“I had a lot of other things going on at the same time, I wasn't paying attention, and before I knew it I had lost her.” »read more
Search for
“I had a lot of other things going on at the same time, I wasn't paying attention, and before I knew it I had lost her.” »read more
Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
The words to this song are just plain silly; dental floss doesn't grow in Montana, or anywhere, but at least "Montana" is totally free of profanity, or any hint of it, something that can't be said for many Zappa songs! So what is the point of it all? Live, the eclectic Mr. Zappa and his equally whacky band performed this with a range of instruments, including percussion, sax, and most of all, with Zappa himself on lead guitar. Although he was no guitar god and saw himself primarily as a composer, Zappa was a very fine guitarist indeed, and here he plays a typically innovative solo. There are several live recordings of this floating around in cyberspace which display both his virtuosity and his off-beat humour in typically Zappa fashion. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England)
The backup vocals on this song are performed by Tina Turner and the Ikettes. They are also featured on two other songs on this album, "I'm the Slime" and "Dirty Love."
The singer mentions his zircon-encrusted tweezers. These also appear in "Dinah-Moe-Humm" earlier on the same album.
Zappa released this as the B-side to "I'm the Slime."
An audience member once requested "Whipping Post," a song by the Allman Brothers Band. Zappa apologized for not knowing the song and asked the audience member to sing it for him. The audience member sang a bar of the song in a high voice and Zappa thanked him, getting laughs from the audience. Then Zappa sang "Montana," ad-libbing the lyrics "Whipping floss" and "Whipping post" several times in place of the usual lyrics. This can be heard on the album You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2. (thanks, Joshua - New York, NY)
Comments:
Get the Ringtone
Get Song @ Amazon
Get the Sheet Music
I believe Tina Turner and/or the Ikettes also can be heard on 'Cosmic Debris'. "Look here brutha....who you jivin' wit dat Cosmic Debris??"
- Mike, Matawan, NJ
I was addicted to Zappas music and had to stop cold turkey so I could listen to other music.
- dave, sterling, FL
ZAPPA IS A GOD. He could play a one string guitar and get more sound out of it than most modern musicians can get out of their whole band.
- Thomas, Somerville, AL
Ben Watson was a pretentious quack. His book was overblown nonsense that was written just to show off his vocabulary.
- Jason, Tampa, FL
XD This makes D/L far more interesting.
- Kate, Burnaby, Canada
Masterbation?
- Billy, Palm Harbor, FL
Actually Ruth Underwood played the marimba, Ian Underwood played reed instruments.
Zappa maintained the song was just an idle fantasy, prompted by discovering a box of dental floss in a hotel bathroom, about "how do they manufacture it? and where?" But Ben Watson (Zappa biographer) reckons the whole song is just an elaborate metaphor for masturbation.
- RAZOR, LONDON, England
What I love most about this song is the comedy in the music. It's pure silliness performed like it's a serious topic. His singing is just too sincere and all those parts like the bass line gliss that are just too overplayed. It makes you want to experience the serenity and bliss of riding along the border with your Zercon encrusted tweazers gleaming in the moonlighty night, doesn't it?
Like he says - "I don't care if you think this is silly folks. I don't care if you think this is silly folks".
P.S. - Ruth Underwood is a monster player.
- Frank, Cambridge, MA
At the time this song came out, everyone in Southern California had a scheme to go to Montana, buy some land and engage in some sort of outlandish life style or business. This song parodies that prevailing attitude.
- Nick, Detroit, MI
In 1985, when rock music was targeted for sexual and violent lyrics and it was suggested that these words affected its young listeners, Zappa referenced this song--"I wrote a song about dental floss, but did anybody's teeth get cleaner?"
- David, Mesa, AZ
Ruth and Ian Underwood did percussions for Zappa at this time. Probably Ruth on the xylophone (might be a marimba).
- Alan, City, MI
Like many Zappa compositions. . . features a majestic xylophone part. No other artist has ever focused so much attention on the instrument.
- Eddie, Lachine, MI