Zappa, Frank - It Can't Happen Here Lyrics

Don't eat acid here

this is absolutely amazing...

Put this on and try to read a Zap Comix at the same time.

It’s here. 54 years later.

I remembered to tooh ,I rememered to tooh, I have this album! 😃

When I hear this, I can't help but to think about the song "my pal foot foot" by the shaggs. I don't know why. Lol

You me and taco the wonder dog are the only people who will ever get that reference.

...since you've taken the shots.

When I was a little kid my Dad used to play Spike Jones records on the 78. 10 years later I was playing this on the hi-fi. Same stuff really...just better sound.

We see see what's happening in Minnesota, AND THEY THOUGHT IT COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE!!

It reminds me of the Epstein Redaction, circa 2019.

Apparenty, it can happen here, just look at the state of Europe thee days !

I played this at 11:59pm on Tuesday Nov 8, 2016.

This came out the year I graduated from high school. It was brilliant then and it still is.

There were ads for this LP in all the Marvel comic books of the time.

Back in 1968 when I was 12-years-old my parents bougth me a cassette recorder. A subversive clerk suggested that they buy the "Freak Out" tape for me.

I saw the Mothers of Invention in the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. When the lights went out the whole place lit up, it was probably the strangest concert I ever attended.

I prefer (more used to) the Mothermania version without the middle piano.

Oh my happening now in illi noise...haha

Take back those dislikes Minnesota and Kansas. Don't freak out.

Trump POTUS It’s happend

We're still freaked out in Minnesota.

..<<<>.><>>,>."'][PO:..excellent

Sinclair Lewis " It Can't Happen Here"

At least we got Mike Pompeo from KS, sad to say things didn't go so well for Mogadisheapolis

The father’s a Nazi in Congress today!! The Idiot Bastard Son! Try and imagine the windows all covered in green. All the time he would spend, at the church he’d attend, warming his pew. WaWaWaWaWa!!!! (Wrong album but same mind freak) FZ lives on and speaks an uncomfortable TRUTH to the world while he knocks the little jockeys off the rich people’s lawns.

More relevant than ever.

Oh, yes it can, Frank, as you knew, 50 years before our good ol' boy domestic fascists began implementing their final solution. What would Zappa have said about Trump? Well, I guess we already know, don't we?

Freaky how little has changed since '66. And more likely now.

came here from phone losers of america...

genuinely curious, how is this genius in any way? not meant to hate...just this doesn't sound cohesive or likeable at all. it's almost like a fuck you to the listener, either that or pretentious. i just don't get it tbh.

Minnesota

I'm freaking out as to how bad ass this was!..and it has now happened.

Who are the brain police ?

After all those years it officially did Happen Here. Frank was a half century ahead of his time.

Still relevant......................................2018

it's happening again,ac dc ac dc?

Unfortunately it's happening here

Just came here because it's happening here.

Brilliant.

I was 14years old and bought it (Sept. 1966 at National Record Mart Pittsburgh) because of the cover. Changed my life. I was already tired od top 40 radio and this was the answer. Forever experimental in what i listen to.

still relevant after all these years...

This was actually released as a 7" single in UK.

The future and present is now

I only listen to R E A L music

They Had a Swimming Pool ~~~

R THEY DRUNK

It is so happening here.

Inspired by Sinclair Lewis's book, It Can't Happen Here, about the rise of fascism in the US.

I remember doo doo I remember doo doo they had a SWIMMING POOL

It's NOT going to happen here

It IS happening here.

Nancy Blackett Extremely sad... but true

Kansas KAnSasaKansAs KANsas

wow .. since 1966, eh?
never forget buying this. another kid at school had it; I heard it and knew ..god I've got to buy
this. thrilled there were 2 records! played this album a lot. :)

This song has a whole new meaning in these times, as do the words "freak out." Frank we miss you.

It did happen Here!!!

Have seen several people become very disturbed by listening to this in a certain frame of mind not conducive to remaining unfreaked. LMAO.

It did happen here.

Andrea L ....and here....but what amazes me is someone at UK Verve, at the time, decided this was a 'hit single' and the record company actually released it as such.

And it happened again Sunday.

In 2016

It is happening here.

