Man With the Woman Head
Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart Lyrics
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The man with the woman head
Polynesian wallpaper made the face stand out,
a mixture of Oriental and early vaudeville jazz poofter,
forming a hard, beetle-like triangular chin much like a praying mantis.
Smoky razor-cut, low on the ear neck profile.
The face the color of a nicotine-stained hand.
map-like from too much turquoise eyepaint.
He showed his old tongue through ill-fitting wooden teeth,
stained from too much opium, chipped from the years.
The feet, brown wrinkles above straw loafers.
A piece of cocoanut in a pink seashell caught the tongue
and knotted into thin white strings.
Charcoal grey Eisenhower jacket zipped into a load(?) of green ascot.
A coil of ashes collected on the white-on-yellow dacs.
Four slender bones with rings and nails
endured the weight of a hard fast black rubber cigarette holder.
I could just make out Ace as he carried the tray and mouthed,
"You cheap son of a bitch"
as a straw fell out of a Coke, cartwheeled into the gutter.
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood,
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood,
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood
The lyrics of "Man With The Woman Head" by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart paint a vivid and eccentric portrait of a peculiar character. The song describes a man with a unique appearance and style, contrasting elements of Polynesian wallpaper, Oriental influence, and early vaudeville jazz aesthetics. The man's face is described as having a hard, triangular chin reminiscent of a praying mantis, with a smoky razor-cut hairstyle and a complexion resembling a nicotine-stained hand. Dark circles under his eyes suggest fatigue or perhaps indulgence in excessive turquoise eyepaint. His wooden teeth, stained from opium use, add to the unconventional nature of his appearance.
The song continues to describe the man's attire and accessories, including brown wrinkled feet above straw loafers, a piece of cocoanut in a pink seashell caught on his tongue, and a charcoal grey Eisenhower jacket paired with a green ascot. A coil of ashes collects on the man's yellow pants, while four slender bones adorned with rings and nails hold a black rubber cigarette holder. Amidst this scene, there is a brief interaction where someone named Ace mouths disapproval to the man, referring to him as a "cheap son of a bitch," and a straw falls out of a Coke, cartwheeling into the gutter.
Overall, the lyrics of "Man With The Woman Head" provide a detailed description of the peculiar appearance and presence of this enigmatic character, set in a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood. The lyrics capture a sense of intrigue, as the listener is invited to imagine the unusual combination of influences, styles, and habits that make up the man's identity.
Line by Line Meaning
The man with the woman head
A person with a peculiar appearance, possessing traits that are traditionally associated with both genders.
Polynesian wallpaper made the face stand out,
The background setting emphasized the uniqueness of the person's face.
a mixture of Oriental and early vaudeville jazz poofter,
The face portrayed a blend of Asian and old-fashioned theatrical flamboyance.
forming a hard, beetle-like triangular chin much like a praying mantis.
The chin had a distinct shape resembling that of an insect, particularly a praying mantis.
Smoky razor-cut, low on the ear neck profile.
The hairstyle involved a short, smoky-edged cut that extended close to the person's ears.
The face the color of a nicotine-stained hand.
The person's facial complexion had a similar yellowish tint as that of a hand stained by nicotine.
Dark circles collected under the wrinkled, folded eyes,
There were noticeable areas of darkness under the person's tired, folded eyes.
map-like from too much turquoise eyepaint.
The skin around the eyes had a mottled appearance due to excessive use of turquoise-colored eyepaint.
He showed his old tongue through ill-fitting wooden teeth,
The person displayed their aged tongue while wearing dentures made of wood that didn't fit properly.
stained from too much opium, chipped from the years.
The tongue was discolored from prolonged opium use and had become damaged over time.
The feet, brown wrinkles above straw loafers.
The person's feet had wrinkled skin with a brownish hue, visible above their shoes made of straw material.
A piece of coconut in a pink seashell caught the tongue and knotted into thin white strings.
A coconut fragment placed inside a pink seashell got tangled with the person's tongue, resembling thin white strings.
Charcoal grey Eisenhower jacket zipped into a load(?) of green ascot.
The person wore a dark grey Eisenhower-style jacket, with a green ascot tucked underneath.
A coil of ashes collected on the white-on-yellow dacs.
A spiral of cigarette ashes had accumulated on the person's white clothing with yellow accents.
Four slender bones with rings and nails endured the weight of a hard fast black rubber cigarette holder.
The person's fingers, adorned with rings and nails, supported the weight of a sturdy, black rubber cigarette holder.
I could just make out Ace as he carried the tray and mouthed,
From my perspective, I could barely discern Ace silently expressing himself while carrying the tray.
"You cheap son of a bitch" as a straw fell out of a Coke, cartwheeled into the gutter.
Ace insultingly muttered, calling someone a derogatory term, as a drinking straw fell out of a Coca-Cola and playfully rolled into the street's drainage system.
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood,
The scene took place in a Hollywood drive-in restaurant.
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood,
Indeed, this was a drive-in restaurant, specifically situated in Hollywood.
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood
Confirming that the location was indeed a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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