In 1975 guitarist and composer Frank Zappa asked composer and multi-instrum… Read Full Bio ↴In 1975 guitarist and composer Frank Zappa asked composer and multi-instrumentalist Captain Beefheart to join him and his band on their 1975 tour. The tour resulted in the release of one album, Bongo Fury, which featured recordings from two nights in May 1975 at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas, as well as recordings from a Frank Zappa studio sessions in January 1974. This would be Zappa and Beefheart’s only true full-fledged release, though Zappa is credited for the production of Beefheart’s masterpiece 1969 album Trout Mask Replica and Beefheart has contributed vocals and various instrumentation to different Zappa releases.

Cucamonga
Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart Lyrics

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Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals)
Captain beefheart (harp, vocals)
George duke (keyboards, vocals)
Napoleon murphy brock (saxophone, vocals)
Bruce fowler (trombone)
Tom fowler (bass)
Denny walley (slide guitar, vocals)
Chester thompson (drums)

Out in cucamonga
Many years ago
Near a holy roller church
There was once a place
Where me and a couple of friends
Began practicing for the time
We might go on tv

And as fate would have it
Later on we got a chance to play.
All we ever really knew:

That it was crazy (nanook, no-no)
To be doin' it any other way

Overall Meaning

The song "Cucamonga" by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart is a nostalgic reminder of the early days of their musical journey. The lyrics are about a place called Cucamonga where they used to practice in the vicinity of a holy roller church. The first verse paints a picture of the past with "many years ago" recalling memories of their early musical experiences. It's clear that the place was significant to Frank and his friends as they spent a considerable amount of time practicing for their future performances on TV.

The second verse refers to the opportunities that came their way after practicing in Cucamonga. The line "As fate would have it, later on, we got a chance to play" suggests that being in the right place at the right time, coupled with their talent and hard work paid off. They didn't know much about the music industry other than what they were doing was unconventional, ("that it was crazy") and while they found their own way, there was no other way.

Throughout the song, the lyrics emphasize the importance of taking risks, being unconventional, and going against the norm. It's a tribute to the values of the counterculture and the rebellious spirit that fueled the rock and roll movement of the time.

Line by Line Meaning

Out in Cucamonga
In the city of Cucamonga

Many years ago
A long time in the past

Near a holy roller church
Close to a church of religious enthusiasts

There was once a place
There existed a location

Where me and a couple of friends
Where I and a few companions

Began practicing for the time
Started preparing for a future event

We might go on TV
Where we had aspirations to appear on television

And as fate would have it
Things worked out as though predetermined

Later on we got a chance to play.
At a later date, an opportunity to perform presented itself

All we ever really knew:
The only thing that we were certain about

That it was crazy (Nanook, no-no)
Was that it was unconventional, like naming a dog Nanook