Pollo Asado

"Pollo Asado"
Song by Ween
from the album The Pod
Released	September 20, 1991
Recorded	January–October 1990
Length	2:44
Label	Shimmy-Disc Records
Songwriter(s)	Ween
Producer(s)	Ween
The Pod track listing
"The Stallion Pt. 1" (5) "Pollo Asado" (6) "Right to the Ways and the Rules of the World" (7)

"Pollo Asado" is a song by Ween from the 1991 album The Pod.

Appearances

• Bilboa (demo, 1991)
• The Pod (1991)
• "Freedom of '76" (single, 1995)
• All Request Live (live, 2003)

Song Details

Recording and Composition

"Pollo Asado" is a psychedelic pop song with some elements of lounge and a spoken word vocal in a rare sketch comedy-esque format from the band. The studio version and early live performances are in the key of B major, with modern live performances transposing it down to G major. The part of the employee and the part of the customer are both performed by Gene Ween.

This song is based on Gener's first real job, which was at a Mexican restaurant in New Hope named Taco Loco. One recurring customer was a man from a fencing academy next door, who would order his food in a belabored manner. As Gener explained, "He knew damn well what was on the menu but dragged me through his questions about food every day." Dean Ween recorded the instrumental while jamming, and Gener recorded his vocals after a shift at Taco Loco. A rough mix appears on the Bilboa demo tape.

Live Performances

"Pollo Asado" spent many years as a very rare Ween song to hear live. It is only known to have been played a single time in the 90s, at a 1995 show on the Chocolate and Cheese tour. It was also included in the semi-live 7/22/2003 Internet livestream performance (at a sound studio with no in-person audience present), as heard on the All Request Live album. However, Gene Ween played the song several times in 2014 with his solo band Freeman during the Ween hiatus, and then Ween themselves played it moderately often for about a year after their 2016 reunion.

Trivia

The song's lyrics are referred to in an episode of the animated show The Tick.

Lyrics

Come on, it's a beautiful night for a walk on the beach, wouldn't you say?

Yes, I would say that, I would say that

Let me start of with a basket of chips
Then move on to the pollo asado taco
I would like two pollo asado tacos with one beef chimichanga
On the chimichanga, I would like a side of sour cream
I would like tomatoes and onions on my quesadilla
For dessert, I would like the sopapillas, I would like extra cinnamon
Do you make guacamole?

Yes, I do make guacamole

Uh, I would like a side of guacamole on my Tostitos
I like to dip the Tostitos in the guacamole
Can I get a basket, I told you about a basket of chips
I would like a large iced-tea, two, uh, two large iced-teas

Ok, that'll be $16.07
Out of $20? Okay, $16.07's your change
Hi, can I help you?

I would like a basket of chips
A beef chimichanga with a side of sour cream
I would like some guacamole on my chimichanga
With a quesadilla of tomato, onion, and vegetables
I should like a burrito with beans, beef, and
I would like a carne asado taco
Could you put some hot sauce on that for me?
No, in-inside the taco, not on the side
Yes, can I have a carne asado taco?
Not a pollo asado, you don't have chicken
Do you have guacamole?
Can you make me some guacamole?
I have guacamole
Okay, on my burrito I would like the machaca beef and the shredded pork
And some more cheese, please

Okay, that'll be $22

Uh, oh, yes, I would like two lemonades and one medium iced-tea

Okay, that'll be $20.07
Out of $22? Okay, $1.52's your change

Thanks a lot-, your food will be up-, here, let me get your drinks
Hi, can I help you? Yes, I would like a basket of chips
I would like a beef chimi-
Um, what is, what is the, what is the, what is the pollo asada?
That's the chicken
Okay, what is the carne asado?
That's the beef
Okay, let me get two carne asada tacos-

Song Themes

Food and Drink, Spanish, Sung by Gene Ween

Personnel

• Gene Ween – vocals
• Dean Ween – guitar, drum machine, bass, sound effects
• Andrew Weiss – mixing