The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing

Lyrics

You Are What You Is version

...Work the wall
Work the floor
Work the pipe
In serious pain...

Some take the bible for what it's worth
When it says that the meek shall inherit the Earth
Well, I heard that some sheik has bought New Jersey last week
'N you suckers ain't gettin' nothin'

Is Hare Rama really wrong
If you wander around with a napkin on
With a bell on a stick an' your hair is all gone
The geek shall inherit nothin'

You say yer life's a bum deal
'N yer up against the wall
Well, people, you ain't even got no kinda
Deal at all
Cause what they do
In Washington

They just takes care
Of Number One
An' Number One ain't you
You ain't even Number Two

Those Jesus Freaks, well, they're friendly but
The shit they believe has got their minds all shut
An' they don't even care when the church takes a cut
Ain't it bleak when you got so much nothin'

So whaddya do? Hey!
Eat that pork, eat that ham
Laugh till ya choke on Billy Graham
Moses, Aaron 'n Abraham:
They're all a waste of time
'N it's your ass that's on the line
It's your ass that's on the line

Do what you wanna, do what you will
Just don't mess up your neighbor's thrill
'N when you pay the bill, kindly leave a little tip
And help the next poor sucker on his one way trip.

Some take the bible...

Aw gimme a half a dozen for the hotel room!

Thing-Fish version

MAMMY NUN ENSEMBLE (& THING-FISH):
... Work the wall (Dey workin' de wall!)
Work the floor! (Dey not only woikin' it, dey turnin' de damn thing!)
Work the pipe! (De pipe?)
In serious pain... (Welcome to the QUENTIN ROBERT DE NAMELAND VIDEO CHAPEL OF ECONOMIC WORSHIP!)

Some take the Bible for what it's worth
When it says that the meek shall inherit the Earth
Well, I heard that some Sheik has bought New Jersey last week,
'N you suckers ain't gettin' doodly!

Is all de MAMMYS really wrong,
If we's wandrin' aroun' wit' de nakkin on?
Big ol' lips like a duck, while we's singin' dis song,
EVIL PRINCE, people, he cain't do NOTHIN'!

THING-FISH:
You say yo' life a bum deal?
'N yo' up against the wall?
Well, people, you ain't got no kinda
Deal at all!
Now de shit dey be doin'
Down in Washingtum,

MAMMY NUN ENSEMBLE (& THING-FISH):
Dey just takes care (Dey takin' care)
O' Number One (O' Number One!)
An' Number One ain't you(Oh no! It ain't you or you!)
You ain't even Number Two! (Push de button, pull dat chain, Out come dat lil' brown Choo-choo train!)

Those Jesus Freaks, well, they're friendly, but
The shit they believe has got their minds all shut
An' they don't even care when the church takes a cut!
Ain't it bleak when you've got so much nothin'?

(Wohhhhhh, so whaddya do?)
Eat that pork! 'N eat that ham!
Laugh till ya choke on BILLY GRAHAM!
BROWN MOSES, AARON, 'n ABRAHAM:
They're all a waste of time
'N it's your ass that's on the line!
(Wohhhhhh, heah me talkin' to ya, now: It's your ass that's on the line!)

Do what you wanna (Ohh! Do what ya wanna!)
Do what you will (Do what you will!)
Just don't mess up (Don't mess it!)
Your neighbor's thrill (Dat's right!)
'N when you pay the bill (Aww, when y'pay de bill!)
Kindly leave a little tip, (One-Adam-Twelve!)
And help the next poor sucker (See de sucker!)
On his one-way trip

Some take the bible...

THING-FISH:
Aw, gimme a half a duzzning fo' de hotel ruim!

Players On This Song

You Are What You Is version

See: You Are What You Is.

Thing-Fish version

• Ike Willis rhythm guitar and vocals
• Ray White rhythm guitar and vocals
• Tommy Mars keyboards
• Arthur Barrow bass
• Denny Walley slide guitar and vocals
• Chad Wackerman drums

• Thing-Fish: Ike Willis
• Mammy Nun Ensemble: Ray White et al

Records On Which This Song Has Appeared

Zappa Albums & Side Projects

• You Are What You Is
• Thing-Fish
• Buffalo
• Chicago '78

Tribute & Cover Albums

• Various Artists: Zappa's Universe

Videos

• Saturday Night Live, NBC, October 21st 1978

CC Clues In This Song

• The title refers to Jesus Christ's message "The meek shall inherit the Earth".
• There is an appearance of Quentin Robert DeNameland.
• Billy Graham is mentioned.
• Hare Rama is mentioned.