Smelly Tongues
The Residents Lyrics

The lyrics to The Residents' song "Smelly Tongues" are short and simple, yet incredibly striking. The statement that "smelly tongues look just as they smell" is an interesting one. It could be interpreted in a few different ways, but the most obvious is that when someone's breath smells bad, their tongue often looks coated in a film or otherwise unclean. However, there could be a more metaphorical interpretation as well - the idea that the things we say or take in through our mouths can leave an imprint on us, and that others can tell something about us by looking at our tongues (or by extension, listening to us speak).

The choice to make this idea the focus of a song is typical of The Residents' style, which often emphasizes unconventional subject matter and imagery. The song's sparse instrumentation - just a pulsing synthesizer and some sound effects - adds to the feeling of discomfort that the lyrics evoke. Overall, "Smelly Tongues" is a brief but memorable piece of music that will stick with the listener long after it's over.