like that? Is he actually that insane, or does he use some effects that make it sound like hes player more notes then he actually is? I know hes an incredible player, but i cant even imagine moving your fingers that fast.

aristotle358

Another one of my favourite Zappa song from one of my favourite albums. Someone jockingly said to me that the bass reminded him of Starsky and Hutch in terms of style.

greenberet61

i remember getting this record when i was a kid i played it over and over my mom hated Zappa,,,,lolo was funny shit

john burns

This is like top 5 of my zappa albums....:)

Glenn Taylor

I live my life with this songs words "I think the the odds are fifty fifty I might have something to say.

john burns

Look it up...discography...awesome all involved are like....omg!

Paul Christensen

7y↑8

Frank, George Duke & Jean-Luc Ponte- Quite the power trio!

got2saythis

6y↑2

@got2saythis also ,,, this Zappa stuff been going out over the airwaves (non-airwaves in space - what's that called?) through the universe for quite some time now. I betcha' there's some dudes out there that are sayin' "listen to that! Look, creature, we gotta' make it to that planet - hit the worm hole so we can end up in the time he's on this plane of existence so's we can hear him and his creatures live" - wouldn't it be neat if we could do that? Only saw him twice - would LOOOOVE to see him again!

got2saythis

6y↑1

@dmatej79 & mhodgesny - WOW! civility on Youtube! Only with the quality of the type of humans that listen to Zappa!

dmatej79

7y↑2

Thanks for the correction :-)

mhodgesny

7y↑3

@dmatej79
It's actually Ralph Humphrey on drums for this entire album. Bozzio wasn't around Zappa until 1975

dmatej79

And Terry Bozzio :-)

Kristen Kringle

10y

The odds be fifty fifty! That i want to marry one of his sons just so i can carry on the Zappa name!!!!!

William Boulton W.

5y↑1

Still brings a tear to my eye. And that's 45 years later and too many listens to count.

Bob Saget

10y

I love that solo

pamphish

So Awesome....

Mark Solarz

Great Song! Figure the odds be........

Dan Farenger

They all cut loose on this track!

John Huie

My life changed after I got this album

YukonMkI

The bass on this is beyond great

Bob Risse

20w

Here we stand.

terrypussypower

10y↑1

One of the most utterly fantastic guitar performances ever layed to tape ! Fucking mindblowing !

buntobe1508

6y↑4

this is what aspiring REAL musicians were learning after practice

Leo55BabyBoomer

6y↑3

You can get better odds than this on a fixed bet but I like these odds!...50/50. Now, I've said what I have to say...light it up, pass it, shut the funk up and let's enjoy some Zappa (please?).