The Spew King
Frank Zappa Lyrics


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Howard: I think the big problem, Ian, is that it sort of gotta go "HOO-HAA!" as you do it. HOO-WAAARGH!
Ian: You're gonna be the king, the spew king, really
?: Disintegrated in two seconds
Howard: Walter Dale
?: Oh, God, there's a few people here, I didn't
?: There are a lot people here
?: My God
?: They're all twelve years old and pimply
Aynsley: Are they penetratable?





Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Spew King present a dialogue among several characters who seem to be discussing the performance of someone named Ian, who is becoming known as the Spew King. The first lines of the song suggest that there might be some difficulty in achieving the desired sound effect, the "HOO-HAA!" that Ian should be able to produce. The song then proceeds to describe the excitement surrounding Ian's new title, with one of the characters exclaiming "You're gonna be the king, the spew king, really". We also get a sense of the crowd that has gathered to witness Ian's performance, with some of the characters reacting to the "pimply", twelve-year-old youngsters present.


However, the most peculiar and disturbing aspect of the lyrics is the final line spoken by Aynsley, asking if the young audience is penetrable. The line can be interpreted in several ways, all of them disturbing, such as suggesting that Aynsley is a predator, or that he believes that the youngsters won't understand or appreciate the performance. In any case, the line adds a dark undertone to what might have otherwise seemed like a humorous song about a performance artist.


Line by Line Meaning

Howard: I think the big problem, Ian, is that it sort of gotta go "HOO-HAA!" as you do it. HOO-WAAARGH!
Howard is expressing his concern that Ian's performance lacks the excitement it needs. He is suggesting that it should have more force behind it, something like a "HOO-HAA!" or "HOO-WAAARGH!"


Ian: You're gonna be the king, the spew king, really
Ian is encouraging his friend to really get into the performance and embrace their ability to make the audience react, even if it means being the 'spew king.'


?: Disintegrated in two seconds
Unknown speaker is making a vague comment that something will not stand up to scrutiny for very long, using the metaphor of disintegration.


Howard: Walter Dale
Howard is either calling out a person's name or possibly referring to a place. The meaning is unclear without additional context.


?: Oh, God, there's a few people here, I didn't
Unknown speaker is expressing surprise or possibly panic at the sight of an unexpected audience.


?: There are a lot people here
Unknown speaker is pointing out that there is a large audience present.


?: My God
Unknown speaker is expressing shock or surprise at something that has just happened or been revealed.


?: They're all twelve years old and pimply
Unknown speaker is commenting on the appearance of the audience, suggesting that they are young and not very attractive.


Aynsley: Are they penetratable?
Aynsley is asking if the audience is receptive to their performance, using sexually suggestive language to make the point.




Contributed by Audrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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