A question about Funky Pretty

[Jay]

While I was looking through the "Let's Go Away..." thread, I was inspired to make this one. I considered posting my question in that thread, but I didn't want to "hijack" it. My question is about a specific lyric. Everybody I have ever talked to, and every lyric website, states that the lyric is "The theme of U Say Asee", a mangled pronunciation of "USA". In all the years that I've been listening to the song, I have never heard "U Say Asse". Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. Does anybody else here hear it the way I do? Has anybody here heard the isolated vocal track, to confirm the exact specific lyric? This has been driving me crazy for years now.

[Manchini]

Probably just from the background vocals going "funky pretty, pretty funky" at the same time as Carl's lead.

[Bill Ed]

Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece.

That's what I've always heard as well. So there are at least two of us. 

[Jay]

Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece.

That's what I've always heard as well. So there are at least two of us. 

Thank you!  I especially hear it on the "In Concert" album.

[c-man]

While I was looking through the "Let's Go Away..." thread, I was inspired to make this one. I considered posting my question in that thread, but I didn't want to "hijack" it. My question is about a specific lyric. Everybody I have ever talked to, and every lyric website, states that the lyric is "The theme of U Say Asee", a mangled pronunciation of "USA". In all the years that I've been listening to the song, I have never heard "U Say Asse". Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. Does anybody else here hear it the way I do? Has anybody here heard the isolated vocal track, to confirm the exact specific lyric? This has been driving me crazy for years now.

Have you consulted the official lyric sheet included with the Holland album?

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece.

That's what I've always heard as well. So there are at least two of us. 

Make it three!

[JK]

Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece.

That's what I've always heard as well. So there are at least two of us. 

Make it three!

4.

[CenturyDeprived]

While I was looking through the "Let's Go Away..." thread, I was inspired to make this one. I considered posting my question in that thread, but I didn't want to "hijack" it. My question is about a specific lyric. Everybody I have ever talked to, and every lyric website, states that the lyric is "The theme of U Say Asee", a mangled pronunciation of "USA". In all the years that I've been listening to the song, I have never heard "U Say Asse". Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. Does anybody else here hear it the way I do? Has anybody here heard the isolated vocal track, to confirm the exact specific lyric? This has been driving me crazy for years now.

Could it be Greasy Icee? As in, greasy Beach Boy hands at a burger stand (greasy from haven eaten a burger) holding an Icee frozen drink? 

[joshferrell]

 

While I was looking through the "Let's Go Away..." thread, I was inspired to make this one. I considered posting my question in that thread, but I didn't want to "hijack" it. My question is about a specific lyric. Everybody I have ever talked to, and every lyric website, states that the lyric is "The theme of U Say Asee", a mangled pronunciation of "USA". In all the years that I've been listening to the song, I have never heard "U Say Asse". Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. Does anybody else here hear it the way I do? Has anybody here heard the isolated vocal track, to confirm the exact specific lyric? This has been driving me crazy for years now.

Could it be Greasy Icee? As in, greasy Beach Boy hands at a burger stand (greasy from haven eaten a burger) holding an Icee frozen drink? 

I thought it was "Greasy Ass-y" 

[Jay]

While I was looking through the "Let's Go Away..." thread, I was inspired to make this one. I considered posting my question in that thread, but I didn't want to "hijack" it. My question is about a specific lyric. Everybody I have ever talked to, and every lyric website, states that the lyric is "The theme of U Say Asee", a mangled pronunciation of "USA". In all the years that I've been listening to the song, I have never heard "U Say Asse". Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. Does anybody else here hear it the way I do? Has anybody here heard the isolated vocal track, to confirm the exact specific lyric? This has been driving me crazy for years now.

Have you consulted the official lyric sheet included with the Holland album?

I don't have it on vinyl, so no.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Lyrics are in the 1990 and 2000 reissues. I never heard it as anything but "Usay Ass Eee"... but it did take me about as long to work out that meant USA as it did to twig the cover of the album was printed upside down. That is, about five years...

[Custom Machine]

Going all the way back to when I first bought the album in Jan 1973 (which still has the shrink wrap on it with a $3.95 price tag from The Wherehouse) ($21.09 in today's dollars) I have always heard it as "Gree See Ah See".

When looking at the lyric sheet I've always considered the "U Say Asee" to be some type of bizarre misprint, and until reading this thread today had never considered that it could stand for "USA".

