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"Laughing Song" is a song by The Residents, recorded in October 1977,[1] and first released as the opening track of their 7" EP Duck Stab! on February 1st 1978 by Ralph Records. Later in the year, it was reissued as the fifth track on the album Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen.

The Cryptic Corporation have noted that although the song's lyrics are "silly, a nursery rhyme", there is also a "sardonic edge" to the laughter heard throughout the song.[2] The song features a guest appearance from the group's friend and frequent collaborator, guitarist Snakefinger.

In 2009, The Residents recorded a new arrangement of the song for the compilation album Ten Little Piggies, and again in 2012 for the 35th Annniversary project D*ck S*ab. In 2021, the group performed the song live in the studio for the streaming TV special Duck Stab! Alive!, as well as on the Dog Stab! mini-tour of California in September of that year. Between January and April 2023, it was performed on the group's 50th Anniversary tour Faceless Forever.

Lyrics[]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
He He He He Ho Ho Ho Ho
He He He He He He He He
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
An oily ole egg with a red peg leg
Thought a porquepine was his daughter.
But he soon found out
That she had the gout,
And she often would wink underwater.
A red red rose saw a big pig pose
On the edge of a silver dollar.
The end of his tail
Was a long necked nail.
In place of his face was a scholar.[3]

List of releases[]

List of versions[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Grove Street studio recording, October 1977 (2:14)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Studio demo recording, 2009 (2:23)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Studio demo recording, 2012 (1:19)
  4. 25th Street Recording live studio recording, May 2021 (medley with "Bach Is Dead")

External links and references[]

Duckstab-sml-transparent Duck Stab! EP
(1978)
Duckbuster-sml-transparent Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen
(1978)

Side A: Duck Stab!
"Constantinople" · "Sinister Exaggerator" · "The Booker Tease" · "Blue Rosebuds" · "Laughing Song" · "Bach Is Dead" · "Elvis And His Boss"

Side B: Buster & Glen
"Lizard Lady" · "Semolina" · "Birthday Boy" · "Weight-Lifting Lulu" · "Krafty Cheese" · "Hello Skinny" · "The Electrocutioner"

Personnel
The Residents · Snakefinger · Ruby

Related works
Duck Stab! EP · "Soulful Sax" · "Ow Boutthat" · "When Johnny Comes Marching" · "Unlisted" · "Santa Dog '78" · "Guylum Bardot '78" · Duck Stab! film · "Hello Skinny" video · D*ck S*ab - 35th Anniversary · Dog Stab! · Duck Stab! Alive! · Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen Notebook · "Duck Kosmische"

Related articles
Ralph Records · The Cryptic Corporation · Grove St. studio · Pore No Graphics · Graeme Whifler · Bridgit Terris · The Rick & Ruby Show · "Satisfaction" · Not Available · Eskimo‏‏‎

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