Lightning

**"Lightning"** is a song by The College Walkers (also known as Residents, Uninc.), first released in December 1972 on their debut double 7" EP *Santa Dog.*

The song opens with an unaccompanied whistled melody, which is possibly a reference to the theme of the 1960s American sitcom *The Andy Griffith Show*. The percussion section heard on the track is a sample taken from the 1930 recording "Ritmica No. 6: Tiempo de Rhumba" by Amadeo Roldán.

Along with the other *Santa Dog* tracks, "Lightning" is included on the first disc of the 2018 pREServed edition of The Residents' debut album *Meet The Residents*; however the track listing incorrectly lists it as "Explosion" (and vice versa).

## Lyrics

```
When everyone lives in the future,
The present is *au revoir*
When everyone lives in the future,
The present is *au revoir*
When everyone lives in the future,
The present is *au revoir*
When everyone lives in the future,
The present is *au revoir*

```

```
Something pale and mercenary
Left a pile of turkey
Very near a little Spanish town

```

```
And every day the big cranberries
Peer into the mouths of Marys
Being held for nothing more
Than being what was there before
All this happened.

```

## List of releases

* *Santa Dog* (1972)
* *The Residents Radio Special* (1977)
* *Meet The Residents* Classic Series edition (1988)
* *Refused* (1999)
* *Eat Exuding Oinks! Ralph Records' 1977 Radio Special* (2002)
* *Meet The Residents* pREServed edition (2018) - *mistitled "Explosion"*

### List of versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 El Ralpho mono studio recording, December 1972 (3:22)

## External links and references

1. ↑ "Santa Dog - Res History Ep. 1" by Mr. Riggsy's ResTube on YouTube, April 27th 2021
2. ↑ Ima Buddy, *Ima Buddy's Totally Impartial Companion to Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated BIG MAMAS*, 1992

**Side A:** "Fire" by Ivory and the Brain Eaters · **Side B:** "Explosion" by The Delta Nudes
**Side C:** "**Lightning**" by The College Walkers · **Side D:** "Aircraft Damage" by Arf and Omega feat. The Singing Lawn Chairs
**Personnel**
Residents, Uninc. · Arf and Omega Berry (Palmer Eiland and George Ewart) · The Singing Lawn Chairs (Pamela Zeibak)
**Related works**
*Vileness Fats* ·"Santa Dog '78" · "Santa Dog '84" · "Santa Dog 88" · "Santa Dog '92" · *Refused* · "Santa Dog 17" · *Santa Dog 50th Anniversary Collection* · "Santa Dog 2022"
**Related articles**
Western Kennel World · The Ventures ("Peter Gunn" · *Play Guitar With The Ventures Volume 7*) · Sycamore St. studio · Ralph Records · Porno/Graphics · Richard Nixon · Frank Zappa · *Meet The Residents*

**Major works**
*Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor* (1970) · *The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger* (1970) · *The W\*\*\*\*\* B\*\*\* Album* (1971) · *B.S.* (1971) · *Santa Dog* (1972)
**Other recordings**
"I Hear Ya Got Religion" / "Moonman" (1969) · *1-10 (With A Touch of 11)* (1972)
**Compilation albums**
*ERA B474* (2012) · *The Delta Nudes' Greatest Hiss* (2013) · *The Residents Present The Delta Nudes* (2016) · *A Nickle If Your Dick's This Big* (2019) · *Warning: Uninc.* (2022)
**Live shows**
The Boarding House, October 18th 1971 · Philip's Wedding, October 31st 1971 · Chris' Party, February 12th 1972
**Collaborators**
Randy Rose · Charles Bobuck · Hardy Fox · Homer Flynn · Palmer Eiland · Roger "Bunny" Hartley · Jay Clem · John Kennedy · Roland Sheehan · Bob Tangney · Jim Whitaker · N. Senada · Philip "Snakefinger" Lithman · Peggy Honeydew (Margaret Swaton) · The Singing Lawn Chairs (Pamela Zeibak)
**Related articles**
San Mateo apartment · Hal Halverstadt · Porno Graphics · Sycamore St. studio · Ralph Records · The Residents · *Vileness Fats* · *Meet The Residents* · *The Third Reich 'n Roll* · "Satisfaction" · "Aphids In The Hall" · The Cryptic Corporation · *WB:RMX*‎‎‏‏‎