Disco Boy

"Disco Boy"
Single by Frank Zappa
from the album Zoot Allures
B-side	Ms.Pinky, Bird Walk
Released	1976
Format	7"
Recorded	1976
Genre	Hard rock, comedy rock
Length	5:11, 5:28
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Frank Zappa
Producer(s)	Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa singles chronology
"Find Her Finer" (1976) "Disco Boy" (1976) "Dancin' Fool" (1979)

Disco Boy is a single composed by musician Frank Zappa from his 1976 album Zoot Allures. It was featured on Frank Zappa's best of album Strictly Commercial.^[1][2]

A sped-up version of the song appears in both the film Baby Snakes and its subsequent soundtrack.

Structure and meaning

The song's structure is similar sounding to previous work by Zappa however, in this particular song Zappa satirically added a more pop feel to it to go along with the theme of the song. The song addresses the stereotypes affiliated with the disco era. The vain tone of the song is set by the lyrics "Leave his hair alone, but you can kiss his comb." The lyrics "Disco boy, do the bump every night, 'til the disco girl who's really right, gonna fall for your line, and feed you a box full of chicken delight." indicate that the disco boy isn't looking for love, but just a one-night stand. The lyric "but thank the lord that you still got hands, to help you do that jerkin' that'll blot out your disco sorrow" alludes to his lust for the disco girl and that when he loses her he can always just masturbate. Besides disco this song is also a commentary on Zappa's dislike of men who find themselves irresistible to women. ^{[3] [2] [4]}

"You never go doody"

In the middle of the song the lyrics "You never go doody, that's what you think." is heard. The underlying meaning of this line is that everyone is basically the same in one aspect or another. As Zappa bluntly puts it "[We all] eat, sleep, shit and fuck." This theme is similar to the one in "Broken Hearts Are for Assholes" from Sheik Yerbouti, with the lyrics "Don't fool yerself girl, it's goin' right up yer poop chute." ^[5] Stating that even females have anuses, making us all the same. ^[4]

Rykodisc CD release

When put onto Rykodisc, the vocal on "Disco Boy" was mixed differently and the three second drum machine intro was cut.

Track list

Version 1:

A."Disco Boy" - 5:28
B."Ms.Pinky" - 3:40 ^[2]

Version 2:

A."Disco Boy" - 5:28
B."Bird Man" (Herbie Mann) - 3:40 ^[1]

References