Claire's Response

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Scene 3 (Claire's Response) or just Claire's Response is the third track of twelve from The Residents 2007 album, The Voice of Midnight.

Plot

After being disgusted with Nate's poem. The Sandman interjects saying he can twist and turn "the things that please us." This is likely in reference to Nate, and the Sandman then adds that he then squeezes. The Sandman basically saying he can control Nate to serve his every whim.

The Claire's actual response starts. She begins by saying if Nate really sees her like he says he does, then how they view each other couldn't be more different. She then goes on to say that his description of her is more telling about his mental state then it is about how she looks.

"Your crude attempt at sentiment is odious and cold. And conceals the true condition of a damaged soul."

She then says he needs to remove his delusions from how he feels about her. Lastly, she tells him to go away, think about she words and "...sleep with eyeless shadow shapes instead - of me."

What exactly this line means is up to interpretation but is most likely is referring to the Sandman. It could, however, also be Nate's Delusions in general, or have an entirely different mean altogether. It is unclear.

The song then moves to Nate's point of view, this him admitting that it was rather rude of him to write that poem. He then says that Claire was right on all her points and that the Sandman isn't real. He then ends with saying that he's sorry he's going back to school tomorrow and he hopes to see her again.

Lyrics

SANDMAN
"The Sandman can,
 The Sandman can,
 The Sandman can,
 Twist and turn the things that please us
 Into a perfect pair of tweezers
 Then he squeezes."


CLAIRE
"If this is a reflection of the affection in your heart
 Then our ideas of love are an infinity apart
 Your crude attempt at sentiment is odious and cold
 And conceals the true condition of a damaged soul.

 Something's hiding from you, Nate, it's puncture-proof and sealed
 You need to separate your sickness from the love you feel
 Go away and think about everything I said
 Go away and sleep with eyeless shadow shapes instead - of me."


NATE
"I'm, I'm sorry, Claire. I guess it was a pretty weird poem, but, but I had this vision... And it was honest, and passionate, and, and I guess 
 it was 
 kind of mean, too. And yeah, you're right, of course... There's no Sandman. It's ridiculous, you're right... I, I don't know what I was 
 thinking... 
 I get so worked up sometimes... I'm going back to school now, Claire. I'll talk to you soon. I'm sorry... I'm sorry."

Releases

The Voice of Midnight

Versions

Album Version (3:24)

Notes

Claire's Response is unique among most of the material from The Voice of Midnight and UGHS sessions. It is the only track from the album to have only one official version. Even the song Campus Stroll, a cut interlude to the album, has an alternate version featured on Smell My Picture.

Sources

1. The Voice of Midnight on The Residents website
2. E.T.A Hoffmann's Der Sandman