Camarillo Brillo

Lyrics

She had that
Camarillo brillo
Flamin' out along her head,
I mean her Mendocino bean-o
By where some bugs had made it red

She ruled the Toads of the Short Forest
And every newt in Idaho
And every cricket who had chorused
By the bush in Buffalo

She said she was
A Magic Mama
And she could throw a mean Tarot
And carried on without a comma
That she was someone I should know

She had a snake for a pet
And an amulet
And she was breeding a dwarf
But she wasn't done yet
She had gray-green skin
A doll with a pin
I told her she was awright
But I couldn't come in
(I couldn't come in right then ... )

And so she wandered
Through the door-way
Just like a shadow from the tomb
She said her stereo was four-way
An' I'd just love it in her room

Well, I was born
To have adventure
So I just followed up the steps
Right past her fuming incense stencher
To where she hung her castanets

She stripped away
Her rancid poncho
An' laid out naked by the door
We did it till we were un-concho
An' it was useless any more

She had a snake for a pet
And an amulet
And she was breeding a dwarf
But she wasn't done yet
She had gray-green skin
A doll with a pin
I told her she was awright
But I couldn't come in
(actually, I was very busy then)

And so she wandered
Through the door-way
Just like a shadow from the tomb
She said her stereo was four-way
An' I'd just love it in her room

Well, I was born
To have adventure
So I just followed up the steps
Right past her fuming incense stencher
To where she hung her castanets

She said she was
A Magic Mama
And she could throw a mean Tarot
And carried on without a comma
That she was someone I should know

(Is that a real poncho ... I mean
Is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
Hmmm ... no foolin' ... )

Records On Which This Song Has Appeared

Singles

• Don't Eat The Yellow Snow (02:07) / Camarillo Brillo (03:59) - Frank Zappa (1974)

Zappa Albums

In order of recording:

• Over-Nite Sensation
• Unmitigated Audacity
• Bubble Cream Cheese
• An Evening In Detroit
• What's New In Loreley?
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6
• Philly '76
• Hammersmith Odeon (The Album)
• Halloween 77

Tributes & Cover Albums

• Various Artists: Unmatched in Camarillo Brillo / Stick It Out, played by Siniestro Total
• Various Artists: Unmatched, played by Bustamante, lyrics in Spanish
• Bonnen: Watermelon En Regalia

Notes About This Song

Frequently segues into Muffin Man when performed live, although they originally appeared on different albums.

CC Clues In This Song

• The lyrics mention the Short Forest.
• The lyrics mention the Sears Poncho.
• A star on the One Size Fits All back cover is called "Henna Brillo", again in reference to Janet Ferguson