He also said that Dweezil was the only one allowed to play it live

This one and Black Napkins. But Ahmet and Diva (who held 60% of the trust) had the lot sold to Universal. So I can expect covers coming up the grand wazoo.

Thank you very much. I didnt know that. And well is my favorite song from Frank 🤘

... and rightly so.

That's a remarkable piece of information. Where did you get that from?

Great great story sir! Maybe Bob's daughter? Thank u for sharing that and what a great video to put that comment in!

amazing!

How on earth could she ignore the figure his uncle was and is...? She had to know. Unless there were family issues. Otherwise makes no sense. Or maybe we’re talking very young kids.

Back in 70 I was in 7th grade also, played E flat Alto sax. My band teacher was named Mr. Fryer. Definitely not a fan of FZ. I don't really think he had a clue who Zappa was, then or now. My 1st grade teacher had more freckles than I thought possible, her name was Ms. Fryer. Still is, almost. You see Ms. Fryer married [yrs. latter] Mr. Fryer, to become Mrs. Fryer. I always thought it was a slightly strange coincidence, like you teaching music to a Zappa. This has nothing to do with Frank Zappa really, but reading your comment made me lament that my 7th grade music teacher wasn't hip to Zappa's music, like you. I just wonder what effect it might of had on our school band in those yrs. Imagine the possibilities. Your students are lucky. Maybe Mozart was a latter- day Zappa? lol

Great story!

I love you frank Dweezil moon unit and every other Zappa under the sun

Pretty much like the studio release. Awesome.

Spot on

I can barely ever listen to this song without welling up. It was almost Frank giving thanks back to everything around him. Beautiful composition

Totally agree. A masterpiece because it touches our hearts again and again ... It has deeply touched me for 35+ years now and still does. A gift that keeps giving. Truely amazing.

It's also Joe's final moment of expression, before he goes to work in the utility muffin research laboratory putting out little green rosettas. Just remembered that I have another counter-culture impulse owed to FZ.

indeed. its one of the songs i have on my "i just need to cry at something beautiful" play list. along with Black Napkins

I felt for him when he welled up there. Bereavement is a desperate pain. He bossed it though. Well done boy.

He is definitely following in his fathers footsteps!

71and 12/8 Pink Floyd whatever Zappa 12/8 3-4-7

At this point poor Joe is getting sick & tired of being stuck inside his ugly prison cell with all the other wanna be rock stars & also along with the record company executives. There's no more cocaine to shove up their noses nor VD riddled groupies to share with each other so they are forced to pass off their constant boredom snorting laundry detergent & satisfying their sexual urges by plooking each other. Every once in a while Joe must escape this never-ending hell by slipping into the Twilight Realm where he composes imaginary guitar solos & imaginary vocals for imaginary songs wondering if he'll ever get to see the outside world again. But until that time comes, if ever, poor Joe is relegated to dreaming of how much different he'd do things if ever to be released to the outside world. But for now, he's relegated to the sad reality that imaginary guitar notes & imaginary vocals only exist in the imagination of the imaginer!

❤️❤️

I looked up the tablature and it doesn't look very complex at all. Playing it and conveying so much emotion is another matter.

And a nine minute long piece "in 9/4" to boot!

Music does that to you

Amen

Hope you're doing good, brother.

A beautiful dirge for your lovely mother

@@thomasbrown6527 wonder if frank was thinking of a place when he made this song, if he did i hope your mum an frank are there. but what a gift of a song frank gave us.

Best comment here

Definetly

Warren cuccurullo did a better job I think

SOULJAH ROCKERZ

Its 6 am where I live and its new years eve, and I am listening to this tribute for the 10th time in a row. I dont think I haver ever heard something so beautiful like this

It's said that Frank's request was to have this song playing as they lowered him into the ground at his funeral. So that's what the kids did. Knowing that makes sense why it's such a powerful and tearful masterpiece.

have you heard Robin Trower's "Long Misty Days"?

Not even in the same suburb, let alone ballpark. Jeez man.

true

I almost can't stand to watch it, I get torn up every time.

@Olivier Batteris That's right. I cry most times I hear it. I met Dweezil in Philly early on during his ZPZ tours. When asked if he would play WIEH he said, not now, not yet. It's so close to all of our hearts. And yes, Frank's most beautiful piece, most poignant, full of pathos and serenity. I've played this song for total Zappa strangers in France who tell me they float away and feel in the clouds and drift away to a heavenly state.

Still in 2019 he wipes a tear or two away every time he plays it. I know it took him a few years to take the most beautiful FZ song on. Good for him, good for all of us lifelong FZ fans.