(I hear the sound of marching feet . . . down Sunset Blvd. to Crescent Heights, and there, at Pandora's Box, we are confronted with . . . a vast quantity of PLASTIC PEOPLE.)

Take a day
And walk around
Watch the nazis
Run your town
Then go home
And check yourself
You think we're singing
'Bout someone else . . . but you're

Plastic people!

Yes, it can!

it did happen right here!

Danke fürs hochladen !

......but who the f..k is that "Ukud Im' Adjin"????

It can't happen in Chuckee Cheese, it can't happen in the IHOP (APE ATTACK) it can't happen in FERGUSON, it can't happen in Denny's, Frank Zappa was C.I.A.

Bobby Ragusa Are you joking, Frank Zappa was a CIA agent? Surely, you've been reading Stockhausen Serves Imperialism too many times.

Who could imagine in 67 we would be digging up Zappa we tripped on 43 years ago on something called Youtube.It did happen here!

And that is why Frank was great. 64 now, bought this album when I was 13.

I think i took this out to the curb last night.

+Walter Bower Nixon at Kent State?

Those 10 dislikers just can't happen here.

They did, but they don't count.....because it can't happen here.

onesecbeforetheend who could imagine?

i remember they had a swimming pool

My father used to play this for us when we were kids. We thought he was nuts. What did we know, we were kids.

Excellent track. It's so avante garde yet melodic, it's crazy! LOVE IT!

+Lengo67 OK. Now dig loving this in 1966/67. I miss FZ. He was one of a handful - Kinison, Bill Hicks, Pryor, Carlin, H.S. Thompson, others I can't bring to mind - whose wisdom I was looking forward to hearing as I grew old. Now, though their voices are stilled, we have their bodies of work to sustain us in moments of weakness, and in our need for laughter and joy.

This is Random... wow!

No it is definitely NOT random

This album: When it came out I was sooo happy that I came to realize that I wasn't the only one......... who thought this way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=116&v=ToQWHNFZ2RE

Okay, I'm not too proud to admit I need the Cliff Notes version.

Is this about fascism, or drugs, or counter-cultural movements, or what?  Is Zappa underlining Sinclair Lewis or appropriating his catchy title for some other issue?  I'm just not picking up enough references and/or context to make sense of it.  Which is a shame, because it's intriguing.

And one of the last Librarians.

"Is this about fascism, or drugs, or counter-cultural movements, or what? Is Zappa underlining Sinclair Lewis or appropriating his catchy title for some other issue? I'm just not picking up enough references and/or context to make sense of it."

Yes.

Check out Zappa's "Trouble Comin' Ever Day", "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" or "Brown Shoes Don't Make it" {That last one is NSFW, BTW}

Zappa was too intelligent to be libertarian. He's also not very conservative, he was just from a time when you could be more or less liberal/conservative regardless of which party you technically belong to. Make no mistake, he's less right than left.

Also why does anyone need this song explained to them? Baffling. It's obviously about fascism and authoritarianism.

@CaligulaClone You're wrong, he wasn't a leftist. You have it ass backwards like most libtards. Liberalism IS FASCISM.

given this album as a kid - still have the vinyl & eternally grateful :)

I too have my vinyl from 1966. I was 13.

You know everything,yet,you cannot remember the names of the girls that you raped and murdered... He knows their names.

Go get a TV dinner and cook it up.  Whoooooooooooooooo could imagine.
 I just love this song...

No freaks for us.... Plastic people.S.U.N.Y.  Morrisville, stoned, 1967. Changed my view of music forever.

Forget it !

Originally heard this tune in early 70s

I gave my brother $5 to go get me the Beatles rubber soul album he came back with this... screwed me up for life...lol

Na, that was the brain police.

Yes. My brother showed a Word of mouth by "jaco pastoriu, not also thank him for that.

Good brother.

Thats a great story, was it a YOUNGER bro?

This was a double album. Didn't it cost more money?

but, i have a swimming pool!!

@tommy turner I remember you!

How can a man who hates psychedelic drugs including weed create music like this?  lol.  Still gotta love Zappa

Good point. I was always dismayed after having my soul psychedelicized that Frank had never taken the 'acid test.' The Mothers were the only band I went to see at the Fillmore East a couple of times.

