Pygmy Twilight

[Debrakadabra]

I would like to hear you guys discuss this song.  I have not been able to get a hang of the lyrics, except that it has something to do with drugs.  Similar to City of Tiny Lights?

DebK

[Chris]

A "hocker" is a ball of phlegm in the throat, probably caused by chronic pot-smoking in this case; the lyrics are based on another foolish character in Frank's real-life cast, the druggie. A diploma, stuffed with a gym sock to simulate the stench of marijuana, will be smoked in the next song. The "croakin'" denotes both the guy's voice (or the sound he makes when trying to expel a hocker) and death by drugs. The line about "crankin' an' a-coke'n" updates the character's repertoire, while the remark about trying to quell the munchies ("in the Winchell's do-nut Midnite") and the mention of a stash-ready "Greyhound locker" (foreshadowing the gym sock) return to pot. The Winchell's could also be unwittingly servicing narcotics junkies looking for sugar fixes.

This is apparently one hell of a binge; the guy's also "hurtin' for sleep in the Quaalude Moonlight," which refers to downers, while the "crystal eye" suggests smoked cocaine (or perhaps describes the character's glazed vision). There might be more than one druggie in the lyrics. His/their conditions transform the environment; they see particular types of "Midnite" and "Moonlight." Frank's always more poetic than he gives himself credit for.

Winchell's Donuts will come up again in "The Blue Light" on 1981's Tinseltown Rebellion, which adds an alcoholic to the cast of substance dependents. "City of Tiny Lites" (compare the title to "Pygmy Twylyte") on Sheik Yerbouti will mention downers. These reprehensibles are tiny, their limited (pygmy) universes reduced to light and dark, up and down.

Just my 2k.
 

[bertanya]

I and I say babylon must look funny to jah too...  

[guacamole]

"Got a crystal kidney an' he's 'fraid to die"

Opiates like Dihydrocodeine are not easily metabolised by the body in large amounts or over prolonged periods of use.
The result is that the kidneys cannot get rid of the stuff resulting in renal failure.

TEXT

[Debrakadabra]

Thanx for the indepth Chris and the insight into kidneys, Guacamole.  I knew there had to be a lot more to this song then I could dig out.  Sometimes, I am happy to put my own gloss on a song, but I had a suspicion there were very specific meanings there.

DebK

[Chris]

Yet another character in Frank's microcosmic cast of anthropological aberrants: the druggie.

Has anyone heard that funny dialogue between Frank and Napoleon during this tune in the Token of His Extreme show? A bunch of great stuff about the "doo-doo room" and such.

[Bob the Shoe]

Debra, It has the lyrics posted in the 'Roxy and Elswhere' sleeve.  I'm sure they are also up at some Zappa lyrics site, as well.  
But yeah, its pretty much about a dude who is in the processe of killing himself.