Hanging By His Hair

Snapshot of a 1999 live performance of the track

***Hanging By His Hair*** is a track by The Residents, recorded & written for their *Wormwood* project.

## Background

The song is based on four biblical stories found in Samuel 2, ***Amnon and Tamar, Absalom Kills Amnon, The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai, & Absalom’s Death.***

The story features King David, a common figure in Wormwood, overhearing from his son, Absalom, that his other son, Amnon, had slept with Tamar, the daughter of David and sister of both. This lead to King David forming a hatred for Amnon,

Two years following this, Absalom invited his father and brothers to Baal Hazor. His father refused to go, but gave the meeting his blessing.

Absalom ordered his soldiers to kill Amnon once drunk, and once this had happened, all the kings' other sons fled the scene on their mules.

During the sons long journey home, a message came to David, that all his sons had been murdered by Absalom, causing David to strip bare, and mourn.

Absalom went to David's advisory, Ahithophel, asking for what to do. Ahithophel suggested that Absalom sleep with David's maidens, as to show the people he had become David's enemy, and the following night, Absalom did so.

David sent out his men for Absalom, causing Absalom to flee on his mule, but his hair caught on a branch, with the mule rushing away.

A solider who saw this then went to Joab, King David's nephew, and told him what had happened. Joab then went to the tree, and stabbed Absalom in the heart with three javelins, following this, Joab's soliders beat Absalom to death.

The song features a Resident on vocals, but not those of *Mr. Skull.*

The song was performed live from 1998 to 1999 as part of the Wormwood tour as a medley with other songs inspired by *King David*, this version was usually a minute longer than the studio version, although *Kettles Of Fish* features a live performance roughly the same length as the original.

In 1999 The Residents began to re-record Wormwood, and as such re-recorded Hanging By His Hair, featuring Mr. Skull on vocals, this version was completed in 2000 and released on the album Roadworms. Aside from the change in vocalist, the song is largely the same melodically.

The song was performed live throughout 2013 as part of *The Wonder of Weird* tour. The song represents Randy's, the show's narrator, fear of death, and getting old. This version goes for 3:56, but features a 4 minute long monologue from Randy at the end, included in the album track. The song is cut from European editions of the *Wonder Of Weird Live Album*.

In 2017 three covers of Hanging By His Hair were submitted to The Residents for inclusion in the *I Am A Resident!* Album. Two versions appeared on the double CD edition of the album, by Wizards of Boat & Chesty Vulva.

## Bible Verse

> ***Amnon and Tamar***
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> Tamar's brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.
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> When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
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> ***Absalom Kills Amnon***
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> Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?”
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> “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing.
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> Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.”
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> The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.
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> Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
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> While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.
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> ***The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai***
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> Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
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> Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
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> ***Absalom’s Death***
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> Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
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> When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
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> Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt.”
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> But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ And if I had put my life in jeopardy—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have kept your distance from me.”
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> Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him."
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## Appearances

* Wormwood (1998)
* Wormwood Live (1999)
* Roadworms (2000)
* Petting Zoo (2002)
* Kettles Of Fish On The Outskirts Of Town (2003)
* The Residents Play Wormwood (2005)
* The Wonder Of Weird (2014)
* I Am A Resident! (2018)
* WOW Demos 1 ‎(2021)
* WOW Demos 2 (2021)
* Wormwood Box (2022)

## Versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1998 Studio Version (2:33)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 1999 Live Version, July 16th (4:08)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 2000 Studio Version (3:28)
4. ↑ 1999 Live Version, July 13th (3:23)
5. ↑ 2013 Live Version, May 20th + Monologue (7:54)
6. ↑ 2018 Wizards Of Boat version (3:40)
7. ↑ 2018 Chesty Vulva version (2:51)
8. ↑ 2012 Demo. First Ver. (4:55)
9. ↑ 2012 Demo. Second Ver. (4:42)
10. ↑ 1998 'Beta' Demo, (2:33)
11. ↑ 1998 Live Version (4:57)
12. ↑ 2013 Live Version, May 15th (3:52)