I guess a Ph.d in music acts as a suitable substitute.

Craziness was around long before drugs. A long, lo-o-o-ong time...

frank couldn't admit to any sort of illicit usage lest he & the band be harassed at every place they would play.

@gregorypekkery he had nothing to admit he didnt use mind altering substances

I am in Redondo Beach and I am freaking out right now!

Get a TV dinner and you cook it up, no no no no no no, It can't happen here, you cats are really safe!

@SweetSweetWaldo Whooooooo could imagine~~~~~~

With the exception of the "free jazz" instrumental interlude, which sounds quite organized in comparison to the rest of this, the vocal stuff is actually highly-organized, and an excellent example "Sprechstimme:"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprechgesang

This song sucks!!!!

Then tell me, why are you looking it up and listening to it?

@Mister Kingdom Did I say I looked it up smartass?

"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."

@john FEIL THIS WAS A TEST BY THE AUTOMATED COMMENTER TO SEE IF PEOPLE COULD GET PISSED OFF TO AN UN-TRUE COMMENT, SADLY IT WORKED.

And they said it couldn't happen here...

I thought of this song watching the Ukrainian thing.  And thinking it could happen here.  Now, did anyone notice that Suzie's Doctors were interested in her development?  What development?  The versions of this song [available on Youtube] leaves out the line "since you first took the shots".  Anyone remember that?  Is it too much a possible reference to drug injection?  So they edited a piece of art to appease a pissy public?  That's NOT what Frank was about.  That is conformism in the ugliest way.  "Oh, they might think we are talking about drugs, and that's bad, so we better edit that line out."  Shameful way to remember such a giant in his field.  

I dunno, I kinda feel this song is more about the ridiculous expectation of conformism at play when his band performed this.  It's a pretty good pun, 'her development', which could mean either her breasts, or her personal development (as in, capacity to hold down a decent job or whatever).  The 'forget it' even has a double-play of meaning there on those two themes.  Damned brilliant.

@fleeb Wow, did you see him live?  Yes, he was a genius, I'm certain of that.  And a good man, and good father.  And a mentor to so many bands trying to make it.  But seriously, who could imagine, that they would freak out in the suburbs?   LOL.  Take care friend.

@mrfaithandphysics Saw him in Boston in late 60s...... I've been 'like this' ever since.

Sinclair Lewis.

"Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas." Joseph Stalin

"We cannot let a minority of people – and it’s, that’s what it is, it is a
minority of people – hold a viewpoint that terrorizes the majority of
people,” Hillary Clinton

Heh, like the politicians terrorizing the American people by punching the fear button occasionally?

"We are protecting you from the danger outside."

"What dangers?"

"The ones we know about, but we do not want to alarm you.  Don't worry, we're protecting you."

@Thetaloops Nice cherry-picking. She did actually say "hold a viewpoint" but I don't think she believes in enforcing against speech, let alone thought, but was enthusiastic for her point.
I mean you want a centrist establishment pot to be a totalitarian behind her stated frustration with Congress' failure to act following Sandy Hook.

The equivalence even of the remarks is a reach. One is general, the other is a _specific_ 'viewpoint'. Was Stalin terrorized by gun nuts?
The context is NRA pushing Congress around. No concern about that? At best, you're taking remarks wildly out of context, for what? A good pose on youtube comments?

"It can't happen heeere" -Frank Zappa

Well, Donald Trump clearly called for restricting speech before the election and still does.

This song is incredible

LOL!!!!!

Even those who dislike Frank Zappa have to admit he was at least innovative.

MinamuTV And brilliant and wise...

Whoooooooooooo could IMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGINE!!?!??!?!?!??!?!

I remember do do do i remember do do do THEY HAD A SWINGING POOL

Why do the sing "AC/DC" at 2:07? Do they mean the band? But when the album is from 1966, how could they know AC/DC? This track has confused me!
Greets from Germany! :)

Tesla Vs Edison

I expect it's just silliness.  It starts off with '...in Washington DC'... after which they repeat AC/DC, which likely refers to alternating current or direct current, but I doubt it has any deeper meaning than that.  Just sort of a silly pun, riffing off the Washington DC bit.

