Bach Is Dead

Duck Stab! Side B label art, 1978

**"Bach Is Dead"** is a song by The Residents, first issued as the penultimate track on the 7" EP *Duck Stab!*, released February 1978 on Ralph Records. It was also featured on the album edition, *Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen*, which followed on November 30th.

The song's ominous lyrics detail a mourning ritual for German baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750). The Residents have occasionally performed the song live, first in 1997 for Adobe Disfigured Night, and in 2021 for the Dog Stab! performances.

## History

### Background

"Bach Is Dead" was recorded in 1977 by The Residents with their frequent collaborator, English guitarist Philip "Snakefinger" Lithman, during a break from the long-running sessions for their "documentary" album *Eskimo* (which would ultimately be completed and released in 1979).

The song was first released as the penultimate track on the group's EP *Duck Stab!* on February 1st 1978 by Ralph Records; it later remained the penultimate track of the configuration of *Duck Stab!* released on side A of the *Duck Stab!Buster & Glen* LP, which followed on November 30th.

### Later versions

"Bach Is Dead" was considered and rehearsed for The Residents' abandoned 10th Anniversary live tour in 1982, but, like most of the back catalog songs planned for this show, it was dropped when the group began developing what became their first international tour, The Mole Show.

The song was first performed live by The Residents at the Adobe Disfigured Night show in 1997.

In 2010 it was remixed for potential inclusion on the studio album *Lonely Teenager*; this version instead appeared on the digital release *Summer Songs*. This version was later featured on the digital compilation album *D\*ck S\*ab - 35th Anniversary* *in 2012, and on the 2018 pREServed expanded edition of* Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen*.*

In May 2021 The Residents recorded a new arrangement of the song live in the studio for the *Duck Stab Alive* streaming TV special, which aired in June. For the special, "Bach Is Dead" was performed in a truncated arrangement in a medley with "Laughing Song".

The song was subsequently featured on the set list of the group's troubled Dog Stab! tour.

## Lyrics

```
*Bach is dead!*
*Bach is dead!*
*Bach is dead!*
*Bach is dead!*
*Bach is dead!*
*Bach is dead!*

```

```
Walking women want to see
The Southern Cross at night.
And so they set aside a sock
And tie their laces tight.

```

```
Yes, mournful is the melody
That echoes in their heads.
Without a beat they march along
Believing Bach is dead.

```

```
Bach is dead.

```

## List of releases

* *Duck Stab!* EP (1978)
* *Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen* (1978)
* *Assorted Secrets* (1984)
* *1997: The Missing Year - Adobe Disfigured Night* (2009)
* *Summer Songs* EP (2010)
* *D\*ck S\*ab - 35th Anniversary* (2012)
* "The Grove Street Studio (1978-80 Embracing Visibility)" (2014)
* *Disfigured Night* (2016) \* *80 Aching Orphans* (2017)
* *Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen* pREServed edition (2018)
* *Duck Stab! Alive!* (2021)

### List of versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Grove Street studio recording, 1977 (1:12)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Grove Street live studio rehearsal recording, 1982 (1:20)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Adobe Disfigured Night live recording, 1997 (2:05)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grove Street studio recording, 1977 (2010 remix, 2:26)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 1977 Studio Version Edit (0:19)
6. ↑ 25th Street Recording live studio recording, May 2021 (medley with "Laughing Song" 0:35)

## External links and references

* *Duck Stab!* at The Residents Historical

1. ↑ Dog Stab! at Setlist.FM
2. ↑ Ima Buddy, *Ima Buddy's Totally Impartial Companion to Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated BIG MAMAS*, 1992
3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `:0`

**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*‏‏‎