ZZ Top formed after Gibbons' previous band, Moving Sidewalks, disbanded in 1969. Within a year, they signed with London Records and released ZZ Top's First Album in 1971. Subsequent releases, such as Tres Hombres (1973) and Fandango! (1975), and the singles "La Grange" and "Tush", gained extensive radio airplay. By the mid-1970s, ZZ Top had become renowned in North America for their live act, including the Worldwide Texas Tour (1976–1977), which was a critical and commercial success.
After a hiatus, ZZ Top returned in 1979 with a new musical direction and image, with Gibbons and Hill wearing sunglasses and matching chest-length beards. With the album El Loco (1981), they began to experiment with synthesizers and drum machines. They established a more mainstream sound and rose to international stardom with Eliminator (1983) and Afterburner (1985), which integrated influences from new wave, punk, and dance-rock. The popularity of these albums' music videos, including those for "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Legs", gave them mass exposure on television channel MTV and made them prominent artists in 1980s pop culture. The Afterburner tour set records for the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour of 1986.
After gaining additional acclaim with the release of their tenth album Recycler (1990), and its accompanying tour, the group's experimentation continued with mixed success on the albums Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), XXX (1999), and Mescalero (2003). They most recently released La Futura (2012) and Goin' 50 (2019), a compilation album commemorating the band's 50th anniversary. By the time of Hill's death in 2021, ZZ Top had become the longest-running band with an unchanged lineup in the history of popular music. Per Hill's wishes, he was replaced by their longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis on bass.
ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2004, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Gibbons the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time. The band members have supported campaigns and charities including Childline, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and a fundraiser for the Delta Blues Museum.
Studio albums
ZZ Top's First Album (1971)
Rio Grande Mud (1972)
Tres Hombres (1973)
Fandango! (1975)
Tejas (1976)
Degüello (1979)
El Loco (1981)
Eliminator (1983)
Afterburner (1985)
Recycler (1990)
Antenna (1994)
Rhythmeen (1996)
XXX (1999)
Mescalero (2003)
La Futura (2012)
Dusted
ZZ Top Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep something in your pocket knock you off your feet
Rollin tight rollin slow roll it right
I know you wanna go
Get dusted
Dusted
Get your baby and grab your freak
Take insurance in the shade of green
Take a back street where you won't been seen
And get dusted
With a dustball
Dusted
Get a big mother fucker on the line
Take a sweet sip like a fine wine
Roll it tight roll it slow roll it right
I know you're gonna wanna go
Get dusted
Get dusted
Get dusted
Get dusted
The lyrics to ZZ Top's "Dusted" depict a carefree attitude towards life, encouraging listeners to let loose and have some fun. The verses describe various actions a person can take to achieve this feeling of being "dusted" - getting their brakes and beats, keeping something in their pocket, rolling tight, and getting their baby and freak. This all seems to point towards the idea of indulging in vices, possibly drugs and alcohol, to achieve a euphoric and carefree state of mind.
The chorus repeats the phrase "get dusted" several times, emphasizing the desire to attain this feeling. The lyrics also highlight the idea of doing things outside of the norm, taking back streets and avoiding being seen. It's possible that the song is also referencing the band's own experiences with drug and alcohol use, as ZZ Top was known for their rockstar lifestyle during the 70s and 80s.
Overall, the lyrics to "Dusted" promote the idea of living in the moment and enjoying the pleasures of life, even if it means getting a little wild and reckless.
Line by Line Meaning
Get your brakes and get your beats
Prepare yourself and your car for a journey filled with excitement and music.
Keep something in your pocket knock you off your feet
Make sure you have a thrilling, possibly illegal substance on hand to enhance your experience.
Rollin tight rollin slow roll it right
Drive your car smoothly and carefully, enjoying the ride to its fullest extent.
I know you wanna go
Indicates the excitement and eagerness to begin the journey and get high.
Get dusted
To become intoxicated with illegal substances or to have a great time filled with excitement.
Get your baby and grab your freak
Bring someone special to share the experience of getting high with you.
Get your boots, you gotta hit the street
Make sure you're dressed and ready for a night out on the town, getting dusted.
Take insurance in the shade of green
Make sure to possess illegal substances that have enticing green hues and are high-quality.
Take a back street where you won't been seen
Travel down side streets that are less likely to be populated, so you can get high in peace and privacy.
With a dustball
Having a great time or high from illegal substances, possibly in reference to a dust cloud.
Get a big mother fucker on the line
Acquire a large amount of an illegal substance to get high with.
Take a sweet sip like a fine wine
Enjoy the rush of the substance as if it's a delicious and expensive drink.
Get dusted
To become intoxicated with illegal substances or to have a great time filled with excitement.
Get dusted
To become intoxicated with illegal substances or to have a great time filled with excitement.
Get dusted
To become intoxicated with illegal substances or to have a great time filled with excitement.
Get dusted
To become intoxicated with illegal substances or to have a great time filled with excitement.
Contributed by Claire T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
O P Parassni Praveen
on future's so bright, i gotta
Which year was this single released