3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Grown So Ugly Lyrics
I got up this morning
And I put on my shoes
I tied my shoes
Then I washed my face
I went to the mirror
For to comb my head
I made a move
Didn't know what to do
I tipped way forward
Got to break and run
Baby, this ain't me
Baby, this ain't me
Got so ugly I don't even know myself
I left Angola
1964
Go walking down my street
Knock on my baby's door
My baby come out
She asks me who I am
And I say, honey,
Don't you know your man?
She said my man's been gone
Since 1942
And I'll tell you Mr. Ugly,
He didn't look like you
Oh baby, Oh baby
Baby, this ain't me
Baby, this ain't me
Got so ugly I don't even know myself
And I put on my shoes
I tied my shoes
Then I washed my face
I went to the mirror
For to comb my head
I made a move
Didn't know what to do
I tipped way forward
Got to break and run
Baby, this ain't me
Got so ugly I don't even know myself
1964
Go walking down my street
Knock on my baby's door
My baby come out
She asks me who I am
And I say, honey,
Don't you know your man?
She said my man's been gone
Since 1942
And I'll tell you Mr. Ugly,
He didn't look like you
Baby, this ain't me
Baby, this ain't me
Got so ugly I don't even know myself
Song Info
Submitted by
captainlumpy On Jan 04, 2008
More Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Big Eyed Beans from Venus
Ice Cream for Crow
Pachuco Cadaver
Moonlight On Vermont
Yellow Brick Road
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I cannot believe no one has commented on this song yet -- it has to be one of my all time favorite songs!
This song was written by Robert Pete Williams and details the negative changes he went through during his 22 years at Angola State Prison in Louisiana, one of the largest and most notoriously brutal prisons in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Penitentiary).
At the beginning of the song, he is fresh out of prison and trying to clean himself up, but when he looks in the mirror he can't even recognize who he sees. In the second verse, he goes to see the woman that he loves, but she can barely recognize him either.
Great song, didn't know the story behind it, thanks athomeinmygalaxieon.
According to John French's book, Ry Cooder wrote the "knock upon my baby's door" verse (the important part of the song!) Cooder found the song and drove everyone mad rehearsing it. (Especially Don - his own "blues" songs were full of irregular phrasing and rhythms but he didn't like to memorise anyone else's irregularities. No wonder Zappa had so much trouble with him)