Frank Zappa - You Are What You Is Lyrics






Do you know what you are?
You are what you is
You is what you am
(A cow don't make ham...)
You ain't what you're not
So see what you got
You are what you is
An' that's all it 'tis
A foolish young man
From a middle class fam'ly
Started singin' the blues
'Cause he thought it was manly
Now he talks like the Kingfish
("Saffiiiee!")
From Amos 'n Andy
("Holy mack'l dere... Holy mack'l dere")
He tells you that chitlins...
Well, they taste just like candy
He thinks that he's got
De whole thang down
From the Nivea Lotion To de Royal Crown
Do you know what you are?
You are what you is
You is what you am
(A cow don't make ham...)
You ain't what you're not
So see what you got
You are what you is
An' that's all it 'tis
A foolish young man
Of the Negro Persuasion
Devoted his life
To become a Caucasian
He stopped eating pork
He stopped eating greens
He traded his dashiki
("Uhuru!")
For some Jordache Jeans
He learned to play golf
An' he got a good score
Now he says to himself
"I AIN'T NO NIGGER NO MORE.
HEY! HEY!
"I don't understand you..."
BWANA MA-COO-BAH"
Would you please speak more clearly..."
MERCEDES BAINNNNNNNZ
Who is who
(I don't know...)
'N what is what
(Somethin' I just don't know...)
'N why is this
(Tell me now...)
Appropriot
(That's a funny pronunciation if 'n ever I heard one...)
If you don't like
(Where'd you get that word?)
What you has got
(Appropriot? The word is not...)
Drop it in the dirt
(Drop it yeah...)
'N let it rot
(I can smell it now...)
Someone else
(Here de come, here de come...)
Will surely come
(I told you they was comin'...)
'N pick it up
(That's right!)
'Cause he wants some
(An'he wants it for free...)
And when one day
(There will come a day...)
You wonder who (I wonder too...)
You used to was
(Who I was anyway...)
'N what you do
(I used to work at the post office...)
You'll scratch your head
(But I don't wanna un-do my doo...)
'N look around
(just to see what's goin' on...)
But what you lost
(Can't seem to find it...)
Will not be found
A Mercedes Benz... Do you know what you are?
(I know...)
You are what you is
(I'm the kinda guy...)
You is what you am
(That ought to be drivin' a Mercedes Benz...)
A cow don't make a ham
(A four-fifty SLC...)
You ain't what your not
(A big of red one...)
So see what you got
(With some golf clubs stickin' out de trunk...)
You are what you is
(I'm gwine down to de links on Saturday mornin'...)
An' that's all it is
(Gimme a five dollar bill...)
YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS
(And an overcoat too...)
AN' THAT'S ALL IT IS
(Robbie, take me to Creek Town...)
YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS
(I'm harder than yer husband; harder than yer husband...)
AN THAT'S ALL IT IS
(I'm goin down to White Street, y'all...)
YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS
(Gone down to the Mudd Club, 'n work the wall...)
AN THAT'S ALL IT IS
('N work the floor 'n work the pipe
'N work the wall some more...
And here we are at the Mudd Club, y'all...





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Frank Zappa You Are What You Is Comments
  1. C.... M....

    Do yourselves a favor kids.. if you want to see the rebuttal to this please listen to the persuasion’s version of this song!
    😃😎

  2. S.... C....

    I too have a head of lettuce

  3. L.... l....

    Hell yeahhhhh I am searching this song for long time!!! Thank you!!!

    Way before Sean Paul 'We be Burning' 😂😂😂😂😂😂

  4. J.... A....

    I just don't no!

  5. C.... H....

    Fantástico É POUCO pra essa obra prima! SENSACIONAL!

  6. t.... ....

    And Warren said she was Indian. Should have listened to Frank.

  7. D.... R....

    Intelligence used to its full potential.👋👍 Love any FZ song.

  8. D.... R....

    Absolute class.

  9. B.... S....

    Remember when this was on Beavis and Butthead?

