What Have My Chickens Done Now

"An 80-year-old woman is accused of witchcraft by five sisters in the year of 1590."
— from the outtake track "Witchcraft"

"What Have My Chickens Done Now?" (previously titled "Water", then "Mother Samuel") is the third song from The Residents' 2005 album, Animal Lover, and features Molly Harvey and Isabelle Barbier on vocals. The song seems to be a dramatization of the Salem witch trials.

History

The song dates back to 2001, when lead composer Charles Bobuck recorded sketches for an album about the American Civil War, which was soon abandoned in favor of the Demons Dance Alone album. A sketch rendering of the African-American spiritual "Follow the Drinking Gourd" was eventually revisited and developed into "Chickens".

Lyrics

[OLD WOMAN]
What have my chickens done now?

[YOUNG GIRL]
She took a mouse out of a pouch
and made me put it in my mouth.

[5 SISTERS]
We call out her name
and beg for her shaming.

[YOUNG GIRL]
She made me spit and shake and scream;
She made me make myself unclean.

[OLD WOMAN]
She calls out my name
but I'm not to blame, but
maybe my chickens know how.

[OLD WOMAN]
I don't know why she told on me;
I'm sick and sad and eighty-three.

[YOUNG GIRL]
I knew when I named her,
the devil had claimed her.

[OLD WOMAN]
It must be my chickens somehow.

They accused my daughter and
scratched her on the face and hand.

They bite their tongues and bear their teeth
then they scratch me 'til I bleed.

[5 SISTERS]
As long as she remains
we will keep her in pain.

[YOUNG GIRL]
I know her chickens are foul.

[OLD WOMAN]
I know I'm not to blame
but I'm tired of the bloodstains;
I have to find a way out.

Under stress I did confess
just to make them stop, I guess.
What can my chickens do now?

[5 SISTERS]
We knew if we named her
God would not claim her.

[OLD WOMAN]
My pain was in vain
for they were all against me.

[5 SISTERS]
Around her neck they tied a noose,
and they killed her family, too.

[YOUNG GIRL]
Only her chickens know now.

The Chickens

Chickens don't like children. After all, who likes to be chased by creatures ten times larger than themselves ...and children do love to chase chickens. Not only was the neighbor's child no exception, the little girl's relentless pursuit of poultry often bordered on diabolical. Simply the sight of her approaching the small barnyard easily agitated the flock for hours. They hated her.

At first, the feeder, an old woman, sent the little girl home, seemingly returning peace to the barnyard. But the child was relentless, and soon turned her attention to the old woman. With a feeling of disbelief, the chickens watched as the little girl threw herself into the middle of the flock, and fell to the ground, kicking, screaming, and convulsing until she passed out. Shocked, the old woman stared in amazement, then quickly called the young girl's parents. Awakening upon their arrival, the child sat straight up, pointed at the old woman and screamed.

The following day the unsuspecting flock found itself again invaded by the neighboring child, this time accompanied by her four older sisters. Surrounded by the dumbfounded woman and her equally confused chickens, the barnyard teemed with the sight of rolling bodies, thrashing arms and twitching legs, as the five girls proceeded to reenact the previous day's scene. And again, upon returning to consciousness, the sisters all pointed at the astonished old woman.

Soon more humans arrived, but, to the flock's great relief, the crowd directed the full brunt of its attention toward the pathetic and befuddled old woman. Accusation mounted upon accusation, building tension until, in a sudden move, the smallest child reached over and scratched the old woman. With blood dripping down her arm and shouts ringing in her ears, the crone could think of nothing to do but nod her head, and hope they would all go away. And they did, taking the old woman with them and leaving the hungry chickens with nothing to eat.

They know it's the little girl's fault. They're vicious chickens and they're out to get her.

Appearances

• Animal Lover (2005)
• Animal Lover Instrumental (2008)
• Beautiful Eyes (2010)
• Animal Lover (Evolution Edition) (2026)

External links and references

• Animal Lover at The Residents Historical