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.
Fountain of Love
Frank Zappa Lyrics
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That's when our hearts knew that story untold
We were young lovers, strolling near
The fountain of love, fountain of love
Do you remember, I held you so near
Our love's glowing ember so precious and dear
We were young lovers, strolling near
Fountain of love, fountain of love
We made a wish and threw in a coin
And since that day our hearts have been joined
So all you young lovers, wherever you are
The fountain of love is not very far
We'll go on dreaming of that golden day
And remember the fountain is not far away
We were young lovers strolling near
The fountain of love, fountain of love
Fountain of love, fountain of love
We made a wish and threw in a coin
And since that day, our hearts have been joined
So all you young lovers wherever you are
The fountain of love is not very far
Fountain of love
Fountain of love
Fountain of love
Fountain of love
The song "Fountain of Love" by Frank Zappa is a love ballad that celebrates young love and the memories and feelings associated with it. The song describes two young lovers strolling near the fountain of love amidst the beauty of autumn, where they realize the power of their love for each other. The lyrics of the song indicate that the fountain of love is a special place for young couples to go to have their hearts and souls mended.
The lyrics of the song are very simple and straightforward, describing the romantic and almost fairytale-like aspects of young love. The song's message is that the fountain of love is a special place that young couples should visit to make a wish, throw in a coin, and have their love sealed forever. The song is a gentle reminder that love is a powerful force that can unify and bring individuals together in a bond that is magical and enduring.
Overall, "Fountain of Love" is a tender ballad that speaks to the power of young love and the importance of cherishing it. It encourages all young lovers to visit the fountain of love and make a wish, where their hearts will be joined forever.
Line by Line Meaning
It was September, the leaves were gold
The story begins with a young couple enjoying the beauty of autumn in September.
That's when our hearts knew that story untold
During their walk, the couple started to feel the untold story of their love.
We were young lovers, strolling near
The couple was young and deeply in love as they walked together.
The fountain of love, fountain of love
They reached a beautiful fountain of love, which was a symbol of their love.
Do you remember, I held you so near
One of the lovers asks the other if they remember how closely they were holding each other at the fountain.
Our love's glowing ember so precious and dear
They recall the bright and precious state of their love while standing at the fountain.
We made a wish and threw in a coin
They made a wish for their love and threw a coin into the fountain, hoping it would come true.
And since that day our hearts have been joined
Their love has grown stronger since that day they made the wish at the fountain.
So all you young lovers, wherever you are
The couple addresses all young lovers and says that the fountain of love is not far away for anyone.
The fountain of love is not very far
The fountain of love is accessible to anyone who seeks it.
We'll go on dreaming of that golden day
The couple cherishes the memory of the day they made their wish at the fountain and dreams of a bright future.
And remember the fountain is not far away
They advise young lovers to remember that love and happiness are always within reach.
Fountain of love, fountain of love
The couple repeats the symbol of their love: the beautiful fountain of love.
Fountain of love
The couple repeats the symbol of their love: the beautiful fountain of love.
Fountain of love
The couple repeats the symbol of their love: the beautiful fountain of love.
Fountain of love
The couple repeats the symbol of their love: the beautiful fountain of love.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Vincent Zappa, Ray Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind