Pick Me I'm Clean
Frank Zappa Lyrics


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Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals)
Ike willis (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Ray white (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Steve vai (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Warren cucurullo (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Denny walley (slide guitar, vocals)
Tommy mars (keyboards, vocals)
Peter wolf (keyboards)
Bob harris (keyboards, trumpet, vocals)
Ed mann (percussion)
Arthur barrow (bass, vocals)
Vinnie colaiuta (drums)

Why not come over?
You'll meet my mother
You'll meet my sister
You'll like my brother
Really you will...

Then she said,
I'm learning english
I can say "thank you"
I think I like you
Do you like my band-aid?
I hope you do...

Oh, oh, oh, oh
I am not busy
I'm free to travel
Where are you going?
Maybe you'll take me
I hope you do...

Oh, oh, she asked me
Do you know vinnie?
He used to like me
I speak good english
I'm bathing with peter
Pick me, I'm clean...
Vinnie goes bare-back
Peter goes wet-back
Denny goes way back
Eddie should get back
Pick me I'm clean...

Oh yeah, pick me I'm clean
Oh yeah, check out my band-aid
Oh yeah, pick me I'm clean
Oh yeah, check out my band-aid
Oh yeah, pick me I'm clean
Oh yeah, check out my band-aid
Oh yeah, pick me I'm clean
Oh yeah...

Why not come over?
You'll meet my mother
You'll meet my sister
You'll like my brother
Really you will...

I'm learning english
I can say "thank you"
I think I like you
Do you like my band-aid?
I hope you do...

I am not busy
I'm free to travel
Where are you going?
Maybe you'll take me
I hope you do...

Do you know vinnie?
He used to like me
I speak good english




I'm bathing with peter
Pick me, I'm clean...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Frank Zappa's song Pick Me I provide a satirical commentary on the superficiality of relationships that are based on physical attraction and personal gain. The female narrator speaks broken English, which suggests that she may be using sexuality and the exoticism of her foreignness to appeal to the male character. She is eager to impress him, showing off her band-aid and mentioning famous men she claims to know, like Vinnie Colaiuta, a well-known drummer who played with Zappa. The male character is non-committal, using vague language about travel plans and avoiding any real connection beyond a physical attraction to the woman.


The repetition of the phrase "pick me I'm clean" throughout the song reinforces the idea that the woman is attempting to prove her worthiness as a sexual partner, appealing to the male character's desire for cleanliness or purity. The use of multiple vocalists and guitarists creates a chaotic and disjointed sound that mirrors the disjointed nature of the relationship portrayed in the lyrics.


Overall, the song offers a scathing critique of objectification, fetishization of cultural difference, and shallow relationships based on superficial attraction.


Line by Line Meaning

Why not come over?
The singer invites someone to come over.


You'll meet my mother
The singer's mother lives with them, and they want to introduce the person to her.


You'll meet my sister
The singer has a sister who also lives with them, and they want to introduce the person to her as well.


You'll like my brother
The artist believes that the person will enjoy meeting their brother.


Really you will...
The artist is confident that the person will like their family members.


I'm learning english
The singer is not a native English speaker and is still improving their language skills.


I can say 'thank you'
The singer is proud of their improvement and wants to show it off.


I think I like you
The artist admits to having feelings for the person they're talking to.


Do you like my band-aid?
The artist is wearing a band-aid and wonders if the person thinks it's cool or interesting.


I hope you do...
The artist wants the person to like them and hopes that the band-aid helps.


Oh, oh, oh, oh
An interjection conveying the singer's excitement.


I am not busy
The artist has a lot of free time and is available to spend time with the person they're talking to.


I'm free to travel
The singer has no obligations and can go on a trip if asked.


Where are you going?
The singer is curious about the person's travel plans.


Maybe you'll take me
The singer is hoping that the person will take them along on their trip.


I hope you do...
The artist wants to go on a trip with the person they're talking to.


She asked me
The artist is now referring to the person as female.


Do you know Vinnie?
The singer is curious if the person knows someone named Vinnie.


He used to like me
The singer has a history with Vinnie and is nostalgic.


I speak good English
The artist is proud of their ability to speak English fluently.


I'm bathing with Peter
The artist is taking a bath with a man named Peter, implying intimacy or familiarity.


Pick me, I'm clean...
The artist is suggesting that they are a good choice, emphasizing their cleanliness as a desirable quality.


Vinnie goes bare-back
The singer makes a pun about Vinnie and his sexual habits.


Peter goes wet-back
The artist makes a pun about Peter and his ethnicity.


Denny goes way back
The singer is referring to Denny Walley, suggesting that they have a long history or connection.


Eddie should get back
The singer is talking about Ed Mann, suggesting that he should rejoin the group.


Oh yeah, pick me I'm clean
Reiterating the singer's earlier suggestion that they are the best choice.


Oh yeah, check out my band-aid
Reiterating the artist's earlier desire for the person to notice their band-aid, as a sign of their uniqueness or coolness.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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