As for AC/DC, the band, I dunno how they elected to use that as a name.  Somehow, I doubt this song has any influence on that band.  But, who knows?  It'd be interesting to learn they were Zappa fans.

@fleeb Where did AC/DC get their name?
[Info taken from 'Shock To The System' by Mark Putterford]
The Young's sister Margaret suggested something she'd seen on the back of a vacuum cleaner: 'AC/DC'. According to Angus, "It had something to do with electricity, so it seemed to fit...". The Young brothers were ignorant of the bisexual connotation that the term carried, and after opening for bisexual rocker Lou Reed, many gay clubs tried to book them...convinced they were a bisexual group.

Heh... they could have run with that.  But then, I guess they wouldn't have been as popular.

"AC/DC" was a colloquial way for saying "bisexual" in the early middle of the 20th century.

im   65  yrs.  old  and   still and  old hippy   i  know  i   used  to  party  with  zappas  drummer   his  name  was    black    would  like  to   say  high  to him     canoga park  ca   anyone  knows  that   ?????  taranchela   had   a  train  set  in  the  garage  in  back  yard  

Sorry to inform you that Jimmy Carl Black p
assed away on November 1, 2008.  He was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2008 and died less than three months later.

sorry  to  hear  that,  i  found  him  on  f/b  few  weeks  ago  but  it  wasnt  up  

They sound like a barbershop quartet on crack.  I can't stop laughing.  And yet, this song is absolutely genius.

genuinely curious, how is this genius in any way? not meant to hate...just this doesn't sound cohesive or likeable at all. it's almost like a fuck you to the listener, either that or pretentious. i just don't get it tbh.

@tylor letz well, they're just doing it cuz they think it's funny. and I certainly think it is. don't know about genius though

You guys won't believe it, but this is actually a composition that is written down on paper. If you listen to serialist classical music, you will understand the style. Zappa is unique, but you can hear that he listened to Stravinsky, Boulez, Varese, Webern and Little Richard, as a matter of fact, as you can hear a rythmic pattern similar to Tutti Frutti there. Anyway, people who don't understand the content of the composition, should just look at the historical context of the whole album Freak Out!. It's about freaks, people who were different from the "normal" society, getting funds from the Great Society project of the American government. Everybody got the support, only the freaks didn't. Freaks were everywhere and the government just didn't want to believe they existed. "It can't happen here" or, in other words, "it's impossible that this can even occur". Zappa references places that were really totally peripheric: Minnesota, suburbs... Zappa isn't for everybody, that's true. However, people who like him really love him and when you get to understand his satire, you will love him even more.

@tylor letz Right....you and my parents. But this came out when I was in high school and it changed my life. Made me the musician I am today...but we were never asked to play the prom.

+enterprise1954 
Yes, I too have a very vivid memory of the same show, Juke Box Jury, back in 1966, sitting down to Saturday evening meal with my parents and little sister (I was 16, she was 10), and watching the usual parade of new releases played and discussed by the panel, then voted either a DING!! or a HUUURGHHH!! Nice safe, cheerful family entertainment. And then... THIS suddenly comes on, and suddenly the world was never the same again. As always, while the track was playing, the cameras panned across the faces of the panel and the audience, all hoping to hear the new one by the Hollies, or Freddie and the Dreamers, or Manfred Mann... and all were unified in sheer dumbstruck incomprehension, as if their safe, fluffy existence had been violated by some evil, flame-breathing, scum-dripping monster from Hades (and in so many ways, it had - this was far more a pointer to the future than anything else that was around at that time). Oh how I laughed! To think that the predominantly jazz-centred Verve label had not only signed up the Mothers of Invention, but then had the recklessly maverick gall to lift this substantially edited track out for a 7" single... I mean, what were they thinking? What did they expect - a hit single??? In my parallel universe, of course, it was a number 1 for the entire summer of 1966. Much to the utter chagrin of my parents (and my silly sister) it was never off my deck for months. I still have that disc, and treasure it greatly. We shall never see the like of those times again.

Well, well if it ain't Zappa's first avant-garde track ever? ;)

Recorded in 1965!

It's happening here, ya just don't know it.