Allmusic had this to say about the Residents: "Over the course of a recording career spanning several decades, the Residents remained a riddle of Sphinx-like proportions; cloaking their lives and music in a haze of willful obscurity, the band's members never identified themselves by name, always appearing in public in disguise -- usually tuxedos, top hats and giant eyeball masks -- and refusing to grant media interviews. Drawing inspiration from the likes of fellow innovators including Harry Partch, Sun Ra, and Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, the Residents channelled the breadth of American music into their idiosyncratic, satiric vision, their mercurial blend of electronics, distortion, avant-jazz, classical symphonies and gratingly nasal vocals reinterpreting everyone from John Philip Sousa to James Brown while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of theatrical performance and multimedia interaction.
It was commonly accepted that the four-member group emigrated to San Francisco, California from Shreveport, Louisiana at some point in the early '70s. According to longtime group spokesman Jay Clem -- one member of the so-called Cryptic Corporation, the band's representative body -- they received their name when Warner Bros. mailed back their anonymous demo tape, addressed simply "for the attention of residents". Finding no takers for their oddball sounds, the Residents founded their own label, Ralph Records, for the purposes of issuing their 1972 debut "Santa Dog", released in a pressing of 300 copies which were mailed out to luminaries from Frank Zappa to President Richard Nixon. Their debut full-length, 1974's "Meet the Residents", reportedly sold fewer than 50 copies before the group was threatened with a lawsuit from Capitol Records over its cover, a twisted, dada-esque parody of the art to "Meet the Beatles".
The follow-up, 1974's neoclassical excursion "Not Available", was recorded with the intention of its music remaining unissued; locked in cold storage upon its completion, only a 1978 contractual obligation resulted in its eventual release. 1976's "The Third Reich 'N Roll" was the next official offering, a collection of pop oldies covers presented in a controversial jacket portraying Adolf Hitler clutching an enormous carrot. After a 1976 concert in Berkeley, California which cloaked the Residents behind an opaque screen, wrapped up like mummies -- the most famous of only three live performances mounted during their first decade of existence -- they issued an abrasive 1977 cover of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction", which became an underground hit on both sides of the Atlantic at the peak of the punk movement. As the decade drew to a close, the group released a flurry of recordings, further building upon their growing cult following; among them were 1978's "Duck Stab", 1979's "Eskimo" (purportedly a collection of native Arctic chants) and 1980's "Commercial Album", a compilation of 40 one-minute "pop songs" that aired on San Francisco radio only because the Residents played them during the advertising time they bought.
In 1981 the Residents embarked upon their "Mole Trilogy", a prog rock collection of albums -- 1981's "Mark of the Mole", 1982's "The Tunes of Two Cities" and 1985's "The Big Bubble" -- recounting an epic battle between a pair of tribes named the Moles and the Chubs; a lavish, multimedia tour, "The Mole Show", followed. In the interim, the group also mounted another ambitious project, the "American Composer" series, although only two of the projected titles -- 1984's "George & James" (a reinterpretation of songs by George Gershwin and James Brown) and 1986's "Stars & Hank Forever" (celebrating John Philip Sousa and Hank Williams) -- ever appeared. Instead, in the wake of financial and corporate difficulties which resulted in the creation of a New Ralph label, the Residents issued the one-off "God in Three Persons" (a talking blues outing), and 1989's "The King and Eye" (a reinterpretation of Elvis Presley standards).
After losing control of the Ralph label as well as their back catalog, the Residents regained the rights to their music in 1990 and began reissuing long-out-of-print material as well as the new "Freak Show", a meditation on circus sideshows and carnival dementia. Four years later, Freak Show was reissued as a CD-ROM, marking the group's first leap into the new digital interactive technology; "Have a Bad Day" followed in 1996, and included the soundtrack to the CD-ROM game "Bad Day on the Midway." In 1997, the band celebrated their silver anniversary with the release of the career-spanning overview "Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses". "Wormwood: Curious Stories From the Bible" followed the next year, with "Roadworms" (songs from Wormwood as performed in the stage show) being issued in mid-2000. They followed that up with the awesome "Icky Flix" DVD, an incredibly detailed collection of their videos that featured both old and new soundtracks, 5.1 Digital Stereo Surround sound, countless hidden videos and in-depth histories of each individual track. That was followed by another one of their rare tours, which saw them incorporate the DVD into their live act and bring out guest singer Molly Harvey for some truly creative duets. The "Petting Zoo" retrospective followed in the spring of 2002, acting as a budget sampler for new fans and giving old fans something to tide them over while several high concept projects neared completion. The first was "Demons Dance Alone", a complicated pop album that hearkened back to the catchier material from "Duck Stab" and the "Commercial Album". That was followed in 2002 by a live retrospective called "Kettles Of Fish On The Outskirts Of Town" that contained 3 cd's and a DVD, and a further look at their past via remasters and remixes put out by EuroRalph (including a remix of their previously unreleased and notorious "Warner Brothers Demo"). A DVD of the Demons Dance Alone tour came out in 2004 and another new project, "Animal Lover" was released in 2005."
