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"The Old Woman" (subtitled "Kissless are the isolated, rootless are their tongues") is a track from The Residents' 1994 album and CD-ROM, Gingerbread Man.

History[]

The track was the first to feature Molly Harvey on vocals. They were lacking a vocalist for the track, but when The Singing Resident met Harvey in a coffee shop, they knew they had their singer.

It was performed live in 1998 as part of the Halloween Disfigured Night show as part of a medley with other Gingerbread Man songs then again in 2001 in a similar medley for the Icky Flix DVD & tour.

The song was revived in 2010 where it was performed as part of the Talking Light show, featuring Randy on vocals, since Molly Harvey no longer worked with the band regularly at that point. The song was performed on all legs of the tour.

In addition to the song's inclusion in the Talking Light show, it was re-recorded for the Lonely Teenager album.

Lyrics[]

Angel, answer my prayer
Answer my prayer tonight
Tell me if anyone cares
If I do what I might
Angel, answer my prayer
And tell me if anyone else
Knows how much I am scared
That I might murder myself
Who will take care of my plants?
Maybe Martha will take care of them
She called on Mother's Day and has a philodendron and a few ferns
They look terrible though, just like her house
She never dusts her leaves
What about Berta?
She's been married three times, how can she possibly take care of orchids?
They'll die - I just know these bugs will get them
Aphids - you have to watch for them all the time, they don't care
Sent Teddy seven fifty for his birthday last week, no thank-you note
It's all Martha's fault
She's not raising those children right
How long would it be until they noticed?
A week, two weeks, maybe months
I know why, I know why they ignore me
Martha pretends that she doesn't care anymore but I know better
And she's poisoned Berta against me too!
He was old and could barely hop around
And Mark would sure never have done it
Poor thing
Somebody had to do it
Somebody had to.

Talking Light[]

Angel, answer my prayer
Answer my prayer tonight
Tell me if anyone cares
If I do what I might
Angel, answer my prayer
Tell me if anyone else
Knows how much I am scared
That I might murder myself
My plants... My plants...
If I do it... 
Who will take care of my plants?
Maybe Martha...
She sent a card on Mother's Day and she has a philodendron and three ferns
They look terrible though, just like her house
She never dusts her leaves
What about Berta?
She's been married three times, how can she possibly take care of orchards?
If I do it... 
How long would it be before they noticed?
Weeks? Months?!
And all that time my poor orchards
being eaten by those aphids!
I know why, I know why they ignore me
It was a long time ago but they still hold it against me!
He was old... he was old and he could barely hop around
Poor thing
Somebody had to do it
Somebody had to.
Angel answer my prayer
Tell me if anyone
Cares

Credits[]

List of releases[]

List of versions[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1993 version (4:32)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Concentrate Excerpt
  3. 3.0 3.1 1997 Live Version (5:15)
  4. 2000 Abridged Studio version (3:08)
  5. 5.0 5.1 October 2001 Abridged Live Version (3:26)
  6. March 2001 Abridged Live Version (3:45)
  7. 1992 - 1993, First Demo version (2:24)
  8. 2010, extended rehearsal version (6:58)
  9. 9.0 9.1 2010 - 2011 Extended Live Versions (7 minutes)
  10. 1992 - 1993 Second Demo Version (4:46)
  11. 2011 extended studio version (6:45)
  12. 2011 extended Live Version (6:45)
Ginger-sml-transparent Gingerbread Man
(1994)

Track listing
"The Weaver" · "The Dying Oilman" · "The Confused Transsexual" · "The Sold-Out Artist" · "The Ascetic" · "The Old Soldier" · "The Aging Musician" · "The Butcher" · "The Old Woman" · "Ginger's Lament"

Personnel
The Residents · Laurie Amat · Diana Alden · Molly Harvey · Todd Rundgren · Isabelle Barbier · Leigh Barbier · Jim Ludtke

Related works
Ty's Freak Show · Fat Boy · Hunters · Prelude To "The Teds" · Fillmore '97 · Icky Flix DVD (soundtrack · tour) · GBM(i) · Talking Light · Lonely Teenager · The Wonder of Weird · Shadowland · Shadow Stories

Related articles
Ty Roberts · ION · Pore No Graffix

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