What was "Toads of the Short Forest" all about?

You mean Camarillo Brillo, right? Great question; I guess I never thought about that bit of the lyrics too much before. I will try to find out and get back to you…

Oh, I see now. The track you’re referring to is an instrumental track on Weasles; the one I was talking about is a song on Over-Nite Sensation which includes the line “She ruled the toads of the Short Forest”.

The most I could find is this:

From: fnord@panix.com (Cliff Heller)
  One of the instrumental songs on Weasels Ripped My Flesh is called Toads of the Short Forest. I’m not sure where there are other references to this.
From: sova@kpbank.kemerovo.su
  The other reference (if not for fauna than for floura :-))) is of course in The Adventures of Greggery Peccary
GREGGERY takes a bumpy trail
off the main SHORT FOREST ROAD,
which leads him up the side
of a FAMOUS (and convenientlv
placed) MOUNTAIN, and into a strange
cave on the edge of a cliff, not far
from a LITTLE TWISTED TREE. . .with
eyes on it.

Every newt in Idaho would have a good idea. And every cricket who had chorused by the bush in Buffalo. It’s said that he who unlocks the secret of FZs lyrics will see God.

Zappa often makes references to his earlier works in his lyrics. In “Cosmik Debris,” he refers to “The oil of Aphrodite and the dust of the Grand Wazoo,” that being a name of an earlier album.

It’s just Rock & Roll, man, don’t try to figure it out.

@IchtheosaurusRex:
I said I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it
I said I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it
I said I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but i like it
I said I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do
Oh, well, I like it, I like it. I like it…