Summer of 2006 brought the internet download project, The River of Crime: Episodes 1-5. River of Crime was their first project with Warner Music Group's Cordless label. Following the success of "River of Crime", The Residents launched their weekly Timmy video project on YouTube. In 2007 they did the music for the documentary "Strange Culture" and also released a double instrumental album, "Night of the Hunters". On the Fourth of July, 2007, the planned October release of their latest project with Mute Records, The Voice of Midnight (a music theater adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's short story Der Sandmann), was announced on their website.
On the 21st of May 2008 they announced on their website that their first North America tour since "Demons Dance Alone" for a project entitled "The Bunny Boy" is set to begin on October 9th in New York — later an earlier date was added for Santa Cruz. Soon, it was announced that the tour will also include Europe, starting November 13th. On June 3rd, the Residents.com website boasted the planned release of "The Bunny Boy" which was released on September 1st. The website had posted information in which Foxboro claimed this would be a Farewell Tour; it was later revealed that this was nothing more than a mistake by Foxboro.
In October 2017, Hardy Fox identified himself as both the anonymous primary composer and producer for The Residents as well as the pseudonymous Charles Bobuck.
Hardy Fox died on October 30, 2018.
The Spot
The Residents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would not be worse that what I've seen
And what I have to wear
It first appeared on my birthday
Beneath an empty cocktail tray
I scrubbed but found to my dismay
A spot that would not go away
I got... the spot
And laughed a little bit
But when I saw the spot had moved
I nearly had a fit!
A fever froze me in my place
When then I found it on my face
Curdling my blood I screamed
"Be gone or be some heinous dream!"
I got... the spot
Oblong it interacted
With my follicles of hair
And now it grows in magnitude
And sits upon a chair
It sleeps upon my shirt
And smiles at me
When I get hurt
I can't believe that blotch is there!
But still I cover it with care
I got... the spot
"The Spot" by The Residents is a strange and weird song that many interpret as a metaphor for a disease or an infectious ailment that refuses to go away. The song narrates the story of a person who discovers a small spot on his clothing which grows in magnitude and refuses to go away despite all efforts to remove it. The person is infected by the spot, and it grows on his face, and other parts of his body, making him uncomfortable and sick.
The song starts with the lyrics "A pox upon a chicken or a fight about a bear, Would not be worse than what I've seen". This suggests that the spot is worse than any disease or affliction that one can imagine. The person seems to be in a constant state of fear and anxiety as he tries to get rid of the spot. The spot is seen as a curse that affects the person's life and causes him great distress.
The lyrics in the song are quite ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, it's clear that "The Spot" is a song that deals with the theme of sickness, fear, and isolation. It's a reminder of the destructive power of disease and how it can affect our lives in unimaginable ways.
Line by Line Meaning
A pox upon a chicken or a fight about a bear
I have seen things that are worse than a disease or a fight but what is happening to me is still unbearable.
Would not be worse that what I've seen
All the bad things that could happen would still not be worse than the spot that I have to wear.
It first appeared on my birthday
The spot on my body first appeared on the day when I was born.
Beneath an empty cocktail tray
It looked like the spot had appeared from nowhere and it was hiding under an empty cocktail tray.
I scrubbed but found to my dismay
I tried to remove the spot by washing it, but it wouldn't go away, which made me upset.
A spot that would not go away
The spot on my body wouldn't disappear, no matter how hard I tried to remove it.
I got... the spot
I got a strange and unexplainable spot on my body that refuses to go away.
"Oh what the hell" I seemed to say
Despite the weirdness of the situation, I laughed a little bit.
And laughed a little bit
I couldn't help but find the whole thing a bit comical.
But when I saw the spot had moved
When I noticed that the spot had relocated on my body, I became terrified.
I nearly had a fit!
I was so scared that I almost had a panic attack.
A fever froze me in my place
The fear was so intense that it caused me to have a fever and immobilized me temporarily.
When then I found it on my face
To my horror, I discovered that the spot had now appeared on my face.
Curdling my blood I screamed
The sight of the spot on my face made me scream and filled me with a sense of dread.
"Be gone or be some heinous dream!"
I pleaded with the spot to disappear or else to reveal that this was all just a bad dream.
Oblong it interacted
The spot had an odd shape and was connected to my hair follicles in a weird way.
With my follicles of hair
The spot seemed to be entwined with the hair on my body.
