Ten Foot Pole

The song "Ten Foot Pole" from ZZ Top's 1981 album El Loco is a wild ride, known for its nearly indecipherable lyrics that have puzzled fans for decades. One fan story from 1986, shared on the blog Every Record Tells a Story, recounts a challenge to decode the song’s lyrics, comparing the task to cracking the Enigma code. The blogger humorously suggested the lyrics, like “Tidify da, sinmah gough dah hep,” might as well be gibberish, yet the song’s infectious energy makes it a standout. Some fans on forums like Steve Hoffman Music Forums speculate the song’s slurred vocals could be inspired by psychedelic experiences, with one tale claiming frontman Billy Gibbons drew from a night in Nepal witnessing sherpas chanting after consuming a ritual concoction. While unverified, this story adds to the song’s mystique, reflecting ZZ Top’s knack for blending humor and surrealism.

Another layer of intrigue comes from the song’s production. El Loco, as noted on Wikipedia, marked ZZ Top’s early experiments with synthesizers, hinting at their later MTV-era sound. Uncredited engineer Linden Hudson played a key role, contributing to tracks like “Groovy Little Hippie Pad” and reportedly co-writing material, though he faced legal battles for recognition, as detailed in David Blayney’s book Sharp Dressed Men. Fans on Discogs praise the album’s dynamic sound, with “Ten Foot Pole” embodying the band’s shift from raw blues to a quirkier, electronic-tinged style. The song’s refrain, “I wouldn’t touch her with a ten foot pole,” is one of the few clear lines, delivering the band’s signature cheeky humor.

ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969, evolving from Billy Gibbons’ earlier band, Moving Sidewalks. Gibbons, a blues-rock guitarist with a love for gritty riffs, joined forces with bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard, as outlined on their official website. Their early sound, rooted in Texas blues, took shape with 1971’s ZZ Top’s First Album under London Records. By 1973’s Tres Hombres, featuring the hit “La Grange,” they’d honed a tight, boogie-driven style that made them a live sensation. The band’s long beards, sunglasses, and matching outfits became iconic, especially during their 1980s reinvention with albums like Eliminator, which skyrocketed them to MTV fame. Despite lineup consistency for 51 years until Hill’s death in 2021, their humor and bluesy core never wavered.

You can follow ZZ Top on their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for updates on tours, like their 2022 Las Vegas residency, or new releases like their bourbon-inspired whiskey. Fan communities thrive online, with groups like the ZZ Top Fans Facebook group sharing memorabilia and concert stories. Websites like amiright.com offer quirky trivia, such as the band’s name possibly nodding to blues artist Z.Z. Hill or the hypnotic spin of a top. For the Zoo Freaks tuning into “Ten Foot Pole,” ZZ Top’s blend of eccentricity and raw talent keeps the vibe alive.