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ABSOLUTELY FREE
THE COMPLETE LIBRETTO
ABSOLUTELY FREE
both complete librettos to accompany the VERVE recording V/V6-5013 by THE MOTHERS of
INVENTION.
FOREWORD
Music has always shown how people think and feel, according to John Tasker Howard.
He is probably right. The music of the MOTHERS speaks of the feelings of what might
be described as THE VAST MINORITY. The feelings of the people on the fringe of
everything . . . the ones who don't care if they're IN or OUT . . . don't care if they're HIP,
HEP, SWINGIN' or ZORCH. This is the audience the MOTHERS want to reach . . .
those few who have the power within themselves to cause or motiviate social change but
have never used it for one reason or another. If you are reading this and understand it
(even if you have short hair and watch TV 18 hours a day), it is time that you realized
WHO and WHAT YOU ARE. It is time you realized what the words to our songs mean.
This album was recorded the week before Thanksgiving, November 1966 in Los
Angeles at the Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc., in a series of 4 sessions (about 25
studio hours). It was edited and re-mixed in New York City at the MGM Studios in 5
sessions (about 35 studio hours) the following week. The album was finally released
around May 26, 1967 . . . the reason for the delay? Partly because of this libretto. The
original plan was to include within the album, the words in this brochure. The record
company attempted to censor the words and a long involved discussion ensued. We were
forced to manufacture this product.
The music itself took several years to compose (AMERICA DRINKS & GOES HOME
was written in 1964 . . . most of the other segments were written before or shortly after
FREAK OUT, our first album, was released in 1966). We hope that this material will
help you to enjoy our work on a more personal level.
Thank you
Frank Zappa
for the MOTHERS of Invention
ABSOLUTELY FREE
(1:01)
(The dashing Duke is on his way home from a foot-ball game when he tries to make
it with some cheerleaders who beat him in the face & armpits near the parking lot
which leads to amnesia.)
(2:19)
RAY: CHEESY, CHEESY!
FRANK: (This is a song about vegetables . . . they keep you
regular; they're real good for ya.)
RAY: CALL ANY VEGETABLE
CALL IT BY NAME
CALL ONE TODAY
WHEN YOU GET OFF THE TRAIN
CALL ANY VEGETABLE
AND THE CHANCES ARE GOOD
OOOOH! THAT THE VEGETABLE
WILL RESPOND TO YOU
FRANK: (Some people don't go for prunes . . . I dunno . . . I've
always found that if they . . . )
RAY: CALL ANY VEGETABLE
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
THINK OF A VEGETABLE
LONELY AT HOME
CALL ANY VEGETABLE
AND THE CHANCES ARE GOOD
THAT A VEGETABLE WILL RESPOND TO YOU-HOOOO
JIM: RUTA-BAY-AY-AYGA RUTA-BAY-AY-AYGA RUTA-
BAYYYYY...
FRANK: (A prune is not a vegetable. Cabbage is a vegetable.)
RAY: NO ONE WILL KNOW
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LET 'EM KNOW
FRANK & RAY: NO ONE WILL KNOW
'LESS IT'S YOU THAT MIGHT TELL 'EM SO
RAY: CALL AND THEY'LL COME TO YOU
COVERED WITH DEW
FRANK & RAY: VEGETABLES DREAM
OF RESPONDING TO YOU
RAY: STANDING THERE
SHINY & PROUD BY YOUR SIDE
FRANK & RAY: HOLDING YOUR HAND
WHILE THE NEIGHBORS DECIDE
WHY IS A VEGETABLE
SOMETHING TO HIDE?
YAR-R-R-R-R-G-H!
(6:57)
(A young pumpkin sacrifices herself dancing crazy and sweats: wiping it on the desk
leading to amnesia.)
(1:40)
(3:40)
(There follows a magnificent orchestral ejaculation during which a few of you might
fancy a peanut butter & jelly sandwich . . . THEN:)
(2:52)
(Rockin' sax solo . . . swingin' groovy guitar solo with group mumblings & clean fun . .
. orgasmic ensemble statement . . . This whole section is very ZORCH & Solid
Jackson . . . THEN: THE REST OF THE SONG)
(2:09)
(1:33)
(7:26)
(2:43)