Song Details
- Album Release Date: 1984-10-18
- Album Name: Them Or Us
Song Meaning (Interpretation) of “In France” by Frank Zappa
The song “In France” by Frank Zappa is a comedic yet thought-provoking take on a tourist’s experience of being in the beautiful country of France. The lyrics paint an amusing picture of the protagonist, who is taken aback by the cultural and social differences he finds between his home country and the one he’s visiting. He’s amazed at the abundance of wine, cheese, and “bird”-like women walking the streets of Paris. Despite (or perhaps because of) the cultural differences, the song is tinged with a sense of nostalgia as the narrator is acutely aware of how easily he could be won over by the French way of life. Ultimately, the song is a commentary on how culture can shape the way a person sees and experiences another country, illustrating how powerful cultural stereotypes can be.