The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
The muffin man is seated at the table
in the laboratory of the utility muffin
Research kitchen... reaching for an
oversized chrome spoon he gathers an
Intimate quantity of dried muffin
remnants and brushing his scapular aside
Procceds to dump these inside of his shirt...
He turns to us and speaks:
Some people like cupcakes better.
I for one care less for them!
Arrogantly twisting the sterile canvas
snoot of a fully charged icing
Anointment utensil he poots forths
a quarter-ounce green rosette (oh ah yuk
Yuk... let's try that again...!)
he poots forth a quarter-ounce green
rosette Near the summit of a dense but
radiant muffin of his own design.
Later he says:
Some people... some people like cupcakes exclusively, while myself, I say
There is naught nor ought there be nothing so exalted on the face of god's grey
Earth as that prince of foods... the muffin!
Girl you thought he was a man
But he was a muffin
He hung around till you found
That he didn't know nuthin'
Girl you thought he was a man
But he only was a-puffin'
No cries is heard in the night
As a result of him stuffin'
Bruce fowler on trombone, napoleon murphy
brock on tenor sax, and lead vocals,
Terry bozzio on drums, tom fowler on bass,
denny walley on slide, george duke
On keyboards, captain beefheart on vocals,
and soprano sax, and madness. thank
You very much for coming to the concert tonight. hope you enjoyed it. goodnight
Austin, texas, where ever you are.
in the laboratory of the utility muffin
Research kitchen... reaching for an
oversized chrome spoon he gathers an
Intimate quantity of dried muffin
remnants and brushing his scapular aside
Procceds to dump these inside of his shirt...
He turns to us and speaks:
Some people like cupcakes better.
I for one care less for them!
Arrogantly twisting the sterile canvas
snoot of a fully charged icing
Anointment utensil he poots forths
a quarter-ounce green rosette (oh ah yuk
Yuk... let's try that again...!)
he poots forth a quarter-ounce green
rosette Near the summit of a dense but
radiant muffin of his own design.
Later he says:
Some people... some people like cupcakes exclusively, while myself, I say
There is naught nor ought there be nothing so exalted on the face of god's grey
Earth as that prince of foods... the muffin!
Girl you thought he was a man
But he was a muffin
He hung around till you found
That he didn't know nuthin'
Girl you thought he was a man
But he only was a-puffin'
No cries is heard in the night
As a result of him stuffin'
Bruce fowler on trombone, napoleon murphy
brock on tenor sax, and lead vocals,
Terry bozzio on drums, tom fowler on bass,
denny walley on slide, george duke
On keyboards, captain beefheart on vocals,
and soprano sax, and madness. thank
You very much for coming to the concert tonight. hope you enjoyed it. goodnight
Austin, texas, where ever you are.
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I have no clue what it's supposed to mean, but my dad's friend told me that it'll describe every guy I'll ever date. Not much help, but if I figure anything out (I doubt I will) I'll tell you. =/
@LittleZepGirl it's been 15 years. How did it go? I guess your dad's friend's comment was pretty accurate.
k i c k a s s
It sounds pretty sexual to me.
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a muffin" - he could not get an erection (muffin analogy)
"He hung around 'til you found that he didn't know 'nuffin" - a bluffer
Girl, you thought he was a man, but he only was a-puffin' - A puff is a not very manly male
No cries is heard in the night as a result of him stuffin' - Orgasms can lead to sounds (cries) and the"stuffin"thing is quite explicit.
The muffin man refers to the everyday dip shit that is quite happy following the same mundane rituals day in day out. It's franks humerus dig at the norm. Step out of the box, think for yourself and stop being such a fucking Muffin!!!
Zappa named his recording studio the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen, but I think it may have been after the song rather than vice versa.
After Bongo Fury the song was usually medleyed live with a fast-tempo Camarillo Brillo, but there's nothing else really notable about the song I can recall.
I love this song, the intro makes me laug every time.
great guitar solo. great advice from your dads friend zep girl!? you'd have to be pretty naive to not know if your guy was a man or a cake.
it's all about the solo on this one, makes my neck hair stand up every time also i think the drums and bass are also notably very good, as well as the lyrics and frank's voice...arghhhh hell, its just classic Zappa is what it is.
this song is about rug munching, muffin refers to the vag, and its about guys who either suck at or plain refuse to do it
i agree with whippit because it says "but he only was a puffin and no cries in the middle of the night"