The Old Woman

"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 ==
*The Residents: Writer, Performer
*M. Harvey: Vocals
==List of releases==
*Gingerbread Man (1994) 1993 version (4:32)
*Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (1997) Concentrate Excerpt
*Live At The Fillmore (1998) 1997 Live Version (5:15)
*Icky Flix (2001) 2000 Abridged Studio version (3:08)
*Kettles Of Fish On The Outskirts Of Town (2003) October 2001 Abridged Live Version (3:26)
*El Año Del Muerto (2009) 
*1997: The Missing Year - The Fillmore Dress Rehearsal (Act One) (2009)
*Icky Flix Live (2009) March 2001 Abridged Live Version (3:45)
*Beautiful Eyes (2010) 1992 - 1993, First Demo version (2:24)
*Brava (2010) 
*Talking Light Live In Rehearsal, Santa Cruz, California (2010) 2010, extended rehearsal version (6:58)
*Talking Light Download Series (2010 - 2011) 2010 - 2011 Extended Live Versions (7 minutes)
*GBM(i) (2011) 1992 - 1993 Second Demo Version (4:46)
*Lonely Teenager (2011) 2011 extended studio version (6:45)
*Talking Light Bimbo's (2011) 2011 extended Live Version (6:45)
*Interactive Media (1991-97 Game Design) (2014) 
*Loss Of The Lizard Lady (2018) 
*Gingerbread Man pREServed (2021) 
=== List of versions ===
Category:Collaborations‏‎
Category:Loss of the Lizard Lady‏‎
Category:Gingerbread Man
Category:Songs