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.


Lyrics submitted by nicole

Joe's Garage Lyrics as written by Frank Zappa

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Joe's Garage song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    The album this is off of, Joes Garage was about how much it would suck if there were no music. Eventually the central scruitinizer (the government) makes music illegal and joe gets put in jail. Great album a must have.

    Gimpy Jimon March 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i dont know what it is about this song, but it always reminds me of why i started playing guitar, and just the fun of jamming, and this song is about just that, the fun of playing.

    motor_city_babyon December 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to anyone whos ever been in a band (no matter how much you sucked or do suck)this song means alot.

    alicecooperfan!!on February 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I remember many times when me and a few of my friends would just hang out in my garage and jam, we'd try to play something cool, but none of us were any good, so someone would just end up yelling "hey, let's play Smells Like Teen Spirit!" And then we would, despite how none of us actually liked the song. A toast to good times with friends, no matter how.

    LordRetardon March 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is great, it has the spirit of music within it and the joy he can bring.

    It has a really great rhythm as well.

    Damn those scrutinizers

    Lailseaxon March 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This album is amazing and has a great concept. This particular song is about friends hanging out, jamming, and having fun. Everyone looks down on them thinking they are playing "Devil Music" so to speak and no one approves of it though.

    electricfreedomon June 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Simple jamming.. how their band started and how everyones does if u keep it up.. its a great song all about the fun of being in a band. =) WHOO

    Kiki Bnon July 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    coming from europe,this song epitomizes my teenage concept of what life would be like growing up in suburbsville USA

    johnnyobreadisleaon April 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The entire album and specifically this song is a middle finger towards a certain record company. Zappa got screwed on the contract and had to give them 3 more records. So he created a rock opera about an evil record company taking over the world.

    Read htis part and judge for yourself...

    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'

    Nightmaretonyon August 17, 2011   Link

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