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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 © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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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.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ferry Ratelband

3y↑5

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:

theJaydog

6y↑48

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

Obdelwellx Frank

22w

@R.L. Shallbetter A Baritone Violin 🎻

dstroviolin

29w

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

R.L. Shallbetter

3y↑3

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

earth human

3y↑21

FRANK ZAPPA IS THE STANLEY KUBRICK OF MUSUC!

Richard Seeley

18w

Amen!

The Supernatural Anaesthetist

37w

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

Richard Bird

5y↑16

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.

Peter D

5y↑79

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

2y↑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

2y↑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

3y↑3

the singing is what makes the album 10/10

Charles Murphy

4y↑10

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.

parahycodan

2y↑42

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

19w

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

Kathy Erickson

1y↑1

That is so damn I'm amusing.

B Stu

5y↑26

It`s funny, this makes me cry.

Inacius Tenacius

5y↑2

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

Jari Rannikko

4y↑20

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

44w↑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.

colin6768

6y↑30

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

1y↑1

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

Griffin B

1y↑1

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

Griffin B

1y↑1

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

Arthur Santana

3y↑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...

ottovonmaybach

5y↑19

George Duke's keyboards - sublime

Charles Chauffe

28w

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.

Craig Anderson

5y↑14

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

1y↑3

And Classical, too . . .

Argenis González

4y↑69

Bass is killer in this one

Joe Chicky

15w

Bass is awesone!!!! Damn

Alfonzo Blevins

1y↑1

OH YES THAT BASS MAKES IT

Griffin B

1y↑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

multibassman

3y↑5

Tom Fowler is unbelievable , truly one of he masters on bass.

3 More Replies...

Snow the Jam Man

1y↑7

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

Derek Scanlon

2y↑10

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

Larry Parker

5y↑38

George Duke and Jean Luc Ponty are MONSTERS!!

Peter Maxwell

2y↑3

Well frank did like "monsters" Lol .👹☠😈💀

Elaine Ricketts

4y↑1

I liked Sugar Cane better………..

Ferry Ratelband

3y↑5

nick robinson

3y↑4

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

Rizzo Roy

10y↑4

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

Doomkid

5y↑52

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

dstroviolin

29w

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...

Jeff Felderman

6y↑4

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

29w↑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.

Jeffro D.

1y↑3

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

colin6768

2y↑6

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.

Robert Vonnahme

4y↑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

4y↑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

4y↑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...

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

Peter Fat Kid

5y↑9

Jon -Luc Ponty and Frank ....awesome

Dan Farenger

5y↑5

"!One of the tightest bands "ever"!

Gilles Tremblay

5y↑44

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

Ted Burke

2y↑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...

Random PC-User

3y↑4

Love the bass on this track.

Josh Fowler

3y↑5

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

terrypussypower

5y↑5

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.

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.

Crimson Kng

2y↑4

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

Kathy Erickson

Me too.

Alfonzo Blevins

1y↑4

LOVE THAT BASS

HoB Umbra

5y↑5

Tom Fowler !

buntobe1508

5y↑4

Caught my mother huddled over the speaker smiling to this

Peter Maxwell

1y↑1

Franks guitar was killing you're momma' ..

Shaun Kelley

3y↑3

Tom Fowler kicks this one's ass!

Joe Beeber

2y↑3

Now these cats can play !!!

Craig Doucette

3y↑7

Ponty's solo @ 2:40 absolutely smokes!

Chris Boos

That's Exactly the word.

Mike Vlade

sister marriage with moon ? Mike .

Goral

1y↑3

George Duke goes bananas on the organ , love it.

tostare

2y↑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.

John Romig

2y↑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

1y↑1

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

Jen Moore

2y↑1

When that JLP solo hits 👌 goosebumps

thiagofranco169

4y↑1

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

giamozz

6y↑27

This is the craziest sickest most insane music ! Who would listen to this S###?? !! Love IT, lol

Jeffro D.

Go back to spinning your Barry manilow

Jo Schütz

i dont listen to it , ieven dont read the crazy comments .. nope , never ,, must be the devil or someone elsewhere :-)

philip morell

2y↑1

who listens to this shit? apparently you! lol

shit stain

2y↑2

There will never ever be another FRANK ZAPPA! a true genius in music all the way around the board!

Jet Ferry

35w↑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.

Anthony Festa

2y↑4

I miss Frank Zappa!

lukat93

3y↑1

3:35 that solo is on fire

Peter Maxwell

2y↑1

1973 this band we're playing their ass off !

Rich Carlson

5y↑4

Ricky Lancelotti!

fugallik

9y↑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

Grandpa Theobald

1y↑1

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

Mantis

1:37, I love that Part

John Listi

5y↑2

TRY this ... get your next band to play 1 song where everybody plays the same lead part.... just like 50 //50 .... I dare you... !!!!

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

6y↑2

Thanks for the correction :-)

mhodgesny

6y↑3

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

dmatej79

And Terry Bozzio :-)

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?).

Colin Gillis

11w

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

GWR 813

5y↑2

Ralph Humphrey aint bad either!

Geoff Fielder

3y↑1

He was fabulous

colin6768

Agreed.

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.

Nick Wade

2y↑1

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

Pierre St-Martin

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.

Jazzouche Jazzouche

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.

Ethan Whately

28w

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

Chris Collins

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

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.

Vinnie Zummo

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

zwwwz12

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

Tom Vanallemeersch

30w

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

Fernando Kosovel

4y↑1

Got this Lp in the excellent argentine edition

Cindy Meeks

1y↑1

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

ExLionTamer2

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

Mark Martinelli

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

Kristen Kringle

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

terrypussypower

9y↑1

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

buntobe1508

5y↑4

this is what aspiring REAL musicians were learning after practice

Peter Harrington

1y↑1

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

Peter Maxwell

1y↑1

I remember it well cuz I wuz there 🎵

Rockin' Hits

Got a link?

Kevin D

38w↑1

Zappa has some of the best "Trip" music especially if your "stereo" is "4way"..
Dont beleive me? Drop and listen.. then get back to me...

Purple Daz vibe tribe radio.

49w↑2

Thank Frank.

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!

Simone Pettinau

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

William Boulton W.

4y↑1

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

Steve Clark

42w

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

Rhon243243243

Tonight my breath is Chartreuse :)

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.

ROB-IN-PHILLY

4y↑1

Ponty's best work! :)...Nah...He has tons of great stuff! I feel lucky to have seen them both Zappa and Ponty separate tours.

earth human

I seen ponty live in 2000 at the house of blues,chicago

Haakan Sten

35w

Great! Was only 7 when i heard this first time

john burns

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

Pismo T Clam

19w

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!!!!!!

Darrell simpson

7y↑2

good odds

chocolatedonut31

9y↑1

@MrAske Its not a guitar solo. Its an electric viola.

Edi Curcan

20w

I adore this track!!!

JROCKgreaseFILMS

I could listen to Tom Fowler groove on bass all day, Zappa's tone is so rude its amazing, another one of zappa's timeless masterpiece's.

Griffin Julian

33w

Musically masterful!

bassandguitarguy

4y↑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

V PODER

12w

Absolutely Enormissime !!!

pobinr

1y↑1

The gold standard for complex jazz rock music

Glenn Taylor

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

Brian Dippold

6y↑7

Frank Zappa "The God of Music"

Mike Vlade

i know him ,do you think ?

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

Simon Loveland

This is the antidote to Simon Cowell...

Bob Saget

10y

I love that solo

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