Futum

[Couch Potatoe]

Noun-- A term pioneered by Frank Zappa in one of his interviews. Nobody really knows what a futum is, but as far as his fans can tell, a futum is most likely:
-A child or the amalgamation of a societys thoughts or ideas
-The center of attention
-Interviewee
-Fetus
It is widely debated amongst the uneducated Zappa fans. Theres most likely a past reference or use of the term which we may have missed in one of his songs, but as far as the Zappa fandom can tell, its merely the result of him living with a bioweapon engineer.

[Guest]

To my understanding, "futum" was used by Frank on his Thing Fish album/original broadway cast recording and should merely be synonymous with the term FUTURE. Used as a noun in the context given, when the mammy-nun/thing fish/narrator says, "I am your futum!". It's merely an affectation of the speaking style of the mammy-nuns. Take one look at the official lyrics for "The Torchum Never Stops" and you get the picture.

THING-FISH:
Now, dis nasty sucker is de respondable party fo de en-whiffment o' de origumal potium. Through de magik o' stage-kraff, we be able to see him at woik!

He now be preparin' some ugly shit to make yo' life even mo' mizzable den it awready are, since dis batch be resigned to render him IMMORTAL! We does not know if it gwine woik yet, but we kin always hope fo' de best!

THING-FISH: (singing)
Flies all green 'n buzznin'
In his dunjing of despair
Prisoners grummle an' piss dey' clothes
'N scratch dey' matted hair
A tiny light fum a window-hole
A hunnit yards away
Is all dey ever gets t'know
'Bouts de reg'luh life in de day

An' it stink so bad, de stones been chokin'
'N weepin' greenish drops
In de room where de giant fowah-puffer woikin'
'N de torchum never stops
De torchum never stops
De torchum
De torchum
De torchum never stops
(Go on, 'DEWLLA! Play dat lil' guitar one mo'gin!)

[Guest]

Now THAT's more like it! A real Zappa fan has spoken. Thank you.