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Bossy is the fifth song from The Residents' third studio album, Fingerprince. It was recorded in 1974 during the X Is For Xtra sessions[1] as a thematically unrelated "outgrowth."[2] The song, exactly 1 minute long, is seen as a precursor to The Residents' Commercial Album, which would enter production five years after this song's completion.

Only one version of "Bossy" has ever been released, as no alternative mix was included on Tournament of Roses RDX.

Background[]

The song was recorded in 1974, between the release of Meet The Residents in April and the first Third Reich N Roll sessions in October, and was copied onto the group's X Is For Xtra tape reel, between the songs "Little A (Authentic Folk Song)" and "Ah, Spare Us Gus," the latter of which went on to form the centrepiece of the song "Ship's A Going Down." Eventually, it was decided that the track would appear on their Fingerprince album, which was released on February 15th, 1977.

The song notably features a Resident other than The Singing Resident taking lead vocals. Its imagery is reminiscent of a farm life, and involves the description of an animal who the listener is mislead into believing is a cow.

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
Sat upon an empty box of Cheerios and settled
Through the cracks of wooden floors
Forming little cone mountains
Fertile soil on which to rest
My dirty little white stone
With dimples to keep it from
Rolling down the dusty trail
Brought such straight rows
Like corn and peas
And foot caves in cold dirt
And the sore throat that follows
[Interlude]
"Everyone always knew it ended this way,
But I still don't understand why...
Milking the cow didn't work."
[Outro]
She was warm and had a rough
Mus-cular tongue for licking
Salt blocks and brown eyes like a cow
And her name was Bossy.
We didn't eat her I don't think.

Personnel[]

Releases[]

See Also[]

References[]

  1. Not Available pREServed booklet, 2019
  2. Fingerprince liner notes, 1977
Fingerprince-transparent-sml Tourniquet of Roses
Fingerprince / Babyfingers
(1976-1979)

Side A
"You Yesyesyes" · "Home Age Conversation" · "Godsong" · "March de la Winni" · "Bossy" · "Boo Who?" · "Tourniquet of Roses" · "You Yesyesyes Again"

Side B
"Six Things To A Cycle"

Side C · Babyfingers
A: "Monstrous Intro" · "Death In Barstow" · "Melon Collie Lassie" · "Flight of the Bumble Roach"
B: "Walter Westinghouse"

Personnel
The Residents · Snakefinger · Don Jackovich · Adrian Deckbar · Tony Logan · Pamela Zeibak

Related works
Vileness Fats · X Is For Xtra · "Leapmus" · "Entrance to Crypt" · "Clumsy Climb" · "Piano Dittie" · Oh Mummy! Oh Daddy! performance · The Third Reich 'n Roll video · "Whoopy Snorp" · The Residents Radio Special · "Six Amber Things"

Related articles
Sycamore St. studio · Grove St. studio · Ralph Records · The Cryptic Corporation · Pore No Graphics · Collectors' Box series

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