The Gift
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"The Gift" is the second track from Act 2 of The Residents' 2025 "modern opera" Doctor Dark. This track expounds upon Dr. Anastasia Dark's life philosophy and his mission: to rid people of their suffering through death, an act he views as merciful. It is revealed in this track that Dark, much like his real-life counterpart Jack Kevorkian, is a painter; some of his pictures can be seen serving as illustrations for the Doctor Dark album artwork.
Like the rest of Act 2, "The Gift" musically switches focus from the heavy metal of Act 1 to a style more inspired by modern classical music. A demo of this track, recorded in 2023, was previewed on the Cherry Red Residents newsletter later in 2025, and later released on the Doctor Dark's Demos album, exclusive to streaming services.
Libretto
As he switches on a light illuminating his cell, we realize that Doctor Dark is also a painter, and the subjects of his paintings are the terminally ill people he has liberated from their fatal diseases. As he recalls his dawning awareness of THE GIFT, he remembers the joy he felt dancing to the discovery of his divine calling. Later, as the mood becomes more melancholy, the doctor revisits some of the more memorable patients he has liberated.
Once I was wondering why so many are in pain; Once I was wondering how their freedom could be gained; Once I was wondering and a voice gave me a choice. Life is love until the darkness steals its light, leaving pain inside of fear and memories of grace. After liberating hundreds of sad and dying souls, my mind overflows with the burden of their memories... Bubbles dribbled from the mouth of a man whose skull was cracked by a crowbar. I gave him THE GIFT and his wife kissed me right on the lips. My tears were as big as figs. A girl was enclosed in concrete leaving a lonely head to beg for THE GIFT. A beehive fell into a man's convertible. Then there was the man who weighed two thousand pounds. He looked like a room full of pink Jello with a head stuck on. He needed THE GIFT... A woman 18 inches tall fell into a toilet while passing faeces. She got stuck halfway down... A woman was picked up by a tornado and dropped on Lincoln's nose on Mt. Rushmore, breaking every bone in her body. She begged for THE GIFT. A truck carrying a shipment of bowling balls crashed, scattering the balls. One of them replaced a baby's head, forcing it down into her body like a turtle...
- Doctor Dark CD edition at Cherry Red Records (UK/EU)
- Doctor Dark vinyl edition at Cherry Red Records (UK/EU)
- Doctor Dark CD edition at MVD Shop (US)
- Doctor Dark vinyl edition at MVD Shop (US)