Who Are the Brain Police?

The Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa

About Who Are the Brain Police?

"Who Are the Brain Police?" is a Frank Zappa song, performed by The Mothers of Invention, released on the Mothers' debut album, Freak Out!. It was released by Verve Records as a single in 1966. Zappa stated that the song was one of religious theme. Zappa wrote about the song on the Freak Out! liner notes: "At five o'clock in the morning someone kept singing this in my mind and made me write it down. I will admit to being frightened when I finally played it out loud and sang the words. "In a 1988 interview, Zappa added: A lot of people police their own brains. They're like citizen soldiers, so to speak. I've seen people who will willingly arrest, try and punish their own brains. Now that's really sad. That's vigilante brain policism. It's not even official, it's like self-imposed. ... It's hard to pin it down to one central agency when you realize that so many people are willing to do it to themselves. I mean, the people who want to become amateur brain police, their numbers grow every day – people who say to themselves, 'I couldn't possibly consider that', and then spank themselves for even getting that far. So, you don't even need to blame it on a central brain police agency. You've got plenty of people who willingly subject themselves to this self-mutilation. 


Year:
1990
120 
#1

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What will you do if we let you go home
And the plastic's all melted
And so is the chrome?
Who are the brain police?

What will you do when the label comes off
And the plastic's all melted
And the chrome is too soft?

Wah
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm gonna die
I'm going to die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
Who are the brain police?

What will you do if the people you knew
Were the plastic that melted
And the chromium too?
Who are the brain police?

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Frank Zappa

Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, recording engineer, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for 20th-century classical composers such as Edgard Varèse, Igor Stravinsky, and Anton Webern along with 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands… more »

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Written by: FRANK ZAPPA

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Origin
"Who Are The Brain Police?" is a song by American musician and composer Frank Zappa, released with his band The Mothers of Invention on their debut album, 'Freak Out!' in 1966.
Genre Classification
The song falls under the genres of experimental rock, psychedelic rock, and avant-garde music.
Bizarre Lyrics
The lyrics of "Who Are The Brain Police?" reflect Zappa's love for non-conformity and questioning of established norms through lines like 'What will you do if we let you go home, And the plastic's all melted, And so is the chrome?'
Unusual Musical Style
"Who Are The Brain Police?" incorporates unusual musical sounds, a characteristic of many Zappa's compositions, such as an eerie-sounding vocal harmony and use of unconventional percussion instruments.
Intention behind the Song
Frank Zappa wrote "Who Are The Brain Police?" as a critique against mind control and manipulation he thought was prevalent in American society.
Influence in Other Works
British band Pink Floyd reportedly played "Who Are The Brain Police?" over their PA system before concerts in the early 1970s.
Influence on Music Scene
The song, despite initially being met with mixed responses due to its unconventional structure and seemingly nonsensical lyrics, has since become regarded as a pioneering work in the psychedelic rock genre.
Cultural Impact
"Who Are The Brain Police?" has been described as a psychedelic masterpiece that embodied social unrest, painting a surrealistic view of America's mainstream culture during the Vietnam War era.
Recording Process
The creation of "Who Are The Brain Police?" involved a complex, multilayered recording process, showcasing Frank Zappa's innovative approach to music production.
Audience's Reaction
The song’s cryptic lyrics and experimental style initially turned many listeners off. However, it has since gained cult status among Frank Zappa's fans and aficionados of psychedelic rock.

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