Joe's Garage

Album: Joe's Garage (1979)
Play Video
  • Central scrutinizer:
    We take you now to a garage in canoga park

    (it makes its own sauce... if you add water)

    It wasn't very large
    There was just enough room to cram the drums
    In the corner over by the dodge
    It was a fifty-four

    With a mashed up door
    And a cheesy little amp
    With a sign on the front said
    "fender champ"
    And a second-hand guitar
    It was a stratocaster with a whammy bar

    We could jam in joe's garage
    His mama was screamin'
    His dad was mad
    We was playin' the same old song

    In the afternoon 'n sometimes we would
    Play it all night long
    It was all we knew, 'n easy too
    So we wouldn't get it wrong
    All we did was bend the string like . . .

    Hey!
    Down in joe's garage
    We didn't have no dope or lsd
    But a coupla quartsa beer

    Would fix it so the intonation
    Would not offend yer ear
    And the same old chords goin' over 'n over
    Became a symphony

    We could play it again 'n again 'n again
    'Cause it sounded good to me
    One more time!

    We could jam in joe's garage
    His mama was screamin',
    "turn it down!"
    We was playin' the same old song

    In the afternoon 'n sometimes we would
    Play it all night long
    It was all we knew, 'n easy too
    So we wouldn't get it wrong
    Even if you played it on a saxophone

    We thought we was pretty good
    We talked about keepin' the band together
    'n we figured that we should
    'cause about this time we was gettin' the eye
    From the girls in the neighborhood
    They'd all come over 'n dance around like . . .

    So we picked out a stupid name
    Had some cards printed up for a coupla bucks
    'n we was on our way to fame
    Got matching suits

    'n beattle boots
    'n a sign on the back of the car
    'n we was ready to work in a go-go bar
    One two three four
    Let's see if you've got some more!

    People seemed to like our song
    They got up 'n danced 'n made a lotta noise
    An' it wasn't 'fore very long
    A guy from a company we can't name

    Said we oughta take his pen
    'n sign on the line for a real good time
    But he didn't tell us when
    These "good times" would be somethin'

    That was really happenin'
    So the band broke up
    An' it looks like
    We will never play again...

    Guess you only get one chance in life
    To play a song that goes like...

    Turn it down!
    Turn it down!
    I have children sleeping here . . .
    Don't you boys know any nice songs?

    Well the years was rollin' by
    Heavy metal 'n glitter rock
    Had caught the public eye
    Snotty boys with lipstick on

    Was really flyin' high
    'n then they got that disco thing
    'n new wave came along
    'n all of a sudden I thought the time

    Had come for that old song
    We used to play in "joe's garage"
    And if I am not wrong
    You will soon be dancin' to the . . .

    Central scrutinizer:
    The white zone is for loading and unloading only.
    If you gotta load or unload, go to the white zone...

    I said the years was rollin' by, yeah
    The years was rollin' by...

    I'm calling the police!

    So the years was rollin' by...

    I did it!

    So the years was rollin' by...

    They'll be here... shortly!

    By, by, the years was rollin' by...

    This is the police...

    I'm not joking around anymore!

    Come out!
    We have the garage surrounded

    The years was rollin' by...

    Give yourself up
    We will not harm you
    Or hurt you, neither

    I said the years was rollin' by . . .

    You'll see now!
    There they are, they're coming!

    This is the police
    Give yourself up
    We will not harm you

    The years was rollin' by . . .

    Listen to that mess, would you!

    This is the police
    Give yourself up
    We have the garage surrounded

    Every day this goes on around here!

    The years was rollin' by...

    We will not harm you
    Or maim you
    (swat team 4, move in!)

    The years was rollin' by . . .

    He used to cut my grass . . .
    He was a very nice boy . . .

    This is the police
    Come out with your hands up

    This is the central scrutinizer . . .
    That was joe's first confrontation with the law.
    Naturally, we were easy on him.
    One of our friendly counselors gave him
    A do-nut . . . and told him to
    Stick closer to church-oriented social activities. Writer/s: Frank Zappa
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

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.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

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

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."