Zappa disbanded the original Mothers of Invention line-up in 1970 to create music under his own name, but shortly reformed an entirely new band sometimes known as "The Mothers". This new incarnation had a strong vaudeville style and were much bawdier than before, with new vocalists Flo & Eddie, previously of the Turtles, taking the lead. After Zappa was pushed offstage in the Rainbow Theatre in 1971, he broke up this second band and concentrated on a jazzier style with a short-lived big band called the Grand Wazoo, but returned with a third lineup of the Mothers in 1973. This reformed group retained musical similarities to the previous group and the chamber music of the late '60s Mothers, but with a tighter, funkier sound; George Duke's soulful vocals being perhaps the most memorable addition. Whilst members of the new Mothers frequently appeared on albums credited solely to Zappa, three albums, Overnite Sensation, Roxy & Elsewhere and One Size Fits All display the name Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.
The Mothers of Invention (1966-1969)
Frank Zappa - Musical director, guitar & vocals
Ray Collins - Lead vocalist, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers 1966-early 1967, September 1967-August 1968
Jim Black - Drums
Roy Estrada - Bass & guitarron; boy soprano
Elliot Ingber - Alternate lead & rhythm guitar early 1966-September 1966
Jim Fielder - guitar, piano late 1966-February 1967
Don Preston - keyboards November 1966-August 1969
Bunk Gardner - woodwinds November 1966-August 1969
Billy Mundi - Drums November 1966-Decmber 1967
Euclid James Motorhead Sherwood - soprano, tambourine baritone saxophone & Roadie 1966, September 1967-August 1969
Ian Underwood -Woodwinds,Saxophone July 1967-August 1969
Arthur Dyer Tripp III - drums, timpani, vibes, marimba, xylophone, wood blocks, bells, small chimes December 1967-August 1969
Lowell George - Rhythm Guitar November 1968-May 1969
Buzz Gardner November 1968- August 1969
Core discography (note that the band's canon is nebulous, due to the often poorly demarcated overlap with Frank Zappa's solo discography; this list additionally omits albums released after the breakup of the band)
1966 - Freak Out!
1967 - Absolutely Free
1968 - We're Only in It for the Money
1968 - Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
1969 - Uncle Meat
1970 - Burnt Weeny Sandwich
1970 - Weasels Ripped My Flesh
1971 - Fillmore East - June 1971
1971 - 200 Motels
1972 - Just Another Band from L.A.
1972 - The Grand Wazoo
1973 - Over-Nite Sensation
1974 - Roxy & Elsewhere
1975 - One Size Fits All
1975 - Bongo Fury (with Captain Beefheart)
Brown Shoes Don't Make It
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brown shoes don't make it
Quit school, why fake it
Brown shoes don't make it
Tv dinner by the pool
Watch your brother grow a beard
Got another year of school
Be a plumber
He's a bummer
He's a bummer every summer
Be a loyal plastic robot
For a world that doesn't care
Smile at every ugly
Shine on your shoes and cut your hair
Be a jerk - go to work
Be a jerk - go to work
Be a jerk - go to work
Be a jerk - go to work
Do your job, and do it right
Life's a ball
Tv tonight
Do you love it
Do you hate it
There it is
The way you made it
A world of secret hungers
Perverting the men who make your laws
Every desire is hidden away
In a drawer in a desk by a Naugahyde chair
On a rug where they walk and drool
Past the girls in the office
His wife's attending an orchid show
She squealed for a week to get him to go
But back in the bed his teen-age queen
Is rocking and rolling and acting obscene
Baby baby...
Baby baby...
And he loves it, he loves it
It curls up his toes
She wipes his fat neck
And it lights up his nose
But he cannot be fooled
Old city hall Fred
She's nasty, she's nasty
She digs it in bed
Do it again, ha
And do it some more
That does it, by golly
it's nasty for sure
Nasty nasty nasty
Nasty nasty nasty
Only thirteen, and she knows how to nasty
She's a dirty young mind, corrupted
Corroded
Well she's thirteen today
And I hear she gets loaded
If she were my daughter, I'd
What would you do, daddy?
If she were my daughter, I'd
What would you do, daddy?
If she were my daughter, I'd
What would you do, daddy?
Smother my daughter in chocolate syrup
And strap her on again, oh baby
Smother that girl in chocolate syrup
And strap her on again
She's a teen-age baby
She turns me on
I'd like to make her do a nasty
On the white house lawn
Gonna smother my daughter in chocolate syrup
And boogie 'til the cows come home
Time to go home
Madge is on the phone
Gotta meet the gurneys and a dozen grey attorneys
Tv dinner by the pool
I'm so glad I finished school
Life is such a ball
I run the world from city hall
The song Brown Shoes Don't Make It by The Mothers of Invention is a cynical critique of middle-class conformity and the dissatisfaction that arises from following the prescribed formulas of success. The lyrics mock the idea that success in life can be achieved through simply following societal norms such as getting a good education, dressing well, and working hard. The repetition of the titular line "Brown shoes don't make it" reinforces the message that superficialities do not equate to satisfaction or fulfillment in life.