Anyway, there is absolutely no way Carl is singing "U Say Asee". He's singing, without a doubt, "Gree See Ah See". (And I'm sure Stamos would agree.)

While "U Say Ah See" may have been part of the original lyrics (from Mike, and/or Jack), it's easy to see why Carl would have changed it to a reference to Greece, given that two cities in the US, "Los Angees" and "Manhattohsee," already take up one quarter of the places mentioned, making a reference to Greece a much more logical lyrical choice than an additional reference to the US.

So how are BW and band singing it in concert today? Hopefully they're going with Carl's "Gree See Ah See" and not the published lyric, which was never sung on the original recording.

Edit: Thanks Ognir for starting this thread, and I agree with your comments below:

... Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. ...

[Jay]

Going all the way back to when I first bought the album in Jan 1973 (which still has the shrink wrap on it with a $3.95 price tag from The Wherehouse) ($21.09 in today's dollars) I have always heard it as "Gree See Ah See".

When looking at the lyric sheet I've always considered the "U Say Asee" to be some type of bizarre misprint, and until reading this thread today had never considered that it could stand for "USA".

Anyway, there is absolutely no way Carl is singing "U Say Asee". He's singing, without a doubt, "Gree See Ah See". (And I'm sure Stamos would agree.)

While "U Say Ah See" may have been part of the original lyrics (from Mike, and/or Jack), it's easy to see why Carl would have changed it to a reference to Greece, given that two cities in the US, "Los Angees" and "Manhattohsee," already take up one quarter of the places mentioned, making a reference to Greece a much more logical lyrical choice than an additional reference to the US.

So how are BW and band singing it in concert today? Hopefully they're going with Carl's "Gree See Ah See" and not the published lyric, which was never sung on the original recording.

Edit: Thanks Ognir for starting this thread, and I agree with your comments below:

... Any and every time I've listened to the song I've heard it as "Greasy Ah Say", as in a reference to Greece. I've also heard it this way in every single live version of this song as performed by The Beach Boys. On the "In Concert" album, and on every bootleg I've heard. I've always heard a very distinct "G" sound. ...

Thanks for your thoughts on this. For as long as I can remember hearing the song, I always heard a "g" in there. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. 

[JK]

I've noticed that more than one live version leaves out this bit...

[Jay]

I've noticed that more than one live version leaves out this bit...

I've never heard a version without that part.

[MrRobinsonsFather]

but it did take me about as long to work out that meant USA as it did to twig the cover of the album was printed upside down. That is, about five years...

Don't worry your not the only one, took me a very long time until I realised that too

[Theydon Bois]

I find it very hard to hear the lyrics of the middle eight of "Funky Pretty" as anything other than toe-curlingly embarrassing, one of my least favourite lyrical moments in the entire catalogue.  Cracking tune, mind.

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

I find it very hard to hear the lyrics of the middle eight of "Funky Pretty" as anything other than toe-curlingly embarrassing, one of my least favourite lyrical moments in the entire catalogue.  Cracking tune, mind.

Yeah it's pretty funky dumb.

[CenturyDeprived]

I find it very hard to hear the lyrics of the middle eight of "Funky Pretty" as anything other than toe-curlingly embarrassing, one of my least favourite lyrical moments in the entire catalogue.  Cracking tune, mind.

+1. Love the song otherwise though.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Anyway, there is absolutely no way Carl is singing "U Say Asee". He's singing, without a doubt, "Gree See Ah See".

A most provocative statement, the more so because it's entirely erroneous.

[Jay]

Has anybody heard the isolated vocal?

[Andrew G. Doe]

No need. It's the bvs causing a non-existent audio artefact. If you tweak it with a graphic, you'll clearly hear Carl sing U, not G.

[JK]

I've noticed that more than one live version leaves out this bit...

I've never heard a version without that part.

As you were. I must have missed it the first time round----not paying attention as usual.

[RiC]

No need. It's the bvs causing a non-existent audio artefact. If you tweak it with a graphic, you'll clearly hear Carl sing U, not G.

I have to agree. Listen with headphones on.

[Jay]

No need. It's the bvs causing a non-existent audio artefact. If you tweak it with a graphic, you'll clearly hear Carl sing U, not G.

I have to agree. Listen with headphones on.

I have. I still hear a "g" sound. More so on live versions of the song.