Willie the Pimp

Album: Hot Rats (1969)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Willie the Pimp is one of many odd characters Frank Zappa created. In this song, we hear about his exploits running his operation out of the Lido Hotel on Coney Island.

    A vague explanation of the song's origin appears on Frank Zappa's outtake and extras album Mystery Disc, released in 1998. A track on that album is called "The Story of Willie the Pimp," which is a strange conversation between two women who are apparently speaking with Zappa. Credited on the album as Annie Zannas and Cynthia Dobson, they talk about setting a guy up to meet a prostitute that doesn't exist. According to Zappa lore, this is the conversation that inspired the song.
  • The vocals on "Willie the Pimp" are from Captain Beefheart, who was a friend of, and collaborator with Zappa from the time they were teens.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.