The lyrics also touch on the themes of hypocrisy and sexual deviance, with a focus on the corruptive power of power itself. References to secret hungers, perverted lawmakers, and teenage girls acting obscene with older men point to a larger societal sickness that affects even those in powerful positions. The lines "She's nasty, she's nasty, she digs it in bed" and "Only thirteen, and she knows how to nasty" are particularly disturbing and highlight the objectification and abuse of young women.
Overall, the song can be seen as a condemnation of the culture of conformity and the dangers of allowing those in power to become corrupted by their own desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Brown shoes don't make it
Wearing brown shoes alone does not make you successful or accepted in society
Quit school, why fake it
If you don't plan on putting effort into school, there's no point in pretending to care or waste your time
Tv dinner by the pool
A sense of materialism and a shallow lifestyle accompanied by little fulfillment or real excitement
Watch your brother grow a beard
A symbol of resisting conformity and societal norms
Got another year of school
A feeling of being stuck in the same pattern with little change or progress
You're okay, he's too weird
If someone seems different or out-of-place, society deems them as an outsider
Be a plumber, he's a bummer
Society devalues blue-collar jobs, despite them being necessary for daily life
Be a loyal plastic robot, for a world that doesn't care
Success and conformity are more important than individuality, despite being unappreciated
Smile at every ugly, shine on your shoes and cut your hair
Putting on a facade of prettiness and normality, despite the existence of struggles and hardship
Be a jerk - go to work
The reality of work is often unfulfilling and unpleasant, yet it's still necessary to survive
Do your job, and do it right
The expectation of succeeding in a dull and meaningless routine, with no room for growth or creativity
Life's a ball, Tv tonight
The lack of excitement and fulfillment in life, often compensated by entertainment and media
A world of secret hungers, perverting the men who make your laws
Politicians and lawmakers subject to hidden desires and vices, influenced by societal pressure
Every desire is hidden away, in a drawer in a desk by a Naugahyde chair
Secret vices and desires are often hidden from public view, represented by a specific piece of furniture
On a rug where they walk and drool, past the girls in the office
The seemingly innocent and unassuming traits of men interacting with women in a work environment, often with ulterior motives
His wife's attending an orchid show, she squealed for a week to get him to go
Society and gender roles at play, where women are made to appear more shallow and frivolous compared to their male counterparts
But back in the bed his teen-age queen, is rocking and rolling and acting obscene
The hypocrisy and double standards of society, where adult men can have inappropriate relations with underage girls
She's a dirty young mind, corrupted, corroded
The negative consequences of societal pressure and expectations on the young and impressionable
Well she's thirteen today, and I hear she gets loaded
A sense of shock and disgust at the young and vulnerable being exposed to harmful and negative behaviors
Smother my daughter in chocolate syrup, and strap her on again
A disturbing and inappropriate desire to control and manipulate another individual
She's a teen-age baby, she turns me on, I'd like to make her do a nasty on the white house lawn
An example of the glorification of inappropriate and illegal behavior, as well as the double standards between genders
Gonna smother my daughter in chocolate syrup, and boogie 'til the cows come home
A disturbing reiteration of previous lyrics, emphasizing the control and domination the individual desires
Madge is on the phone, gotta meet the gurneys and a dozen grey attorneys
The mundanity and tediousness of everyday life, accompanied by the presence of dull and lifeless individuals
Life is such a ball, I run the world from city hall
The sense of power and influence one may feel in their job or position, despite its insignificance in the grand scheme of things
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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Jway
This song is so important to me and my mental health
nownzen77
this was the first Zappa song I ever heard...and I've loved him ever since!!!! I was about 12...
Rickity1
Powerful stuff...they don't wtite 'em like this anymore!
randyslicker
this goes onto my "in breach of good taste" playlist.
npspec34
Great Post. When Zappa took the Mothers to NYC they were playing in an old theater and they put a sign outside which said "Absolutely Free" so as to draw in the masses. "His wife's attending an orchid show..."
polycarpx
This is like classic Mad Magazine turned into music. I was listening to this shit when other kids were listening to Journeyand Quaterflash. The end always reminded me of a dryer turned on high, totally hypnotized me.
dynamoehummm
Can't believe they allow this vile and pernicious slime today. With all we know about TV dinners being unhealthy and the stylish new brown varietals of footwear available. I do however, wonder how this song if brought up in that Crossfire interview would have been handled by Zappa lol.
maxmaxmaxmax12
NASTY NASTY NASTY