Song meaning of Caring by The Residents

The lyrics of the song "Caring" by The Residents explore themes of loss, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of life. The song tells the story of two brothers who claimed to love someone, perhaps a woman, and worked at a zoo. They had a pet poodle named Pooh. However, their love quickly faded, and one of the brothers reacted aggressively, possibly towards the person they claimed to love. The situation escalated, and the brothers' actions caused the death of someone, possibly their father.

As the story progresses, one brother replaces the other, leaving only one remaining. But this sibling is also filled with pain and sorrow, as their mother suffers from an unexplained ailment and their brother is eventually bitten, possibly by a diseased kitten. The song suggests that the cycle of pain and loss continues, as the mother retreats from life that seems to repeat the same misfortunes.

The final lines of the song emphasize the emptiness and silence that follows, with the sound of nothingness and the acknowledgment of a starry night. This ending implies a sense of resignation or acceptance of the inevitable hardships of life. The lyrics of "Caring" convey a message about the fragility of relationships, the consequences of our actions, and the repetitiveness of suffering in the world.