The pains were coming in regular intervals and she knew that if she didn't start moving now, her legs might collapse under her before she could reach the ice cave. The ceremonial band was already playing birth music and the other women sang in an attempt to comfort her. But as her steps carried her toward the ice cave and the ceremonial band's music became lost in the wind. the true loneliness of her situation loomed even larger in her mind. The gaping mouth of the ice cave eagerly awaited. And although she felt fear, she knew the cave also offered relief from her quickening pains, for this journey had been made many times before.
Her pace remained unchanged as she entered the cave, which now enlarged before her and engulfed her in the sweet music of slowly moving ice vibrating within its own cristaline formations. Deeper into the cave she went. The men were playing the kooa and chanting for the birth of a male.
Finally she reached the furthest chamber where stood the Angakok. Delivery began immediately as the magic man filled the room with protective prayers. The child was born. The Eskimo woman reached forth with her hand, gently across the already frozen crust on the infant's belly to feel the child's sex; the other women came into the chamber singing the song of life and bore the infant away.
IF A GOOD HUNTER DIES, THE OTHER MEN CUT HIM UP AND RUB THE PIECES ON THEIR SPEARHEADS TO IMPROVE THEIR AIM.
BATHING IS DONE IN URINE.
ESKIMOS EAT ONLY MEAT, INCLUDING ROTTEN WALRUS, WHICH IS SAID TO TASTE LIKE CHEESE.
Birth
The Residents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The pains were coming in regular intervals and she knew that if she didn'tstart moving now, her legs might collapse under her before she could reach the ice cave. The ceremonial band was already playing birth music and the other women sang in an attempt to comfort her. But as her steps carried her toward the ice cave and the ceremonial band's music became lost in the wind. the true lonliness of her situation loomed even larger in her mind. The gaping mouth of the ice cave eagerly awaited. And although she felt fear, she knew the cave also offered relief from her quickening pains, for this journey had been made many times before.
Her pace remained unchanged as she entered the cave, which now enlargedbefore her and engulfed her in the sweet music of slowly moving ice vibrating within its own cristaline formations. Deeper into the cave she went. The men were playing the kooa and chanting for the birth of a male.
Finally she reached the furthest chamber where stood the Angakok. Deliverybegan immediately as the magic man filled the room with protective prayers. The child was born. The Eskimo woman reached forth with her hand, gently across the already frozen crust on the infant's belly to feel the child's sex; the other women came into the chamber singing the song of life and bore the infant away.
IF A GOOD HUNTER DIES, THE OTHER MEN CUT HIM UP AND RUB THEPIECES ON THEIR SPEARHEADS TO IMPROVE THEIR AIM.
BATHING IS DONE IN URINE.
ESKIMOS EAT ONLY MEAT, INCLUDING ROTTEN WALRUS, WHICH IS SAID TOTASTE LIKE CHEESE.
The Residents' song "Birth" explores the intense experience of childbirth in Eskimo communities. The opening lines reveal a brutal reality of these communities where female infants are killed off as they are not considered as important as males who eventually require mates. The pressure on women to produce a male heir seemingly amplifies the drama of the birth experience described in the song. The woman in question is shown braving a storm, with the winds howling around her, as she struggles towards an ice cave where the baby is to be born. The women accompanying her provide comfort through singing, but as the storm rages on, their music fades away.
The focus then shifts to the cave, which offers both fear and comfort to the struggling mother. The cave's interior is described in a surreal fashion, with "slowly moving ice vibrating within its crystaline formations" making music in the background. The music of the ceremonial band makes a reappearance as the woman reaches the chamber of the Angakok or the magic man, who begins to chant prayers for the safe delivery of the baby. Escalating quickly, the delivery ends with the woman feeling for the baby's sex and the other women chanting a song of life as they carry the newborn away.
Overall, the song offers a vivid insight into the unique birthing customs of Eskimo culture, with the lyrics emphasizing the isolation and the starkness of the physical environment of which the community is a part.
Line by Line Meaning
Since the most important person in the Eskimo community is the hunter, and since hunters are always male, female infants are ritually killed if there is no infant male who will someday need a mate to cook, sew, and chew leather for him. This social condition adds to the drama of birth.
In Eskimo community, male hunters are highly valued so much that female infants are killed if a male infant is not born to breed and serve them. This creates extra drama during the birth process.
The pains were coming in regular intervals and she knew that if she didn't start moving now, her legs might collapse under her before she could reach the ice cave. The ceremonial band was already playing birth music and the other women sang in an attempt to comfort her. But as her steps carried her toward the ice cave and the ceremonial band's music became lost in the wind. the true loneliness of her situation loomed even larger in her mind. The gaping mouth of the ice cave eagerly awaited. And although she felt fear, she knew the cave also offered relief from her quickening pains, for this journey had been made many times before.
The Eskimo woman is in labor and has to make her way to an ice cave for delivery. She is in pain and the other women are trying to comfort her with a ceremonial band, but as she walks towards the cave, her fear and loneliness grow. She finds comfort in the idea that the cave will relieve her of pain, as it has done for other women before her.
Her pace remained unchanged as she entered the cave, which now enlarged before her and engulfed her in the sweet music of slowly moving ice vibrating within its own cristaline formations. Deeper into the cave she went. The men were playing the kooa and chanting for the birth of a male.
As she enters the ice cave, she is surrounded by the sweet music of the slowly moving ice crystals. She goes deeper into the cave where she finds the men playing the kooa and chanting for the birth of a male child.
Finally she reached the furthest chamber where stood the Angakok. Delivery began immediately as the magic man filled the room with protective prayers. The child was born. The Eskimo woman reached forth with her hand, gently across the already frozen crust on the infant's belly to feel the child's sex; the other women came into the chamber singing the song of life and bore the infant away.
The woman reaches the furthest chamber where the Angakok is. Delivery begins as the magic man filled the room with protective prayers. The child is born and the woman gently feels its belly to determine its sex. The other women come into the chamber singing the song of life and they take the infant away.
IF A GOOD HUNTER DIES, THE OTHER MEN CUT HIM UP AND RUB THE PIECES ON THEIR SPEARHEADS TO IMPROVE THEIR AIM.
If a skilled hunter dies, other men will cut him up and rub the pieces on their spearheads to improve their aim.
BATHING IS DONE IN URINE.
The Eskimos use urine for bathing.
ESKIMOS EAT ONLY MEAT, INCLUDING ROTTEN WALRUS, WHICH IS SAID TO TASTE LIKE CHEESE.
Eskimos have a diet that consists only of meat, including rotten walrus, which they say tastes like cheese.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HARDY WINFRED FOX, HOMER FLYNN, HOMER III FLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@circuitboardheart
one of the most fascinating conceprs for an album ive seen in a while
@BaldJean
"Eskimo" is an extremely weird album, but then it is an album by The Residents; so it's no surprise it is weird. In my opinion this album is an absolute masterpiece.
@mask4ad
a masterpiece
@palteonato
thanks
@alfredodiazbaez8524
This make me feel so strange
@gypsyjhoni
Still haven’t ever seen any more of their mugs,perhaps the doc will expose them,probably not,aye?
@puggilove
Horrible.
@BrianSmith-vl7xu
in a good way
@superleekegshoondinovevo6998
No your horiblle!!!!!! !! $