Devotion?

Devotion? is a song from The Residents' 1988 epic, God In Three Persons.

Background

This is the third song on the album and features mostly a spoken word performance from Mr. X.

The song starts immediately with Mr. X telling the listener about one of his early interactions with the twins. Mr. X tries to tell the twins that he is surprised that they won't let him market their talents for a fortune. Instead, the twins donate their talents to "those who were so worthless to them both." Eventually, the twins convince him of the errors of his beliefs by pointing out his insecurities.

This leads to them hugging it out as mentioned in the previous song, but leaving Mr. X is still in doubt about how accepted he is by the twins. "I must become important to them, intertwined with roots into them, or else I'd lose my false and newfound pride."

Recordings and Performances

The first demo recording of this song was recorded in 1987 and notably features Hardy Fox on vocals instead of the usual Singing Resident. This version also has some slightly different lyrics as well as a much faster vocal pacing compared to the final version. This demo can thankfully be heard on the pREServed edition of this album. This song is also uniquely absent from the God In Three Persons Soundtrack.

The song like many others was first performed live on May 13th, 2022 during the God In Three Persons Mini-Tour. A recording from the tour would be featured on live DVD. This version largely stays faithful to the album versions structure with additional visuals and accompanying choreography.

Lyrics

Album Version

(Mr. X)

Shortly after I first met them, something that I said upset them and perhaps we should have parted then.
I was saying how important that they were and what a fortune could be made if they would let me try.
But I did not understand why they took in and had to stand by those who were so worthless to them both.

Then they got extremely angry, shouting that the seedy gang behind them may not have much value in my eyes...
but they were people and were needing what we give and if you see them like you see some roaches on the floor,
then the sad one must be you who sees himself as too good to do something for the weak or ones with warts.

You disdain and criticize someone who has been compromised but really have no values of your own,
so maybe you should leave and find some, steal or beg or maybe buy some from a smiling banker or a store.

(Chorus)

Something's coming, but not real soon...

(Mr. X)

At first I was too shocked to believe they would suggest that I should leave, and what was even worse was that I saw
that they preferred their gutter rutting friends above my smugly strutting. And I admit it stunned and humbled me.
So I begged and then beseeched them, "Let me stay and you could teach some sense into the tired old mind of mine."

And of course we reconciled with hugging arms and tugging smiles that left me more secure, but still in doubt.
I truly loved and felt devotion from them both, but I was broken up and feeling powerless inside.
I must become important to them, intertwined with roots into them, or else I'd lose my false and newfound pride.

G3P Live (Difference in bold and italics) This version has the biggest lyrical difference out of any version. As the Faceless Forever Encyclopedia describes "The Residents, feeling the original text has been dashed off in a mad rush, went back and gave it an editorial polish, reconfiguring a few lines while both adding and dropping material".

(Mr. X) 

Shortly after I first met them, something that I said upset them and perhaps we should have parted then.
I was saying how important that they were and what a fortune could be made if we were friends,
But, I did not understand why they took in and had to stand by those who were so worthless and despised.

And then they got extremely angry, shouting that the seedy gang behind them may not have much value in my mind...
but they were people who were needing comfort and if you see them like you see some roaches on the floor,
then the sad one must be you who sees himself as too good for the weak or ones with warts.

You disdain and criticize those that have been compromised but really have no values of your own,
so maybe you should leave and find some, beg or steal or maybe cry some like a dog that's begging for a bone.

(Chorus)

Something's coming, but not real soon...

(Mr. X)

At first I was too shocked to believe they would suggest that I should leave, and what was even worse was when I saw
that they preferred their gutter rutting friends above my smugly strutting and I must admit, it left me meek and raw. 
So I begged and then beseeched them, "Let me stay and you could teach me how to touch this tenderness you found."

And of course we reconciled with hugging arms and tugging smiles that left me more secure, but still in doubt.
I truly loved and felt devotion to them both, but I was broken up and feeling powerless inside.
I must become important to them, intertwined, entitled to them, or else I'd lose my false and newfound pride.
Shortly after I first met them, something that I said upset them and perhaps we should have parted then.

Hardy Fox Demo (Difference in bold and italics)

(Mr. X)

Shortly after I first met them, something that I said upset them and perhaps we should have parted then.
I was saying how important that they were and what a fortune could be made if they would let me try.
But I did not understand why they took in and had to understand by those who were like rats with rotten needs..

Then they got extremely angry, shouting that the seedy gang behind them were not merely slugs or slime...
but they were people and were needing what we give and if you see them like you see some roaches on the floor,
then the sad one must be you who sees himself as too good to do something for the weak or ones with warts.

You disdain and criticize someone who has been compromised but really have no values of your own,
so maybe you should leave and find some, steal or beg or maybe buy some from a smiling banker or a store.

At first I was too shocked to believe they would suggest that I should leave, and what was even worse was that I saw
that they preferred their gutter rutting friends above my smugly strutting. And I admit it stunned and humbled me.
So I begged and then beseeched them, "Let me stay and you could teach some sense into the tired old mind of mine."

And of course we reconciled with hugging arms and tugging smiles that left me more secure, but still in doubt.
I truly loved and felt devotion from them both, but I was broken up and feeling powerless inside.
I must become important to them, intertwined with roots into them, or else I'd lose my false and newfound pride.

Appearances

• God In Three Persons (1988)
• G3P Ephemera (2019)
• God In 3 Persons Live (video) (2023)

External links and references

• God in 3 Persons at The Residents Historical