" Bobby Brown (Goes Down)" is a song by American musician Frank Zappa released on his double album Sheik Yerbouti (1979). The song was successful in Europe, where it was a number-one-hit in Norway and Sweden, number 4 in Germany, and was featured on the vinyl and European CD version of Zappa's best of compilation, Strictly Commercial (1995).
Synopsis
The song describes a wealthy,
misogynistic student named Bobby Brown, "the cutest boy in town", whose life is the archetypal
American Dream until a traumatic sexual encounter with "Freddie", a "dyke" involved in the women's liberation movement, leaves him questioning his sexuality. Bobby transforms into a
leisure suit-wearing
closeted homosexuality working in radio promotions; by the end of the song, he and "a friend" (later implied to be his boss, as he will "
Casting couch", which also has a double meaning, i.e. getting head) have become self-described "sexual spastic(s)" involved in
urolagnia and
sadomasochism, for which he thanks Freddie.
Track listing
Version 1:
- A. "Bobby Brown" – 2:43
- B. "Baby Snakes" – 1:50
Version 2:
- A. "Bobby Brown" – 2:43
- B. "Stick It Out" – 4:33
Chart positions
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Certifications
External links