Geez, I couldnt even see the entire video, crying myself out

Ben Haldenby you clearly don't know what you are talking about. Your dad is the biggest Zappa freak? Ha! You don't know me. I am an even bigger Zappa freak than your father could be. Even if it is not true, I am sure I am in good company.

Yep. I got to sit in on a guitar workshop with Dweezil with my son and about 18 other fans. We got to ask questions, and I asked what was his favorite song from his father and Dweezil replied, "Watermelon in Easter Hay".

he was in tears,cut him up bad...lot of family memories

Hmm, Frank's best? I don't know that's too hard to decide... for example it has to compete with the Inca Roads solo that became the title track to Shut Up 'n Play Yer guitar, but this one may very well be the most emotional. Always makes me tear up...

Max Nadel ...and my license plate is RDNZL... still think you're the biggest Zappa freak? LOL Pleasure to meet another Zappa freak

me too with my kids. i called it the zappa lullaby. then they called it the 'watermelon song'.

I am so happy today i got my emotions back...

ac bc aligator Your emotions were glad to see you again too I bet!

Ohhh, that’s so sweet!!!

Just how did they react to the central scrutinizer?

+David Stein Bless her, she had good taste ......, and so do you !

God bless her (no offence intended); it is a beautiful song.

+mr7wi What could possibly be offensive about the words God bless her ?

Sheldon Cooper81 in case someone is an aetheist, like Frank!!!

David Stein I

I also see this in the same vein as Maggot Brain. Transcendant guitar music. Guts laid bare.

@@jimventry5509 Nice, thanks. If interested, Buckethead and John Fruciante did the same tribute. Aunt Suzie by Buckethead and Respectfully, Johns before the beginning. I would link but YT hates me and deletes my links. Thanks love!

It certainly is. Far beyond melancholy.

​@jfo3000 Oh my goodness, I forgot I posted this! Two years! Thanks for replying, I almost forgot how Dweezil played his heart out! Stay safe Sir,

Dweezil always has to choke back the tears when he plays this. It is such a lush and beautiful, and now that Frank is gone, a solemn tune. I can absolutely understand the emotion for Dweez. RIP, Uncle Frank. Thank you for the time you were with us.

In retrospect, it's almost Frank writing and playing his own musical eulogy 12-13 years early.

I was so thrilled when he graciously signed my Strat...

Damn fine reply.......x

The people cheering and whistling were encouraging him.

He definitely is fighting back those tears, I put Dweez in my top ten Guitarists!

Tyler Vanner I have a hard time fighting my own tears....this is the "penultimate" ZAPPA frank= tribute!

Gary Zajdel Oh! it was hard for me to hold back tears when I first heard Dweez play this song, in fact I didn't, I hard tears running down my cheeks. ;-)

Thanks for bumping this vid. I NEEDED to re watch it right about now, as I am trying to learn this song myself, but I need to learn it some more, so thanks again guys.

Tyler Vanner Frank's solo's are manic and sporadic , which I love, Dweezil is much smoother and clean, Frank can make the guitar cut right through me, especially when he plays an SG 1000... I love how Dweez has carried on Frank's music, I'm learning this song atm myself. Cheers.:-)

you can

Something about music that answers all questions...

To me, this piece is not just sad but also calm and positive. I never thought of it as sad. The music is emotional but contains all sorts of feelings. I think that everything Frank wrote had some positive feeling to it. Dweezil did an awesome job playing it and also a great job recreating the tone of the guitar. The version in Joe's Garage has the best clean and dirty guitar tones I ever heard. Music is the best.

Haha it really is!

Me too agree

going to fire up my mellotron /synth and use this track to trigger them

I have 43 rubber chickens here. Fire away.

Beat them with "rubber shirt" from the "Sheik Yerbouti" album.

Fuck the chickens or the shirt. It's lead-filled snowshoe time! Who gives a fuck anyway? We all do, Frank. Music is how souls connect with each other, be it humor or heartbreak and it's wonderful seeing Dweezil pour it out just like his dad.

If I had the pleasure of watchin' Dweezil play this song live I would have had had tears runnin' down my cheeks too! I close my eyes and swear I can hear Frank!

I was just thinking that!

Absolutely, this song has to be in 9/8. That agonizing little extra wait for each bar...

+Jeff Moehlenbruck cloned? i d rather say he has it in his veins, in his genes, man.

I would have seen that one too. I remember Dweezil still had a challenge playing this great piece. And some people say that Franks music lacked emotion. Music was his emotion.

@thegrumbler100 that seems about right. I've never seen sheet music for the song (Zappa's own?) but playing by ear doesn't change the counting for guitar. Easier for a drummer to count to 5 than 9 tho. Thx.

Its' the way losers get attention