Final Confrontation

Mark of the Mole Side B label art, 1981

**"Final Confrontation"** is a four part suite featured in The Residents' *Mark of the Mole* album.

## History

The track depicts the final battle between the Moles and the Chubs, as the Chubs use their newly crafted war machine to chase the Moles out of their land. The Moles, not ones to be pushed around so easily, fight against the Chubs.

The track ends with "Resolution?" song featuring discordant and high pitched noises, initially recorded during the *X Is For Xtra* sessions in 1974, then titled "Mehico Ron Devoo Finale". This noise represents the conclusion of the battle between the species.

The song was performed live from 1982 and 1983 as part of The Mole Show*.* During live performances *Penn Jillette*, the narrator for the show, is wheeled out onto stage in a wheel chair, his mouth gagged and his hands tied, as the stagehands move a cutout of The Moles, running away from the hateful remarks of The Chubs, who are presented on large backdrops to the left and right of the stage.

During the second part, *Don't Tread On Me*, stagehands move more and more Mole props onto the stage, surrounding Penn, after this, during the third part, *The Short War,* Chub propsare moved onto stage, and both Moles and Chubs are moved back and forth by the stagehands, as the room fills with smoke, to represent the battle between the two species.

Resolution? features all the props being moved off stage, as Penn is turned to face The Residents.

The suite was removed from the setlist of the televised concert, filmed in Madrid Spain.

## The suite

* Driving the Moles Away
* Don't Tread On Me
* The Short War
* Resolution?

## Synopsis

The moles had lasted as long as they had for two reasons; first, they could adapt to their surroundings, second; they had hands that glow. As embarrassing as this was to them, the fact that the moles had to use their glowing hands to resist the chubs and their perverted machine is documented, the fact that they fought is relevant. Who won such a fight is not. For this story is not about winners and losers. It is about survival, idealism, and destiny. And, while the tale is at its end, neither the moles nor the chubs are at theirs. Watch for Part Three of The Residents' Mole Trilogy, coming eventually.

## Lyrics

### Driving the Moles Away

```
**The Chubs:**
We don't want your arm, we don't want your hand,
All we really want is for you to leave our land;

```

```
We don't want your foot, we don't want your toe,
All we really want is for you to pack and go;

```

```
We don't want your necks, we don't want your backs,
All we really want is for you to hit the tracks;

```

```
We don't want your nose, we don't want your lip,
All we really want is for you to take a trip;

```

```
We don't want your skin, we don't want your hair,
All we really want is for you to become rare;

```

```
We don't want your tongue, we don't want your ear,
All we really want is for you to disappear;

```

```
We don't want your ankle, we don't want your knee,
All we really want is for you to quickly leave;

```

```
We don't want your palm, we don't want your wrist,
All we really want is for you to soon be missed;

```

```
We don't want your brow, we don't want your eye,
All we really want is for you to puke and die!

```

### Don't Tread On Me

```
**The Moles:**
Hatred has hunger and hatred has eyes,
Hatred has purpose and hatred has size,
Hatred has honour but hatred hates lies!

```

```
Assailants of mercy with hate in your eyes,
Do not disturb us, you might be surprised,
We are not weaklings to tremble and die.

```

```
Hatred has dignity, hatred is clear,
Hatred has courage and hatred is dear,
Hatred has virtue and hatred is here!

```

```
Odious enemy do not come near
There is no pity nor tenderness here,
There is no mercy, just villainous fear!

```

## List of releases

* Mark of The Mole (1981)
* Mole Show (1983)
* Assorted Secrets (1984)
* Mole Show/Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats? (1984)
* PAL TV LP (1985)
* Heaven? (1986)
* Hell! (1986)
* Mole Show (Live In Holland 1983) (1989)
* Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide To The Residents (1993)
* In Memoriam Torso (1994)
* The Mole DVD (2009)
* X Is For Xtra (2019)
* Mole Box (2019)

### List of versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1981 Studio Version (9:48)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 1982 October 30th Live Version (6:25)
3. ↑ 1982 April Live Version (8:13)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 1983 Live Version (7:38)
5. ↑ 1981 Studio Version Edit (2:20)
6. ↑ 1981 Studio Version Edit (6:00)
7. ↑ 1983 Live Version
8. ↑ 1981 Studio Version Edit (0:56)
9. ↑ 1982 October 27th Live Version
10. ↑ 1974 Demo Version (2:31)
11. ↑ 1982 Rehearsal Version (8:19)

## External links and references

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ima Buddy, *Ima Buddy's Totally Impartial Companion to Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated BIG MAMAS*, 1992

**Side A:** **Hole-Workers at the Mercy of Nature**
"Voices of the Air" · "The Ultimate Disaster" · "Migration"
**Side B:** **Hole-Workers vs. Man and Machine**
"Another Land" · "The New Machine" · "**Final Confrontation**"
**Personnel**
The Residents · Nessie Lessons · Penn Jillette
**Related works**
The Mole Trilogy (*The Tunes of Two Cities* · Part Three · *The Big Bubble*) · The Mole Show (*Live At The Roxy* · *Mole Show* VHS · *Live In Holland* · *Mole Bag*) · *Intermission* · *Mark of the Mole* video game (Greg Easter) · *Assorted Secrets* (Res Dance '82) · *Mark of the Mole* novel (T.D. Wade) · "Mole Suite" · *Mole Box*
**Related articles**
Ralph Records · The Cryptic Corporation · Grove St. studio · Porno Graphics · Moles · Chubs

