Blue Rosebuds

Duck Stab! Side A label art, 1978

**"Blue Rosebuds"** is a song by The Residents, from their 1978 EP *Duck Stab!*

## History

The song features an argument between a couple, with one abrasively insulting the other, who laments that he feels blue. It was recorded in October of 1977 and was released in February of 1978 on the Duck Stab EP. The song features Snakefinger as a key collaborator, in an unknown way.

It was first re-recorded in 1992 for the '*Our Finest Flowers*' album. This version, re-titled 'Blue Tongues' has slightly different lyrics and incorporates the drum beat from Smelly Tongues. It features a longer intro, slower vocal delivery, a shortened instrumental break, and cuts the final verse.

In 2001, The song was performed live for the first time, as part of the 'Icky Flix' tour, as a duet between Molly Harvey and Mr. Skull. This version cuts the guitar solo down slightly and is played in a much faster tempo. In 2007, a remix of the track was released through The Residents' MySpace page. This version was later collected in the 2009 CD, 'RMX'. The RMX version is a remix of *Blue Tongues*. It features overdubbed drums and guitar, and has been sped up . Another remix of the track featured on the 2009 '*Dog Tag*' single. The DogTag version is again based on Blue Tongues, features keyboard and drum overdubs, and completely cuts the final verse.

In 2010 a seemingly unrelated track titled 'PinkRoseBuds' was released on the rarities & outtakes compilation '*Beautiful Eyes*'. It wasn't until the full version of this track was released on the 2012 D\*ck S\*ab 25th anniversary album that it was revealed as a demo re-recording of Rosebuds.

It was subsequently featured on the 2014-2016 '*Shadowland*' tour, in a faster tempo, featuring a new longer intro. It later appeared on the *I Am A Resident* CD as part of the *Hello Duck Stab* suite, and on the LP version in a cover by shidt!.

In 2021, the song was included in the Duck Stab Alive TV Special, and subsequently featured in the September 2021 Dog Stab live performances.

## Lyrics

```
I love you and cause I do
My skies have changed
From grey to blue.

```

```
But blue's not just
A color of the rainbow.

```

```
It's shade is not a hazy hue
But pure and hard
My blue sky blue
It's like a Roman candle
Coming rosebuds.

```

```
"Your words are empty hollow bleatings
Of a mental crutch.

```

```
They're open festered indigestion
With a velvet touch
An ether eating Eskimo
Would gag upon your sight,
Convulsed into oblivion
from laughter or from fright.

```

```
A coma with a sweet aroma
Is your only dream,
Malignant with the
misconception
That a grunt can gleam.

```

```
Your lichen covered corpuscles
Are filthy as a fist.

```

```
Infection is your finest flower
Mildewed in the mist."

```

```
I love you and cause I do
My skies have changed
From grey to blue.

```

```
But blue's not just
A color of the rainbow.

```

```
It's shade is not a hazy hue
But pure and hard
My blue sky blue
It's like a Roman candle
Coming rosebuds.

```

```
Blue Rosebuds.

```

## Credits

* The Residents: Vocals, Keyboards
* Snakefinger: Guitar

## Opinion

> There is the silky, seductive, and murky aspect which appears on "***Blue Rosebuds***" where the music creates a supporting liquid background upon which the lyrics float. - Uncle Willie
>
>

## List of releases

* Duck Stab! (1978)
* Duck Stab / Buster & Glen (1978)
* Please Do Not Steal It! (1979)
* Our Finest Flowers (1992)
* Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide To The Residents (1993)
* Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (1997)
* RMX (2009)
* Dogtag (Bunny Intermission) (2009)
* Brava (2010)
* Beautiful Eyes (2010)
* D\*ck S\*ab (2012)
* Blue Rosebuds (Shadowland) (2014)
* Shadowland (2015)
* 80 Aching Orphans (2017)
* I Am A Resident! LP (2018)
* Duck Stab! Alive! (2021)

### List of versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1977 Studio Version (3:11)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 1992 'Blue Tongues' Version (3:42)
3. ↑ 2007 'RMX' Version (3:24)
4. ↑ 2009 'Dogtag' Remix (2:58)
5. ↑ 2001 Live Version (3:03)
6. ↑ 2010 'PinkRoseBuds' Edited Version (2:04)
7. ↑ 2010 'PinRoseBuds' Full Version (4:02)
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 2014 Live Version (3:10)
9. ↑ 2017 'Shidt!' Version (3:22)
10. ↑ 2021 Rehearsal Version (3:55)

## External links and references

1. ↑ Setlist.fm

**Side A:**
"Laughing Song" · "**Blue Rosebuds**" · "Constantinople"
**Side B:**
"The Booker Tease" · "Sinister Exaggerator · "Bach Is Dead" · "Elvis And His Boss"
**Personnel**
The Residents · Snakefinger
**Related works**
*Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen* · *Duck Stab!* film · *D\*ck S\*ab - 35th Anniversary* · Dog Stab! · *Duck Stab Alive!* · *Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen Notebook*
**Related articles**
Ralph Records · The Cryptic Corporation · Grove St. studio · Pore No Graphics · Graeme Whifler

**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*‏‏‎