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)
TV Dinners
ZZ Top Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
TV dinners, they really can't be beat
I like 'em frozen but you understand
I throw 'em in and wave 'em and I'm a brand new man, oh yeah
TV dinners, they're goin' to my head
TV dinners my skin is turnin' red
Twenty year old turkey in a thirty year old tin
TV dinners, I'm feelin' kinda rough
TV dinners, this one's kinda tough
I like the enchiladas and the teriyaki too
I even like the chicken if the sauce is not too blue
And they're mine, all mine, oh yeah
And they sure are fine
Gotta have 'em, gimme somethin' now
The lyrics to ZZ Top’s song “TV Dinners” describe the singer’s obsession with TV dinners. The singer expresses that there is nothing else to eat besides these frozen dinners, which he claims cannot be beaten. He admits to liking them frozen and explains that he heats them up in a microwave and becomes “a brand new man.” The chorus explains how TV dinners are affecting the singer’s health, with his skin turning red and feeling rough. Despite these negative effects, the singer cannot resist his addiction to TV dinners and loves the teriyaki, enchiladas, and chicken dishes.
The title “TV Dinners” suggests that the song criticizes the culture of convenience and instant gratification. The song depicts a character who has become so dependent on microwaveable dinners that they form an essential part of his character. The twenty-year-old turkey in a thirty-year-old tin underscores the artificiality of these meals, while the line "I like the chicken if the sauce is not too blue" suggests that the singer might even accept subpar quality in his food due to his addiction. The song seems to question the quality of convenience, suggesting that embracing such habits can have detrimental effects.
ZZ Top’s “TV Dinners” stands out for its production style, as it heavily incorporates the use of a drum machine as opposed to a human drummer’s beat. This signature sound was in line with the production style of ZZ Top’s album “Eliminator,” which had a sleek electronic sound that incorporated synthetic drums, keyboards, and guitar effects. Though it was not released as a single, the song remains a fan favorite and is often played during ZZ Top’s live shows.
Line by Line Meaning
TV dinners, there's nothin' else to eat
I have no other option but to eat TV dinners.
TV dinners, they really can't be beat
Nothing else can match the convenience and taste of TV dinners.
I like 'em frozen but you understand
I prefer to eat them straight out of the freezer but that shouldn't surprise you.
I throw 'em in and wave 'em and I'm a brand new man, oh yeah
When I cook TV dinners in the microwave, I come out feeling reinvigorated and refreshed.
TV dinners, they're goin' to my head
I fear that the excessive intake of TV dinners might have adverse effects on my mental health.
TV dinners my skin is turnin' red
I noticed that the sodium content in TV dinners is making my skin flush red.
Twenty year old turkey in a thirty year old tin
The turkey in my TV dinner is older than I can remember, and the packaging is even older.
I can't wait until tomorrow and thaw one out again, oh yeah
I am so addicted to TV dinners that I eagerly anticipate eating them again tomorrow.
TV dinners, I'm feelin' kinda rough
I'm starting to feel ill from eating too many TV dinners.
TV dinners, this one's kinda tough
This particular TV dinner is a bit harder to eat and digest than others.
I like the enchiladas and the teriyaki too
I have a strong preference for the enchilada and teriyaki flavors of TV dinners.
I even like the chicken if the sauce is not too blue
I also enjoy the chicken TV dinners, as long as the sauce doesn't look or taste unnatural.
And they're mine, all mine, oh yeah
I take sole ownership over my precious TV dinners.
And they sure are fine
They really are the best and I have no regrets eating them every day.
Gotta have 'em, gimme somethin' now
I have developed an insatiable craving for TV dinners and need to have one immediately.
Lyrics © Takwene LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Frank Beard, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LMFS
The only band that can sing about topics such as tv dinners, cheap sunglasses, getting paid, waiting for a bus, pincushions, shacks in texas, poke chop sandwiches, and sleeping bags, and still be cool as heck.
progmeup
@jack newman Speaking of trans - ZZ Top did a song called "Zipper Job" in the 90s.
Pure GM
Let's not forget all the songs that cover below the belt line 😄
Lisa Parsons
Yes I agree a great group 😊
Dirty water 9
@jack newman Saw the Kinks plenty of times in the 70s. Dave Davies never got enough credit. That Guy could play amazing live. A pure Rock and Roller.
Dirty water 9
And They were Sharp Dressed !!!!
Kool Kitties
Only ZZ Top could sing about tv dinners and make it sound cool. Facts
Wilfred J. Colon
And pearl necklaces
henry geertman
Yes, Definitely, "Just as long as the sauce is/what "Not too Blue"... (lol)
cleverglimpse
FACT 😎