ARF: Notes and Comments: THEM OR US: In France

THEM OR US

In France

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	Mm-hmm... yeah... (Down down down in Down down down in...) We're playin' in a tent It's payin' the rent
"There was no American tour in 1978, but Sheik Yerbouti was released during an early-1979 European tour, with band that now included Warren Cucurullo. A pregnant Gail was on the road with Frank on the first part of the tour, flying home after Paris shows (two evening shows and a matinee in the gruesome 'tent' that is the Hippodrome; sordid details as documented in the subsequent "in France" on 'Them Or US')"
Michael Gray. Mother! p.178
From: Arthur Barrow <bigear@netcom.com> You are missing one of the main points about "In France".
We were miserable touring France - on a bus in the rain, and playing several tents.
The original version was written during that time as a take off on the then current Gary Newman song "In Cars". If you listen to live tapes, you will notice that in the middle of the song, I played the Newman melody on keys whiile Mars played the French national anthem.
In my opinion, this was far more entertaining than the album version.
By the way, the new song cheered us all up a lot - thanks, Frank!
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	If you pooch a civilian, It's a mayor event Down in France
So according to http://www.frontiernet.net/~prem/fzshows/1979.htm concerts at Nouvel Hippodrome, Paris took place 23-24 Feb 1979 so was this "pooching" some well known affair at a time of Frank's Paris concerts?
From: Arthur Barrow <bigear@netcom.com> To me, all "pooch a civilian" means is to have sex with a local female. It means the band wasn't having very good luck with the women.
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	I said The girls is all salty 'N the boys is all sweet I said the food ain't too shabby, An' they piss in the street Down in France
From: Vladimir Sovetov <sova@kpbank.ru> Seems to be joke about street toilet kiosks?
From: THIELLEMENT Pacôme <pacome.thiellement@wanadoo.fr> Yes. It certainly is - street toilets seems to amaze californians - got some family out there - they hardly have the right to walk in their own streets, can't smoke anyplace but home - so toilets!...
From: couw@my-dejanews.com and of course the French, like the Dutch, really piss in the streets, churches and bridges being favoured objects to unload against.
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	They got the diseases (Disease-eases Disease-eases...) Like you ain't never seen I said they got a mystery blow-job Turn your peter green Down in France
From: Vladimir Sovetov <sova@kpbank.ru> Well, a peter is cock, green is a color, so in the final analysis:-))) it's obvious word playing with the name of british blues guitarist and founder of Fleetwood Mac Peter Green.
From: Arthur Barrow <bigear@netcom.com> A band member allegedly got ghonnorhea (the clap) from a blow job by a French girl. I don't think his peter actually turned green and I don't think it has anything to do with anyone named Peter Green.
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	They got some coffee, (Some cold coffee Some cold coffe...) Eatin' right through the cup,
Why? Because it so strong?
From: THIELLEMENT Pacôme <pacome.thiellement@wanadoo.fr> Yes. But it is nothing considering italien coffee like the wonderful "ristretto" - so strong and tiny you didn't even notice you drank one.
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	An' when you go ka-ka they make you stand up Down in France
From: THIELLEMENT Pacôme <pacome.thiellement@wanadoo.fr> Zappa is talking about the "chiottes ` la turc" turkish toilets you can find in many places and in appartments where you use floor toilets. It consists of a sort of hole in the ground - it's a special system for users - you have to cross (is cross appropriate?) the legs and bend a little over - it is a very unconfortable way to ka-ka but very amusing and it is considered safer.I heard Zappa and his musicians were both amazed and annoyed by this kind of toilets.
From: couw@my-dejanews.com you stand, your knees bend, it's very uncomfortable and you can't read a magazine while taking a dump.
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	That's where it's located Way down in France Oh down in France Now, listen I ka-ka one time and then I heard it Way on down And then I went Way on down That was Under France
From: couw@my-dejanews.com the ka-ka of course has to travel a longer distance before it hits the ground when you're standing up!
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	I... I smelled it, it went... Way on down And then it smelled like... Way on down That was Under France Ooh, smell it in front of him... Oh, smell your harmonica Go on smell it son Uh-huh... Oh, you know Uh-huh, they're comin' here too after a year
CC:-)))
Obvious JGW reference to Lightning Slim trade mark phrase see YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE, vol 5 The Downtown Talent Scout N&C
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	Now we cannot wait (Wait wait waiting Wait wait waiting...) Till we go back Gets so exciting When the poodles 'react' In France
Any reasonable explanation?
From: THIELLEMENT Pacôme <pacome.thiellement@wanadoo.fr> I don't know. Any reasonable explanation to you? There's a Zappa fantasy of a mysterious blow-job that turns the peter green - I haven't still experienced one or met any hooker familiar with it. I suppose it's another touring-make-you-crazy story. Maybe there was a groupie...
From: Arthur Barrow <bigear@netcom.com> What's to explain, except that poodle probably refers to French people. (The French Poodle breed of dog and all that.)
Also
Not always very reliable Ben Watson, (p.448 of paperback ed.) believes that chorus 'Down In France' "echoes the old doowop number 'Down In Mexico' by Pelicans (Imperial, 1954)".
CC
For more doo-wop continuaty check out CRUSIN' WITH RUBEN AND THE JETS N&C

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