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)
Why Don't You Do Me Right
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don'tcha do me right?
Why don'tcha do me right?
You got me pulled up tight
You got me beggin' on my knees
You got me beggin' on my knees
You got me beggin' on my knees
Say-in' baby please
Come back to me
You're tryin' to wreck my life
I know you're tryin' to wreck my life
I know you're tryin' to wreck my life
And all I wanted was a wife
I know you're tryin' to wreck my life
Now what you tryin' to do?
Now what you tryin' to do?
Now what you tryin' to do?
I been true to you
Now what you tryin' to do?
Why don'tcha do me right?
Why don'tcha do me right?
Why don'tcha do me right?
You got me pulled up tight
Why don'tcha do me right?
(But baby, I think I love you
But baby, I think I love you)
Why don'tcha do me right?
Why don'tcha do me right?
Why don'tcha do me right?
I wanna boogie yah all night
Why don'tcha do me right?
The Mothers of Invention's song Why Don’tcha Do Me Right? talks about the frustration of a man with a woman who seems to toy with his emotions. The song starts with the repeated line "Why don'tcha do me right?", indicating that the man is fed up with the woman's behavior. He feels as though she has him "pulled up tight" and is trying to wreck his life, despite his desire for a committed relationship. He pleads with her, "Say-in' baby please, come back to me" and questions her intentions asking, "Now what you tryin' to do?".
Despite the frustration, the man seems to be in love with the woman, as he admits "But baby, I think I love you". He ultimately wants to "boogie yah all night" with her and makes one final plea for her to treat him right. The song is a commentary on the difficulties of relationships and the power dynamics that can exist between partners.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don'tcha do me right?
Asking the person why they are not treating them well.
You got me pulled up tight
Feeling controlled or suffocated by the other person's actions.
You got me beggin' on my knees
Desperately pleading for the other person's attention or affection.
Say-in' baby please, come back to me
Begging for the other person to return to the relationship or reconcile.
I know you're tryin' to wreck my life
Feeling like the other person is intentionally causing harm or chaos in their life.
And all I wanted was a wife
Expressing the desire for a committed and serious relationship with the other person.
Now what you tryin' to do?
Questioning the other person's motives or actions.
I been true to you
Asserting that they have been faithful and loyal to the other person.
But baby, I think I love you
Admitting feelings of love for the other person, despite the difficulties in the relationship.
I wanna boogie yah all night
Expressing a desire for a fun and enjoyable time with the other person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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