Sam's Opening Monolog

So Long Sam version

During The Residents' one-off performance of So Long Sam, this monologue is performed (as the title implies) as a show opener. The key differences between this monolog and the final version found on Sam's Enchanted Evening are the lack of the previous song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" and the significantly shortened length. This monolog also developed into "Monolog - Favorite Songs" found on Sam's Enchanted Evening with it not sequing into Teddy Bear's Picnic.

uuggghhh, Hi. Well, here we are. My name is Sam, and this is,

Sam's Enchanted Evening
Where you will meet a stranger
You will meet a stranger across a crowded room

and that's me, Sam, Sam the stranger. You know, an old friend who died a long time was the first one to call me that. Sam the stranger. He always called me that.
Ok Im gonna tell you a little bit of my life story and sing some of the songs of my life. The songs that kinda define in a odd way. Ok alright I guess I should get started.
Uhh these first songs were my momma and daddy's favorite songs and then there's a couple of funny love songs.

Sam's Enchanted Evening version

During The Residents performance of Sam's Enchanted Evening at The Marsh in Berkeley Sam would give many monolog in-between almost every song. As the title implies this monolog would introduce Sam. Here is a transcription of this introduction as found on the Klanggalerie release of this show. This monolog also introduces Mack (played by Joshua Raoul Brody) and Sam's friend Mack.

Uh, Im sorry, im im sorry Mack I, Im sorry
It's just, I, I've had, I had a bad day, I had a really bad day, I, I need somebody to talk to
My, My name is, my name is Sam, my name is Sam and, Its, its just been such a, its just been such a bad day, it, yo-, its my birthday, its my birthday today and it has not been a good day at all and, I need somebody to talk to.

Did I say it was my birthday?

*Mack plays happy birthday*

Yeah! Yeah, yeah, and, and now its, its the evening of my, of my special day and, its not so good and I had this song on my mind all day long.

Sam’s enchanted evening
When you might see a stranger!
You might see a stranger across a crowded room

And that's me, that's me Sam, Sam the stranger.
He was an old friend who called me that a long time ago, his name was Mack too!
And uh, he's dead now.
but, but you know I thought maybe I could come in here and uh, and you know, and, and, we could do a few songs together you know, maybe do some of the old songs, you know, that sound like a good idea? Uh Lets lets lets lets lets lets lets do some lets do some songs let me think.
Uhhhh, uhhh, how bout uhhh, uhhh Teddy Bear’s Picnic! Teddy Bear’s Picnic, ha ha, that's good, I love I love that song that is such a good song, you got the one in your book? Over there? Yeah yeah, Teddy Bear’s picnic lets do that one, Teddy Bear’s picnic. 

List of releases

• So Long Sam (1945 - 2006) (2022)
• Sam's Enchanted Evening (2023)

See also

• So Long Sam
• Sam's Enchanted Evening