The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (in album Thing-Fis
Frank Zappa · Thing-Fish [1984]
THING-FISH:
Welcome to the QUENTIN ROBERT DE NAMELAND VIDEO CHAPEL OF
ECONOMIC WORSHIP!
ENSEMBLE: (singing)
Some take THE BIBLE
For what it's worth
When it says that THE MEEK
Shall inherit THE EARTH
Well, I heard that some Sheik
Has bought New Jersey last week,
'N you suckers ain't gettin' DOODLY!
Is all de MAMMYS really wrong,
If we's wandrin' aroun'
Wit' de nakkin on?
Big ol' lips like a duck,
While we's singin' dis song,
(EVIL PRINCE, people, he cain't do NOTHIN'!)
THING-FISH:
You say yo' life a 'BUM DEAL',
'N yo' 'UP AGAINST DE WALL'?
Well, people, you ain't got no kinda
'DEAL' at all!
Now de shit dey be doin'
Down in WASHINGTUM,
ENSEMBLE:
Dey just takes care
THING-FISH:
Dey takin' care
ENSEMBLE:
Of number one
THING-FISH:
O' 'NUMBER ONE',
ENSEMBLE:
An' 'NUMBER ONE' ain't YOU!
THING-FISH:
Oh no! It ain't you or you!
ENSEMBLE:
YOU ain't even 'NUMBER TWO'!
THING-FISH:
(Push de button, pull dat chain,
Out come dat lil' brown
Choo-choo train!)
ENSEMBLE:
Those JESUS-FREAKS,
Well, they're friendly, BUT,
The SHIT they BELIEVE
Has got their minds ALL SHUT,
An' they don't even CARE
When 'THE CHURCH' takes a 'CUT'!
(Ain't it BLEAK when you've got so much NOTHIN'?)
THING-FISH:
So whaddya do?
ENSEMBLE:
EAT that PORK!
EAT that HAM!
Laugh till ya choke
On BILLY GRAHAM!
BROWN MOSES, AARON, 'n ABRAHAM:
They're ALL a waste of TIME,
'N it's YOUR ASS that's ON THE LINE!
THING-FISH:
Wohhhhhh, heah me talkin' to ya, now,
IT'S YOUR ASS THAT'S ON THE LINE!
ENSEMBLE:
Do what you WANNA,
THING-FISH:
Ohh! Do what ya wanna!
ENSEMBLE:
Do WHAT YOU WILL,
THING-FISH:
Do what you will!
ENSEMBLE:
Just DON'T MESS UP
THING-FISH:
Don't mess it!
ENSEMBLE:
YOUR NEIGHBOR'S THRILL,
THING-FISH:
Dat's right!
ENSEMBLE:
'N when you PAY THE BILL,
THING-FISH:
Aww, when y'pay de bill...
ENSEMBLE:
Kindly LEAVE A LITTLE TIP,
THING-FISH:
One-Adam-Twelve...
ENSEMBLE:
And help the NEXT POOR SUCKER
THING-FISH:
See de sucker...
ENSEMBLE:
On his ONE WAY TRIP!
(SOME TAKE THE BIBLE!)
THING-FISH:
Aw, gimme a half a duzzning fo' de hotel ruim!
Welcome to the QUENTIN ROBERT DE NAMELAND VIDEO CHAPEL OF
ECONOMIC WORSHIP!
ENSEMBLE: (singing)
Some take THE BIBLE
For what it's worth
When it says that THE MEEK
Shall inherit THE EARTH
Well, I heard that some Sheik
Has bought New Jersey last week,
'N you suckers ain't gettin' DOODLY!
Is all de MAMMYS really wrong,
If we's wandrin' aroun'
Wit' de nakkin on?
Big ol' lips like a duck,
While we's singin' dis song,
(EVIL PRINCE, people, he cain't do NOTHIN'!)
THING-FISH:
You say yo' life a 'BUM DEAL',
'N yo' 'UP AGAINST DE WALL'?
Well, people, you ain't got no kinda
'DEAL' at all!
Now de shit dey be doin'
Down in WASHINGTUM,
ENSEMBLE:
Dey just takes care
THING-FISH:
Dey takin' care
ENSEMBLE:
Of number one
THING-FISH:
O' 'NUMBER ONE',
ENSEMBLE:
An' 'NUMBER ONE' ain't YOU!
THING-FISH:
Oh no! It ain't you or you!
ENSEMBLE:
YOU ain't even 'NUMBER TWO'!
THING-FISH:
(Push de button, pull dat chain,
Out come dat lil' brown
Choo-choo train!)
ENSEMBLE:
Those JESUS-FREAKS,
Well, they're friendly, BUT,
The SHIT they BELIEVE
Has got their minds ALL SHUT,
An' they don't even CARE
When 'THE CHURCH' takes a 'CUT'!
(Ain't it BLEAK when you've got so much NOTHIN'?)
THING-FISH:
So whaddya do?
ENSEMBLE:
EAT that PORK!
EAT that HAM!
Laugh till ya choke
On BILLY GRAHAM!
BROWN MOSES, AARON, 'n ABRAHAM:
They're ALL a waste of TIME,
'N it's YOUR ASS that's ON THE LINE!
THING-FISH:
Wohhhhhh, heah me talkin' to ya, now,
IT'S YOUR ASS THAT'S ON THE LINE!
ENSEMBLE:
Do what you WANNA,
THING-FISH:
Ohh! Do what ya wanna!
ENSEMBLE:
Do WHAT YOU WILL,
THING-FISH:
Do what you will!
ENSEMBLE:
Just DON'T MESS UP
THING-FISH:
Don't mess it!
ENSEMBLE:
YOUR NEIGHBOR'S THRILL,
THING-FISH:
Dat's right!
ENSEMBLE:
'N when you PAY THE BILL,
THING-FISH:
Aww, when y'pay de bill...
ENSEMBLE:
Kindly LEAVE A LITTLE TIP,
THING-FISH:
One-Adam-Twelve...
ENSEMBLE:
And help the NEXT POOR SUCKER
THING-FISH:
See de sucker...
ENSEMBLE:
On his ONE WAY TRIP!
(SOME TAKE THE BIBLE!)
THING-FISH:
Aw, gimme a half a duzzning fo' de hotel ruim!
The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing
Frank Zappa's 'The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing' stands as a sharp, satirical commentary on societal expectations and hypocrisy, delivered with his signature musical virtuosity. Recorded for the 1984 album 'Thing-Fish', the track exemplifies Zappa's ability to blend complex jazz fusion with biting social critique. The song challenges traditional notions of virtue, suggesting that true strength often lies outside conventional moral frameworks. With its driving rhythm and Zappa's characteristic vocal delivery, the recording captures the rebellious spirit of his later work, offering a memorable exploration of human nature that remains relevant decades after its release.