cdxcii. ZAPPA, Frank: Help, I'm a Rock

cdxcii. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Help, I'm a Rock (1966)
FZ, guitar, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black, drums, percussion, foreign language
Ray Collins, vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers
Roy Estrada, bass, guitarrón, boy soprano
Elliot Ingber, guitar and clear white light
(4:43)

from: Freak Out!

"NOTES ON THE COMPOSITIONS INCLUDED HEREIN: HELP, I'M A ROCK is dedicated to Elvis Presley. Note the interesting formal structure and the stunning four-part barber shop harmony toward the end. Note the obvious lack of commercial potential. Ho hum."

A little Phrygian mode starts us off:

00:08: Collins sounding like a Turkish muezzin:

00:24:

JCB continues his "foreign language" --

Vel-lay kay-la ta-la-sor
Vel-lay kay-lay ka-la-tor
Vel-lay kay-la sa-la-tay
Vor-a kor-ay tor-a-tor
Vel-a kay-la sa-la tch'ay
Vor-a kor-ay kay-a la kur'ad
Vor-a silli kay-t'ay tcha-to
Vor-a kay-ay tay-lay tay-ay tcha-to

Klanna-tholl
Klanna-tholl
Klanna-tholl

Pik-a-dill-a do-tchay
Pik-a-li-sa no-say (o-ooh)

Bi-ni-bi-ni me-ho-la-ka ta-ka ho-ba
Say-kay pay-tay-ho-a-la tur-i-ca (Mee-oo-da-ra)
Chil-li pil-li ka-zi-o-bi a bee bee bee bee (Do-dee-bop)
You know ... (a-mad hee)

(Arrrreeeeeeeeeeee ...)
Oooooooooaaaaaaaaaa ...
OOOOaaaaaaaaaaa ... (ah, hah)

O-wee ya yo yo yo a-ki-o wee
A-ki-o-ka a-yi-a-ee
A-ki-o-ka o-wee
A-ki-o-ka o-wee
A-ki-o-ka o-wee
A-ki-o-ka o-wee
A-ki-o-ka o-wee-say ya-vo

Pedi-goh
Pedi-koh
Ann-i tcho-ee-see-na
Per-a-ko-ee-say

Kar-ra
May-a-ta
Uh-oh
Uh-oh
Uh-oh
Uh-oh
Uh-oh
Hay-lo
Pray-lo
Say la do sa ka ho-say
Vay-lay ko say-let-a-no
Vav-lav ko sav-let-a-no
Va-la ko-lo-tay
Ay-o
Lay-o
Lay-o
Aaaaaaaayyyyyyyyaaaaaaa

O-ha o-ha yew
Ah-yew
Lay la-fan
ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

Help, I'm a rock!
Help, I'm a rock!
Help, I'm a rock!
Somebody!
Help, I'm a rock!
Please!
Help, I'm a rock!
Please!
Help, I'm a rock!
Please!
Help, I'm a rock!
Wow!
Help, I'm a rock!
Wow!
Help, I'm a rock!
Help, I'm a rock!
Somebody helps me

Wow, man, it's a drag being a rock
(Help, I'm a rock)
(Help, I'm a rock)
(Help, I'm a rock)
I wish I was anything but a rock
Heck, I'd even like to be a policeman
Hey, you know what?
You know maybe if I practice, you know
Maybe if I pass my driving test (*)
I could get a gig drivin' that bus that picks he freaks up
In front of Ben Frank's, right?

Help, I'm a cop!
Help, I'm a cop!
Help, I'm a cop!
Help, I'm a cop!
(Help, I'm a rock)

Help, I'm a cop!
(Help, I'm a rock)

It's a drag being a cop
I think I'd rather be the mayor

Always wondered what I was gonna be when I grew up, you know
Always wondered whether or not ... whether or not I could make it
You know, in society, because,
You know, it's a drag when you're rejected
So I tore the cover off a book of matches
And I sent in
And I got this letter back that said ...

* FZ never got a driver's license because he refused to wait in line at the DMV.