Let's Make the Water Turn Black
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics

Now believe me when I tell you that my song is really true
I want you to listen and trust that what I'm about to say is real

It's about some little people from a long time ago
This story is about a group of individuals who lived a long time ago

And all the things the neighbors didn't know
This story reveals details about these people that their neighbors didn't know

Early in the morning daddy dinky went to work
At the start of the day, daddy dinky went to sell furniture and lighting products

Selling lamps and chairs to San Bernadino squares
He sold lamps and chairs to people living in San Bernadino

And I still remember mama with her apron and her pad
I can clearly recall my mother wearing an apron and holding a notepad

Feeding all the boys at Ed's cafe!
She fed all the male customers at Ed's cafe

Whizzing and pasting and pooting through the day...
They spent most of their time creating and experimenting

(Ronnie helping Kenny helping burn his poots away!)
Ronnie helped Kenny burn something away, likely gas or waste

And all the while on a shelf in the shed:
On a shelf in their shed there were objects they created

Kenny's little creatures on display!
Kenny put his creations on display to show off to others

Ronnie saves his numies on a window in his room
Ronnie keeps his collection in his room on display

(a marvel to be seen: dysentery green)
The colors of his collection were bright and impressive

While Kenny & his buddies had a game out in the back:
While Kenny and his friends play a game outside

Let's make the water turn black
They decided to experiment with making the water turn a dark color

We see them after school in a world of their own
After school, these individuals do their own thing and live in their own world

(to some it might seem creepy what they do...)
To some, their behavior may seem strange or disturbing

The neighbors on the right sat and watched them every night
Their neighbors observed them every night

(I bet you'd do the same if they was you)
You would probably do the same thing if you were in their shoes

Ronnie's in the army now and Kenny's taking pills
Ronnie is now in the army, and Kenny is taking medication

Oh! how they yearn to see a bomber burn!
They have a strong desire to witness something explode, possibly a bomber plane

Color flashing, thunder crashing, dynamite machine!
They imagine the intense, exhilarating experience of seeing something like this happen

(wait till the fire turns green...wait till the fire turns green)
They eagerly anticipate and wait for the moment when it happens

This would be a little bit of vocal teen-age heaven, right here on earth!
They imagine how exciting and thrilling it would be to see something like this

Dodn-do-do-dodn-dodn-dodn-dada
This is a musical interlude