**Set list**
"Voices of the Air" · "The Secret Seed" · "The Ultimate Disaster" · "God of Darkness" · "Migration""Smack Your Lips (Clap Your Teeth)" · "Another Land" · "The New Machine" · "Song of the Wild" · "**Final Confrontation**" · "Satisfaction" · "Happy Home"
**Dates**
***America (October - April 1982)***
Santa Monica, April 10th 1982 · San Francisco, October 26th 1982 · San Francisco, October 27th 1982 · Los Angeles, October 29th 1982 · Los Angeles, October 30th 1982 · Pasadena, October 31st 1982
***Europe (May - July 1983)***
Hannover, May 23rd 1983 · Vienna, May 25th 1983 · Vienna, May 26th 1983 · Munich, May 27th 1983 · Frankfurt, May 28th 1983 · Dusseldorf, May 29th 1983 · Berlin, May 30th 1983 · Copenhagen, June 1st 1983 · Hamburg, June 2nd 1983 · Bochum, June 3rd 1983 · Utrecht, June 4th 1983 · Brussels, June 5th 1983 · Utrecht, June 6th 1983 · Paris, June 7th 1983 · Lyon, June 8th 1983 · Bologna, June 12th 1983 · Milan, June 13th 1983 · Firenze, June 14th 1983 · Barcelona, June 17th 1983 · Valencia, June 18th 1983 · Madrid, June 19th 1983 · Madrid, June 20th 1983 · Madrid, June 21st 1983 · Bordeaux, June 23rd 1983 · Poitiers, June 24th 1983 · Birmingham, June 27th 1983 · London, June 28th 1983 · Liverpool, June 29th 1983 · Edinburgh, June 30th 1983 · Leicester, May 28th 1983
***The Uncle Sam Mole Show***
Washington, D.C., October 7th 1983
**Personnel**
The Residents · Penn Jillette · Kathleen French · Carol LeMaitre · Sarah McLennan · Chris Van Ralte · Nessie Lessons · Scott Fraser · Philip Perkins · Dan Gillham · Laurence Campling · Raoul N.D Seimbote · Eric Knorr · Leigh Barbier · Sheenah Spece · Paul Young · Mara Mikialian · Bill Gerber · Evan Medow · Tom Timony · Diane Flynn · Sally Lewis
**Related releases**
*Mark of the Mole* · *The Tunes of Two Cities* · *Intermission* EP · *Mole Show (Live at the Roxy)* · *Mole Show* VHS · *Assorted Secrets* · *PAL TV LP* · *Set Designs from The Mole Show* portfolio · *Mole Show: Live In Holland* · *Mole Show* DVD bag set · *Mole Box: The Complete Mole Trilogy pREServed* · *Mole Dance 82*

**Cast of Characters**
Mohelmot · Chubs (Innisfree · The Scientist) · The ObserverDarkness · The Evil DisposerCross (Zinkenites · Kula Bocca · The Big Bubble · Frankie DuVall)
**Part One: *Mark of the Mole* (1981)**
(video game · novel)
**Side A: Hole-Workers at the Mercy of Nature**
"Voices of the Air" · "The Ultimate Disaster" · "Migration"
**Side B: Hole-Workers vs. Man and Machine**
"Another Land" · "The New Machine" · "**Final Confrontation**"
**Part Two: *The Tunes of Two Cities* (1982)**
(*The Comix of Two Cities*)
**Side A:** "Serenade For Missy" · "A Maze Of Jigsaws" · "Mousetrap" · "God Of Darkness" · "Smack Your Lips (Clap Your Teeth)" · "Praise For The Curse"
**Side B:** "The Secret Seed" · "Smokebeams" · "Mourning The Undead" · "Song Of The Wild" · "The Evil Disposer" · "Happy Home (Excerpt From Act II of "Innisfree")"
***Intermission: Extraneous Music From The Residents' Mole Show* (1982)**
**Side A:** "Lights Out (Prelude)" · "Shorty's Lament (Intermission)"
**Side B:** "The Moles Are Coming (Intermission)" · "Would We Be Alive? (Intermission)" · "The New Hymn (Recessional)"
**The Mole Show (1982-1983)**(*Mole Dance 82* · *Live At The Roxy* · *La Edad de Oro* · Uncle Sam Mole Show · VHS · *Live In Holland* · DVD bag set)
**Part Three: ???**
"Now It Is Too Late" · "Going Nowhere" · "Tired Old Man" · "Marching To The We" · *Mole Suite*
**Part Four: *The Big Bubble* (1985)**(fictional band · Black Shroud Records)
**Side A:** "Sorry" · "Hop A Little" · "Go Where Ya Wanna Go" · "Gotta Gotta Get" · "Cry For The Fire"
**Side B:** "Die-Stay-Go" · "Vinegar" · "Firefly" · "The Big Bubble" · "Fear for the Future" · "Kula Bocca Says So"
**Part Five: ???**
**Part Six: ???**
**Related works**
"Open Up" · "Anvil Forest" · The 10th Anniversary Show (*Assorted Secrets*) · *PAL TV LP* · The 13th Anniversary Show · *Mole Box: The Complete Mole Trilogy pREServed* ("From MOM1" · "Untitled" · "Jingle Bell" · "Another Another Land")
**Related articles**
Ralph Records · The Cryptic Corporation · Grove St. studio · Minna St. studio · Porno Graphics · Penn Jillette · Nessie Lessons · Snakefinger · Matt Howarth · Greg Easter · T.D. Wade