Fine Fat Flies

Fine Fat Flies is a song from The Residents' 1988 epic, God In Three Persons.

Background

In the previous song, Mr. X shares with the listener his more intimate feelings for the twins. Although Mr. X is obviously not the nicest person in the world. This song introduces his truly evil side. Now he describes himself as "stalking prey", waiting for the right moment to release the primal urges inside him. He then decides that he is going to force himself onto the female twin to satisfy his own urges. While slowly walking to commit rape, he thinks to himself,

{{#SQuote:|text=I thought of flies that stuck to sticky pecan pies that people put upon the window sill, and how those fine fat flies would feed until they satisfied their greed, then buzzed around in panic till they died. Knowing where my feet would take me if I kept on moving, made me see myself exactly like those flies.|speaker=Mr. X|receiver=|attribution=|source=Fine Fat Flies|id=EKHD-D9R1-ONI0|template=}}

Once Mr. X forces himself onto the twin. They react rather stangly. Mr. X allegedly hears a voice whisper "hold me tight and be my master", while the other twin starts giggling. In a quick and violent moment, the male twin attacks Mr. X, causing blood from his arm to go everywhere and forcing him off of the female twin. Despite this extremely violent and brutal act, Mr. X suggests that they should do this again sometime. He ends the song by saying "It would be wrong to play these games of the weak and strong together without me around to help them understand the dangers in them, for there were so many, and they simply were too young to understand."

Recordings and Performances

This song actually was revisited very early on into its release. On the CD "Double Shot" the would reuse the songs lyrics for the end of the song of the same name. This song would also be re-recorded not to long after for the "Buckaroo Blues" CD and was played live as the first Buckaroo Blues performance. Even though this song made it quite far into the touring process it was abandoned after they decided to pursue "Cube-E".

In 2020, The Cryptic Corporation asked The Residents to curate a selection of their favorite songs from their own back catalog for a Spotify playlist titled "Residents' Personal Favorites"; This was one of forty songs chosen.

This song was actually absent from early shows of the God In Three Persons Mini-Tour. Eventually it was first performed on May 13th, 2022. That means the only officially released version of this live performance is on the God In 3 Persons Live DVD.

The song was then officially acknowledged on April 12th, 2025 when The Residents released the last album in their "Leftovers" trilogy. This version was labeled as the "original" version of the song. The leftover liner notes tell us that when showing off a mostly finished version of the album to a select audience in 1987, The Residents believed this song could be better. After a short trip to the studio they believed they improved the song. When this "original" version was released many fans were surprised by how different it was from the final version. This change is possibly a reason why its one of their favorites alongside "Loss Of a Loved One". This may also be why the song is absent from the "God In Three Persons Soundtrack".

Lyrics

Album Version

(Mr. X)

Soon I woke when I was sleeping with a restless reaching feeling but did not know what I was reaching for.
I got up and started walking, but soon found that I was stalking prey that I could utilize for more
than just an easy conversation, or an evenings' inspiration. Now the time was right for something more.

As I walked I thought of flies that stuck to sticky pecan pies that people put upon the window sill,
and how those fine fat flies would feed until they satisfied their greed then buzzed around in panic till they died.
Knowing where my feet would take me if I kept on moving, made me see myself exactly like those flies.

Drawn into a situation that with some consideration never would fulfill its smiling smell.
But there was no hesitation in my step or in my making sure the door was quiet when it closed.
And as I walked into the darkness, I could sense a woken sharpness penetrating deep within the room.

Then I touched her arm and throat, and found beneath my hand a coat of moisture though the night was not too warm.
The other one was breathing deeply, so I thought he must be sleeping, but then again I wasn't really sure.
"Hold me tight and be my master", someone whispered and I fastened fingers of my own around her wrists
which strangely were secure behind her as I began to mount and bind her to myself with force I could not hold.

Then I seemed to hear a snicker but I was so busy with her that I did not notice him until I felt him
put his hands around my throat and squeeze as if the sounds I made should not escape into the air
causing me to moan too loudly as I jerked on out the fire that I no longer could control.

I was first to see the flashing blinding light of liquid lashing out my arms, but my convulsions spread
to my writhing young companions who were lost in un abandoned cream that soon would crack and fade away.
Afterwards, when it was quiet and the bonds had been denied, I told them that we should do this again.

But I said it would be wrong to play these games of weak and strong together without me around
to help them understand the dangers in it, for there were so many and they simply were to young to understand.

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)

Soon I woke up from a sleeping with a restless reaching feeling but did not know what I was reaching for.
So I got up and started walking, but soon found that I was stalking prey that I could utilize for more
than just an easy conversation, or an evenings' inspiration. Now was the time to get my fill.

As I walked I thought of flies that stuck to sticky pecan pies that people put upon the window sill,
and how those fine fat flies would feed until they satisfied their greed then buzzed about in panic till they died.
Knowing where my feet would take me if I kept on moving, made me see myself exactly like those flies.

Drawn into a situation that with some consideration never would fulfill its smiling smell.
But there was no hesitation in my deed or in my making sure my steps were silent as they fell.
And as I walked into the darkness, something like a woken sharpness penetrating deep within the room.

Then I touched her arm and throat, and found beneath my hand a coat of moisture, like the inside of a womb.
The other one was breathing deeply, so I thought he must be sleeping, but my judgement may have come too soon.
"Hold me tight and be my master", someone whispered and I fastened fingers tight, around the tiny wrist
that I firmly held behind her as I began to mounted and confined her with a fury, potent, as a fist.

Then I heard a little snicker but I was so busy with her that I did not notice him or care.
He quickly put his hands around my neck and squeezed as if the sounds I made should not evacuate my throat
causing me to moan too loudly as I gasped and jerked on out the fire that I no longer could control.

I was first to see the flashing blinding light of liquid lashing out my arms, but my convulsions spread
to my writhing young companions who were lost in un abandoned cream that soon would crack and wet the bed.
Afterwards, when it was quiet and the passion had subsided, I told them that we should do this again.

But I said it would be wrong to play these games of weak and strong together without me around
to lend a helping and point all the dangers in it, for there were so many and, they simply were too young to understand.

"Original Version" (Difference in bold and italics)

(Mr. X)

And as I walked into the darkness, I could sense a woken sharpness penetrating deep within the room.
Then I touched her arm and throat, and found beneath my hand a coat of moisture though the night was not too warm.
The other one was breathing deeply, so I thought he must be sleeping, but then again I wasn't really sure.
"Hold me tight and be my master", someone whispered and I fastened fingers of my own around her wrists
which strangely were secure behind her as I began to mount and bind her to myself with force I could not hold.

Then I seemed to hear a snicker but I was so busy with her that I did not notice him until I felt him
put his hands around my throat and squeeze as if the sounds I made should not escape into the air
now we all were moaning loudly intertwined and jerking out the fire that we no longer could control.

I was first to see the flashing blinding light of liquid lashing out my arms, but my convulsions spread
to my writhing young companions who were lost in un abandoned cream that soon would crack and fade away.
Afterwards, when it was quiet and the bonds had been denied, I told them that we should do this again.

But I said it would be wrong to play these games of weak and strong together without me around
to help them understand the dangers in it, for there were so many and they simply were to young to understand.

Appearances

• God In Three Persons (1988)
• Double Shot (1988)
• Buckaroo Blues (1989)
• God In 3 Persons DVD (2022)
• Leftovers Again?! Again!?! (Again) (2025)

External links and references

• God in 3 Persons at The Residents Historical