    B.... S....

    Is this still on?

  10. M.... C....

    This was the very first video I ever saw on MTV back in 1981.

  11. s.... t....

    is this his only music video?

  12. K.... P....

    But.....I'm shit at golf!?

  13. D.... Y....

    Holy Mackel dere!

  14. N.... 1....

    "I'm harder than ya husband, harder than ya husband" 👌

  15. R.... C....

    fabuloso!

  16. c.... g....

    Is that supposed to be Ronald Reagan?

    c.... g....

    No... Nancy I think.

  17. p.... ....

    A big ol' red one!

  18. R.... ....

    Your welcome 2:15

  19. O.... ....

    Pure class!

  20. D.... ....

    I think Zappa would just looooove Trump and he would wear a MAGA hat 24/7

    D.... ....

    You're a fucking idiot.

    D.... ....

    Zappa was about calling out bullshit, not promoting it

    D.... ....

    ​@Antony Marsh He'd definitely be calling out Trump Derangement Syndrome too...

  21. S.... W....

    Who you used to was - Brilliant!!!

    S.... W....

    It is ! Shakespear pffft.

  22. C.... W....

    Anybody ever watched this video while they were high?

    C.... W....

    Many, many many times.

  23. W.... T....

    But I identify as a twizzler

  24. t.... ....

    .....”So here we are, at the Mudd Club y’all”

  25. t.... ....

    Anyone else notice a very clear description of Shaun “TALCUM X” King in this tune!!

    t.... ....

    Still won't make Shaun any less black.

  26. D.... W....

    MERCEDES BENZ

  27. M.... N....

    Here from Rage about 20 minutes ago.

  28. T.... R....

    So I’ll be what I’m not. I just want to be accepted. What ever it takes.

  29. L.... R....

    I remember this on Beavis and Butt-Head.

  30. J.... h....

    Franks music always cheers me up. People would call him politically incorrect now, but I'm sure even a lot or African Americans would listen to this one and think it hilarious

    J.... h....

    Only triggered lefties or SJW's would call him politically incorrect. The rest of the world however would see the TRUTH in what he's saying.

  31. S.... B....

    International Zappa smash hit - so slick and so decent 😂🤠

  32. R.... C....

    Is this Judas from christ superstar

  33. R.... C....

    Yeah the black guy might sound like a singer in Death

  34. I.... "....

    Hmm say der..dis shoulda been a hit on da radio.

  35. D.... M....

    #ugottalisten2b4udie You is what you am, a cow don't make ham.

  36. R.... C....

    The Reagan look-alike is Jay Koch.

  37. R.... C....

    did this album have a label on it?

    R.... C....

    Barking Pumpkin

  38. M.... M....

    Verse 1: Kevin Federline
    Verse 2: Tiger Woods

  39. I.... S....

    Mc lan novamente ????

  40. P.... S....

    I would have loved to see a collaborative between Zappa and Bowie...

    P.... S....

    they did not care for each other

  41. R.... M....

    muy bueno adoro

  42. W.... R....

    Zeesersow! Erowid sent me here.

  43. J.... ....

    Anyone know which song came first; Where Do The Boys Go (Men Without Hats)? or You Are What You Is? Same 2 chords and vibes in the chorus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T3N6a24A9I

  44. B.... M....

    i am what i is

  45. o.... z....

    Zappaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  46. J.... S....

    13 dislikes? Must be Taylor Swift fans. Frank is a genius and We miss him terribly. He died way too young.

    J.... S....

    OXYMORON. Taylor Swift fans are not Frank Zappa fans so they won't even be watching this video.

  47. Z.... F....

    good song

  48. V.... A....

    Ammmmo Zappa

  49. J.... W....

    In the darkened room where the chair’s dismayed and the horrible curtain muffles the rain, she could hardly believe her eyes!

  50. C.... S....

    I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since the first time I saw this video on Beavis & Butthead. Heck! It’s been 25 years since MTV was good

    C.... S....

