Pain and Pleasure

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Pain and Pleasure is the final track from The Residents' 1988 epic, God In Three Persons.

Background

Now we have finally reached the end of Mr. X's story. The story of Mr. X and the twins are officially over, but now he tells the listener what happened after the events of "Kiss of Flesh". The song starts with Mr. X, trying to defend his truly heinous actions, he says that despite his extremely unhealthy and abusive relationship with the twins, it was a relationship that could only be formed by the three of them. Mr. X now lives in contentment as an old man but is shockingly visited by the now individual twins often. Although it's never explicitly stated, it implied that the twins now practice acts of sadism for money, hence the title "Pain and Pleasure". The final lyrics of Mr. X are better read than explained.

"For pain and pleasure are the twins that slightly out of focus spin around us till we finally understand that everything that gives us pleasure also gives us pain to measure it by, and I also realize... that all our lives we love illusion, neatly caught between confusion and the need to know we are alive."

Mr. X, "Pain and Pleasure"

The song ends with the last appearance of the chorus, simply informing us that "this is the end".

Legacy

This song's lyrics made a appearance in their 20th anniversary album, "Our Finest Flowers." During the song "Ship of Fools", in between The Singing Residents' reference to "Final Confrontation", Diana Alden can be heard singing "Mr. X' spoken lines in a much more melodic fashion. This all culminates in a fitting end to "Our Finest Flowers".

Recordings and Performances

Unlike most songs on this album there simply isn't many versions other then the original. This song was still added to the God In Three Persons soundtrack.

The song like many others was first performed live on April 27th, 2019 during the God In Three Persons Mini-Tour. A recording from the tour would be featured on the live album and DVD. This version largely stays faithful to the album versions structure with additional visuals and accompanying choreography.

Lyrics

Album Version

(Mr. X)

And so my story winds on down toward and ending that's been found to come whenever all is said and done.
I've lived my life and taken chances and if some were strange by standards that were less important than my needs,
then I guess I could be crooked, evil, bent, and twisted, looked down upon the strings I tried to pull.

But I see the strings extending up and down and never ending as we dance around ourselves and jerk
to all the tunes that only we hear and the voices only we fear each inside an island all alone.
But the contact that we do make, as we give and take abuse, stays and its value only multiplies.

Yes I'm alone, but not forgotten, for each comes and sees me often, sitting on a seat beside my bed,
and we laugh and reminisce about a life that once was bliss before an act of passion made us part.
Of course they'll always be together, but their bond is made of leather not the flesh and blood it used to be.

They're still full of life and healing, but it has a different feeling and only for the few that seek their sort of pain and pleasure
when they merge and give into insistent urgency that lives for seconds at a time.

For pain and pleasure are the twins that slightly out of focus spin around us till we finally understand
that everything that gives us pleasure also gives us pain to measure it by, and I also realize...
that all our lives we love illusion, neatly caught between confusion and the need to know we are alive.

(Chorus)

This is the end.

Appearances

• God In Three Persons (1988)
• God In Three Persons Soundtrack (1988)
• Our Finest Flowers (1992)
• In Memoriam Torso (1994)
• God In 3 Persons Live (2020)
• God In 3 Persons Live (video) (2023)

External links and references

• God in 3 Persons at The Residents Historical