Catholic Girls

Album: Joe's Garage (1979)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • It is quite likely Zappa wrote this particular song as a riposte to "Jewish Princess," which the ADL sought to have banned but succeeded only in generating publicity for. If one accepts the unlikely proposition that "Jewish Princess" is anti-Semitic, then "Catholic Girls" should have seen Zappa burned at the stake. It may be that the Church decided to treat it with contempt, or ignore it, or perhaps they genuinely didn't notice.

    Mary's transition on this triple concept album from Catholic girl to crew slut, to the rather sad contestant in a wet T-shirt contest is rapid, so perhaps Zappa was making a social point. Then again, perhaps he was just sticking up two fingers up to the world as he often did. "Catholic Girls" runs to 4 minutes 26 seconds. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Gerald Fnord from Palos Verdes,ca.The line 'Kinda young, kinda wow!' was taken from a stupid, contemporaneous, television advertisement for a perfume called 'Charlie'.
  • Dan from North Haven, CtI grew up on frank's music and when I went to a catholic high school (class of 85) i was criticized by the head brother/principal/priest for wearing a zappa pin on my jacket (that's right folks, I started that fad in 1980) and he told me zappa was no good cuz he wrote a song about catholic girls going to CYO and were learning to give head there (paraphrasing). I was too much of a green horn to argue with him so I took the button off. If I was older and wiser I would have let him kow that I got my first ****job on a bus on a cyo field trip............thanks frank for all you gave us RIP
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.