    Before "UNPLUGGED" came into being.
    It was more like "unbrained".

    C.... S....

    Is it still on?

  51. S.... U....

    @0:54 oooknockitow

  52. h.... m....

    Thanks for downloading anything by Frank..saw him first in 1969 , my boy friend took me to a bar in East Lansing,MI OMG, I was pretty naive in those days, I was not yet 21 lol Now I'm 72 yrs young and still love to hear his music, I got to see him over 15 times and now Dweezil 3 times, he opened for Chic Corea one yr and Jean Luc Ponty was with Corea he said he had not seen Dweezil since he was 5 yrs old lol. Great concert Coriea did his Return to Forever concert so between Zappa and Corea it was a hell of a night for music:).

    h.... m....

    holly mccormick I love Frank. Your music is fun and makes me happy. Kisses from Brazil.

    h.... m....

    holly mccormick yawzaa!

    h.... m....

    I saw Frank Zappa live in East Lansing too.

  53. D.... D....

    You Know,..At SOME POINT Before He Passed,..FRANK ZAPPA Should Have Been Out P.O.T.U.S.!!! * So Far,..in My Miserable Life,..He's One of The Few People Rational Enough To Make Any REAL SENSE of Life!!! * R.I.P. FRANK,...You ARE Sorely Missed,Breaux!!!

    D.... D....

    Does your computer have a special 'capitalize the beginning of every word' shortcut?
    If not, why go to so much effort to make your post so unreadable?

  54. C.... M....

    This song is a sociological masterpiece of the highest order. It's a shame that it is only known by zappaheads. Thank you very much Frank and the gang

    C.... M....

    I know this now but not quite a big Zappa fan lol

    C.... M....

    Such is life

    C.... M....

    Beavis and Butthead brought me here.

  55. C.... M....

    13 people arent what they ain't.

  56. J.... ....

    Ike Willice!

    J.... ....

    Willis! A Cow don't make ham!

    J.... ....

    King Fish!

    J.... ....

    @gouna stic EH? Racism? Where?

  57. F.... B....

    Eu só conheço essa do Frank Zappa

  58. R.... G....

    Unbelievable

  59. g.... ....

    a big ollllldd redddd one

  60. J.... g....

    Am harder than your husband, harder than your husband 🥒😂

  61. r.... a....

    A prophet among men.

  62. C.... W....

    Geniooooo

  63. J.... M....

    it's like watching Welcome Back Kotter on acid

  64. N.... P....

    Fuck you MTV!

  65. P.... ....

    great video to watch high

  66. V.... B....

    Love Ray White's singing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  67. H.... ....

    You is what you am.
    ...and cows don't make ham.

  68. G.... B....

    Zappa Geniality and Criticism... in a Song.

    G.... B....

    Is criticism to michael jackson right?

  69. B.... ....

    Butt-head: This is still on?!?

    B.... ....

    😂😂😂😂😂

    B.... ....

    Butt-Head: That pisses me off!

  70. c.... w....

    que musica massa

  71. D.... ....

    A BIG OL' RED ONE!!!!

  72. C.... ....

    The guy at 1:26 seems Matteo Renzi.

  73. R.... B....

    who´s the other singer? really cool voice and style!

    R.... B....

    Rodrigo Barros Ray White

  74. R.... ....

    A foolish young man
    From a middle class family
    Started selling his soul
    Cause he wanted the money
    Now he talks like a white guy
    (Silencio!)
    From a Dave Chappelle bit
    (Ungawa!)
    And he'll tell you that Trump steaks
    Are totally the shit
    He thinks that he's got
    The whole thing down
    From the Armani suits
    To cocaine by the pound

    A foolish young man
    Of different orientation
    Decided that he
    Needed to earn his salvation
    He stopped kissing dudes
    And sleeping with men
    He got him a wife
    Who was once lesbian
    He filled his hard drive
    With girl-on-girl porn
    Now he says to himself
    "I ain't no faggot no more!"

