Them or Us
Them or Us is an album by Frank Zappa, released in October 1984. This is Official Release #40.
Album content
Its opening and closing tracks are covers: "The Closer You Are", which was written by Earl Lewis and Morgan Robinson and originally released by The Channels; and "Whippin' Post", originally recorded by The Allman Brothers Band.
"Ya Hozna" is actually a forward basic track with vocal taken from "Sofa No. 2" (from "One Size Fits All", 1975), "Lonely Little Girl" (from We're Only in It for the Money, 1968) and unreleased outtakes of "Valley Girl" (vocals by Moon Zappa) played backwards.
Release
Following distribution problems with Zappa's album Thing-Fish, which former Barking Pumpkin distributor MCA Records refused to distribute, Zappa made a deal with EMI Records, which would allow Them Or Us and Thing-Fish to be distributed by Capitol Records in the United States. Zappa wrote a "warning" which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well as Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention, which stated that the albums contained content "which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress", and a "guarantee" which stated that the lyrics would not "cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business."
Podcasts:
Them Or Us
Not sure if its correct, because Ya Hozna is backwards singing.
Sung backwards:
I AM THE HEAVEN
I AM THE WATER
ICH BIN DER DRECK UNTER DEINEN WALZEN
ICH BIN DEIN GEHEIMER SCHMUTZ
UND VERLORENES METALLGELD
ICH BIN DEINE RITZE
ICH BIN DEINE RITZE UND SCHLITZE
I AM THE CLOUDS
I AM EMBROIDERED
ICH BIN DER AUTOR ALLER FALTEN
UND DAMAST PASPELN
ICH BIN DER CHROME DINETTE
ICH BIN DER CHROME DINETTE
ICH BIN EIER ALLER ARTEN
ICH BIN ALLE TAGE UND NAECHTE
ICH BIN ALLE TAGE UND NAECHTE
ICH BIN HIER
UND DU BIST MEIN SOFA
ICH BIN HIER
UND DU BIST MEIN SOFA
ICH BIN HIER
UND DU BIST MEIN SOFA
ORIGINAL:
I AM THE HEAVEN
I AM THE WATER
I AM THE DIRT BENEATH YOUR ROLLERS
I AM YOUR SECRET SMUT
AND LOST METAL MONEY DOWN YOUR CRACKS
I AM YOUR CRACKS & CRANNIES
I AM THE CLOUDS
I AM EMBROIDERED
I AM THE AUTHOR OF ALL TUCKS
AND DAMAST PIPING
I AM THE CHROME DINETTE
I AM THE CHROME DINETTE
I AM EGGS OF ALL PERSUASIONS
I AM ALL DAYS & NIGHTS
I AM ALL DAYS & NIGHTS
I AM ALL DAYS & NIGHTS
I AM ALL DAYS & NIGHTS
I AM HERE
AND YOU ARE MY SOFA
I AM HERE
AND YOU ARE MY SOFA
I AM HERE
AND YOU ARE MY SOFA