Frank Zappa - Watermelon In Easter Hay

A great song, one of the best guitar solo pieces of all time. The song is taken from Act III of Joe's Garage (a late 70's Rock Opera) This is the penultimate track.

The Central Scrutinizer Lyrics:

"This is the central scrutinizer...Joe has just worked himself into an imaginary frenzy during the fade-out of his imaginary song...He begins to feel depressed now, he knows the end is near.
He has realised at last, that imaginary guitar notes and imaginary vocals exist only in the imagination of the imaginer...and... ultimately, who gives a fuck anyway...so...so... excuse me...so...who gives a fuck anyway?

So he goes back to his ugly little room and quietly dreams his last imaginary guitar solo.."

Love music?

[HenrySchecker]

I'm 29 years old. I lost my mother to heart failure at 27 and I lost my father to Covid-19 at 28. The last 2 years of my life have been unimaginably heartbreaking. And I sit and listen to this on Easter Sunday 2022. I'm going into work cause I've got no family left in this world. My father showed me Zappa. I'm eternally grateful. The only thing is I just can't listen to it anymore with crying my eyes out.

[joannanoel]

My husband of 40 years died last year...this was the last song he ever listened to .... I adore

[ashrafsahdan]

If this ain't played at my funeral then I'm not going.

[abdelkaderelbrazi]

I opened this video, started listening and started scrolling through the comments. Some people pay tribute to their deceased relatives, some praise Frank for his poetic guitar playing, some others enjoy an elaborate philosophical dialogue, exchanging their points of view with no hard feelings...No hatred here, no scolding, no dissing...I think I've found that alternate internet universe I've been looking for. All thanks to Frank Zappa's music. :)

[hughc]

The greatest 'Imaginary Guitar Solo', ever . . .

[davidwildenhain]

As a musician, I find it amazing that this beautiful, moving guitar piece is played over a grand total of 2 CHORDS!! 9 minutes of two chords, and it's not boring for a second. Only Frank Zappa could accomplish that.

[DancoNL]

Frank died 30 years ago today. As always I'm playing this for him. The best tune by the Greatest Composer Ever.

[kensho]

A masterpiece. ''Playing a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow a watermelon in Easter hay'' -- Frank Zappa

[rolandbellamy]

70 years old, never heard it before, brought a tear to my eyes, beautiful music !

[mvagusta]

My 88 year old Mum walks into a room with the help of her walker, when I'm playing this video. She immediately says, what's this, sounds like someone crying or a lament. She is a pianist since 6. It kinda freaked her out cause of the emotion. I told her I would put it in the comments.

[jenmis]

We played this song when our son was born. We've listened to it every year on 10/07 to commemorate his birthday. Today is his 13th. 💜

[jimventry]

A perfect companion piece to Maggot Brain. In a sense, Frank's own Maggot Brain.
I wish he was still with us. Such a brilliant mind.

[jeremyacton]

This is the backing track for when you finally cry those tears that you have been holding in for the last 20 years, and there was nothing you could do to change things, and that's ok.

[milliecoker]

I heard this song for the first time last night. My parents are on holiday and my older brother got a few of his close friends round. We had these two huge speakers set up in our garden and my brother went upstairs for a while. Me and three of my brothers friends were sat outside around of this fire they made at 2am, drinking beer and smoking. One of them put this song on and I asked what it was and another just said, close your eyes, sit back and relax and it was the best thing I’ve heard in my left and I would do anything to get that night back.

[craigkaschan]

Can’t believe I’m 55 and just heard this for the first time today. As a die hard Floyd and Gilmour lover my ignorance and arrogance deprived me of this incredible piece in my youth.

[Vomby]

Words can't describe the beauty of this song.

[Blondejam]

My best friend of 34 years is dying. This is his favourite track of all time. Will miss you mate.

[jerryd.]

A few moments after the monologue ends....heaven begins, courtesy of a genius and one beautiful human being. I miss you Frank.

[physicalgenius]

The most criminally underrated guitarist ever.

[reservoirdude]

Shout out to the great Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron for featuring this overwhelmingly ethereal track as part of the end credits of Y Tu Mama Tambien, my introduction to the masterful work of Frank Zappa.