  75. D.... W....

    Ray White on vocals ... (so great ...).

  76. b.... ....

    ...holy..

  77. L.... G....

    now he says to himself  (I aint a gollywog  nomore)

  78. M.... I....

    Frank Zappa is an absolute Genius Musician. I remember watching this video on mtv in 1985 I was about nine years old. and loving this song and Video especially the guy with a cabbage for a head. lmmao such a brilliant Genius Musician Love you Frank thank you for your awesome music

  79. P.... S....

    Musical Prophecy .

  80. R.... D....

    Who is who??

  81. R.... D....

    Man I agree ain't nobody using satire like he did, well, South Park is but....man

  82. S.... ....

    I miss Frank. We need him now more than ever.

    S.... ....

    Yes we do! I'll bet he would have hated the political correctness of today!

  83. R.... ....

    Today, I learned that Trump has been elected. I cry for my dumbass fellow of America, and I Facebooked this video as a souvenir...

    R.... ....

    Naaaaa, of course no ! People are "elected" just by flipping coins or breaking a chicken bone.

    R.... ....

    If they don't, why do the Republicans have to cheat so hard.

    Idiot.

    R.... ....

    "too" bad. 'to' is a destination.

    R.... ....

    Cry? Did not vote Trump, but I'm actually still laughing that such a shamelessly phony creature as HRC lost!

  84. N.... J....

    That ought to be driving a 450 SSE!

  85. L.... ....

    The only Zappa song I like.

    L.... ....

    LORDGOAT1976 You haven't listened to enough of his music ;)

    L.... ....

    Un des rares morceaux de Zappa que je n'aime pas spécialement.

    L.... ....

    Like, oh my god... You've never heard Valley Girl then.

  86. Z.... Z....

    'You are what you is'... I grew up listening to Frank, unfortunately I never got to see Frank or 'The Mothers' perform live.. I wished I had, the man's a genius.

    Z.... Z....

    My dad got to see him many times. I saw Dweezil once.

    Z.... Z....

    @Nathan Justice I envy your Dad... I will be going to see Dweezil if he comes to Australia in 2017... I hope! :-)

    Z.... Z....

    Yeah my dad grew up in Baltimore. Saw him there a few times. Frank is from there obviously. then he went down to University of Georgia and Frank played there a few times. My dad hates 80s Zappa. I love it. So we disagree on that. HA

    Z.... Z....

    @Nathan Justice LOL! That's so cool :-)

  87. H.... T....

    It is a fitting tribute that this man has an asteroid named after him (3834 Zappafrank) because he is definitely out there. Great message for everyone. Who is the other guy singing with him?

    H.... T....

    This other singer guy Is Ray White!

    H.... T....

    Ray White.

  88. B.... T....

    My favourite Zappa song..just awesome!

  89. G.... H....

    fWaNk...love

  90. F.... ....

    Ya just don't see too much MTV Frank.

  91. C.... T....

    It doesn't matter who you "identify" as. You are what you are.

    C.... T....

    That's a really good way of putting it!

    C.... T....

    You are what you is, and that's all it is! You is what you am, a cow don't make ham!

    C.... T....

    that isnt the message. way to bend the man's lyrics to fit your own agenda

    C.... T....

    We was criticizing michael jackson I think

  92. V.... R....

    The Lesson: Just be yourself, but don't sacrifice yourself to just be accepted.

    V.... R....

    wow ........deep .......

    V.... R....

    Not Sure Everyone is, that's why Zappa was a capitalist i guess, he realized that!

    V.... R....

    nah he realized that neither extreme was gonna make sense.

  93. K.... ....

    Holy crap that like-dislike multiplier!

  94. H.... K....

    Zeesersow.

    H.... K....

    Halfdan Kirketerp That's what I'm doing here too 👀

  95. Z.... T....

    IsReHell, you are what you is.

  96. M.... ....

    Weird but catchy