And now it grows in magnitude
The spot has been growing larger and larger over time.
And sits upon a chair
The spot now appears to have a life of its own and can be found sitting on a chair.
It sleeps upon my shirt
Sometimes the spot seems to rest on my shirt, much like a living creature would.
And smiles at me
The spot almost seems to mock me with its presence and is always watching me.
When I get hurt
The spot seems to take pleasure in my pain and discomfort, which is unsettling.
I can't believe that blotch is there!
I am still in disbelief that this strange spot is attached to my body and I can't get rid of it.
But still I cover it with care
Despite my fear and aversion to the spot, I still take measures to hide it and protect it from harm.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@XooFUooX
[Verse 1: "Chorus"]
The cloud continues
And the spot diminishes
Without even the hint
Of a glow is glowing
A continuous process
Or does the spot find its
Way out where it needs to be?
Way out where it needs to be?
Way out where it needs to be?
Way out where
[Refrain: "Chorus"]
Spot the rot, spot the rot, spot the rot we say
Spot the rot they tell the tot while feeding him some say
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot and then you'll be okay
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot but still you'd better pray
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot, spot the rot we say
Spot the rot they tell the tot while feeding him some say
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot and then you'll be okay
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot but still you'd better pray
[Verse 2: "Porcupine"]
W-when Edweena made me mushrooms
She ate the grate and ground the groom; no no no
My mother made me eat boysenberries
But my gracious sakes just ate me first
Calling cards and polling wards are just too many, see?
Oh, oh calling cards and winking bards are just a way to see
Calling cards and winking bards are just a way to be?
Falling guards and winking bards are just a need today
Falling guards and winking bards are just my needs, okay?
[Outro: "Porcupine"]
Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay?
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
To show or to
To be shown is
A question never
Even not known by many to exist
To show
Or to be shown
A question never
Never known about even by many to exist
To show
Or to be shown
A question never
Never known about even by many to exist
To show
Or to be shown
A question never
Never known about even by many to exist
Or to be shown
Is a question never
Never known not even by many to exist
To exist
To exist
Not even by many to exist
@LambLiesDownOnBroadway
Arguably their best song. That ending is some powerful stuff...
@thehistoryofgardening3726
Completely agree
@XooFUooX
[Verse 1: "Chorus"]
The cloud continues
And the spot diminishes
Without even the hint
Of a glow is glowing
A continuous process
Or does the spot find its
Way out where it needs to be?
Way out where it needs to be?
Way out where it needs to be?
Way out where
[Refrain: "Chorus"]
Spot the rot, spot the rot, spot the rot we say
Spot the rot they tell the tot while feeding him some say
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot and then you'll be okay
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot but still you'd better pray
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot, spot the rot we say
Spot the rot they tell the tot while feeding him some say
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot and then you'll be okay
Spot the rot, oh spot the rot but still you'd better pray
[Verse 2: "Porcupine"]
W-when Edweena made me mushrooms
She ate the grate and ground the groom; no no no
My mother made me eat boysenberries
But my gracious sakes just ate me first
Calling cards and polling wards are just too many, see?
Oh, oh calling cards and winking bards are just a way to see
Calling cards and winking bards are just a way to be?
Falling guards and winking bards are just a need today
Falling guards and winking bards are just my needs, okay?
[Outro: "Porcupine"]
Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay? Okay?
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
To show or to
To be shown is
A question never
Even not known by many to exist
To show
Or to be shown
A question never
Never known about even by many to exist
To show
Or to be shown
A question never
Never known about even by many to exist
To show
Or to be shown
A question never
Never known about even by many to exist
Or to be shown
Is a question never
Never known not even by many to exist
To exist
To exist
Not even by many to exist
@ragazzomerenda8515
One of the best songs ever made
@crusteous
Always been my favorite Residents album, and this is my favorite two songs from that album. So catchy!
@Psyfonify
Catchy? Are you kidding me? This must be a joke band with a joke comment section. If so this is the greatest inside joke of all time
@akhnaten4285
@Psyfonify it sort of is a joke band. But it's strange for the same reason David Lynch is strange. Strangeness exists all around us, no reason not to reflect this in music or art, if you can even call this 'music'. I somehow love it and hate it at the same time... but listen to the end. Don't you love it? Of course it doesn't change the fact that the greatest music of all time was written by guys with wigs over 500 years ago.
@cyonidee
this is the song i want to be played at my funeral. a grand show
@JohnWayne-ws9bi
Based on the fact that most of what they did before this was satire, I think this entire album is meant to be seemingly profound. There are so many lines I think could mean something really profound but then I wonder if it's actually just nonsense.
@satinsguard
Apparently this album was the result of personal tensions between the Residents at the time.