Magic Fingers
Frank Zappa Lyrics
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I get so hard now I could die
Oh, the way you love me, sugar,
I get so hard now I could die
Open up your pocketbook,
Get another quarter out,
Drop it in the meter, mama
Open up your pocketbook,
Get another quarter out,
Drop it in the meter, mama
Try me on for size
Ooh, the way you squeeze me, baby,
Red balloons just pop behind my eyes
Ooh, the way you squeeze me, girl,
Red balloons just pop behind my eyes
Open up your pocketbook,
Get another quarter out,
Drop it in the meter, mama
Try me on for size
Open up your pocketbook,
Get another quarter out,
Drop it in the meter, mama
Try me on for size
Do you really wanna please me?
Well, you know I do, babe
Well, tell me why you do it
I really wanna know
Oh, no, no, it wouldn't be right
For me to tell you tonight
You better tell me right away
Or I'll pack up and go!
Don't get mad
It ain't no big thing
You better tell me right away,
Don't you treat me cold
HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT!
Well, there are a lot of reasons why I'd... I'd drag a girl such as yourself back to this... plastic hotel room and... rip you off for spare change to run a... to run a vibrating machine attached to this queen-size, bulk-purchase, kapok-infested, do-not-remove-tag-under-penalty-of-law type bed and... and make you take off all your little clothes... until you were nearly STARK RAVING NUDE! (Save for your chrome-with-heavy-duty-leather-thong Peace Medallion, heh...) And make you assume a series of marginally erotic poses involving... a plastic chair and... an old guitar strap while I... did a wee-wee in your hair and... beat you with a pair of tennis shoes... I got from Jeff Beck
The lyrics of "Magic Fingers" by Frank Zappa are a perfect example of his signature irony and humor. The song seems to be about a man who is being pleased by a woman in a very unique way. He is getting so hard that he could die from the way she is loving him, and every time she squeezes him, he sees red balloons behind his eyes. The woman is also singing to him, asking if he really wants to please her, to which he responds that he does. She wants to know why he does it, but he says that he cannot tell her that night. Then, the woman threatens to leave if he doesn't tell her why he pleases her, and so he describes a ridiculous scenario in which he would rip her off, make her take off her clothes, assume erotic poses, while he beat her with tennis shoes.
The underlying message of the song is about the exploitation of people in general by others who have power over them, and how people can be tricked into accepting what they are given or arranged. Zappa is addressing how shallow society can be and how easily people are willing to sell out to corporations and institutions. The song is a satirical commentary on society's obsession with instant gratification, which is symbolized by the "Magic Fingers," or pleasuring a quick and flimsy fix from their issues in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the way you love me, lady,
I get so hard now I could die
Your love is overwhelming that is making me both physically and emotionally excited.
Open up your pocketbook,
Get another quarter out,
Drop it in the meter, mama
Try me on for size
Use the money as a metaphorical reference to buy the pleasure of Frank's love, and feel his love wrapped around you.
Ooh, the way you squeeze me, baby,
Red balloons just pop behind my eyes
Ooh, the way you squeeze me, girl,
Red balloons just pop behind my eyes
The feeling of your love is so immense that it creates such overwhelming excitement that it causes hallucination.
Do you really wanna please me?
Asking if you are serious about pleasing Frank sexually.
Well, you know I do, babe
The desire to please Frank is genuine.
Well, tell me why you do it
I really wanna know
Asking for the reason behind your desire to please Frank.
Oh, no, no, it wouldn't be right
For me to tell you tonight
Unwillingness to share this information at this moment in time.
You better tell me right away
Or I'll pack up and go!
Demanding the reason to be told immediately, as failure to do so could lead to the end of the relationship.
Don't get mad
It ain't no big thing
Requesting you not to react excessively. As there is no real issue and it is not something worth getting mad over.
You better tell me right away,
Don't you treat me cold
Demanding to be told the reason immediately, and to not be treated with contempt or disrespect.
HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT!
A sudden interruption in the song and dialogue, and Frank's denial of the things he has said which were inappropriate.
Well, there are a lot of reasons why I'd... I'd drag a girl such as yourself back to this... plastic hotel room and... rip you off for spare change to run a... to run a vibrating machine attached to this queen-size, bulk-purchase, kapok-infested, do-not-remove-tag-under-penalty-of-law type bed and... and make you take off all your little clothes... until you were nearly STARK RAVING NUDE! (Save for your chrome-with-heavy-duty-leather-thong Peace Medallion, heh...) And make you assume a series of marginally erotic poses involving... a plastic chair and... an old guitar strap while I... did a wee-wee in your hair and... beat you with a pair of tennis shoes... I got from Jeff Beck
A satirical commentary on men who treat women as objects, and conversation that is inappropriate and nonsensical, to highlight how ridiculous and disgusting it can sound when expressed openly.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Zappa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andythomas706
Its also one of Franks best ever guitar solos! Beautifully contructed from start to finish 'no overdubs', Lets be honest its breathtaking stuff!!
@babkeebabkus8177
@Mouse Fitzgerald it sounds like a kiss song a couple years before kiss existed...hmm
@maryk446
I was just thinking the same as I listened to this song again after many years. My guess is that even guitar greats like Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page were impressed with this.
@masonmcgowan2825
I’VE BEEN IN THE BAND FOR YEARS, AND I KNOW HE’S ALWAYS LISTENING.
@TMrreviews
That’s exactly what he does.
@chaosmos24
Best song from this album/film. This is a perfect parody of rock music, and it does the job better than most examples of its target. Sublime.
@andythomas706
For me this is one of FZ's very best recorded solos. It's SO organic! Interesting that it's pretty much the only appearance he makes in the movie.
@PhatPoodles
You can also see him playing drums in lonesome cowboy burt
@chrismokusiga1597
If you mean studio recorded then yes, you could be right.
@synthonaplinth5980
@Zolar Czakl The only exception would have been that the bass parts were overdubbed as they were too difficult for Martin Lickert.