The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead vocals by Dennis DeYoung
father
you're a sad old man
your tawdry vest is gray
memories
of a former man
are all your words convey
father
oh can't you see
the tarnished robe you wear
a crown
for fools
the people laugh
you never seem to hear
father
you're life's a ship
that's never been to sea
the bottle
that surrounds your life
you'll sail eternally
[keyboard solo]
children
please understand
a man must stand alone
and face a world
he'll never know
and never call his own
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
[continue echo]
father
father
father
father
father
father
[continue echo]
Lead vocals by Dennis DeYoung
father
you're a sad old man
your tawdry vest is gray
memories
of a former man
are all your words convey
father
oh can't you see
the tarnished robe you wear
a crown
for fools
the people laugh
you never seem to hear
father
you're life's a ship
that's never been to sea
the bottle
that surrounds your life
you'll sail eternally
[keyboard solo]
children
please understand
a man must stand alone
and face a world
he'll never know
and never call his own
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
ba ba bum bum
[continue echo]
father
father
father
father
father
father
[continue echo]
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by wow1111575
Father O.S.A. Lyrics as written by Dennis De Young
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
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Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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The song has two parts - the first part is about a missionary of the Catholic Order of Saint Augustine, trying to spread the word. He's a pityful man who thinks he has sailed the seas of life - however, he hasn't realized his ship's in a bottle. The second part is the real message; that you can't just rely on a Jesus to carry you, but that you must stand strong in a world that is, and will always be, not entirely known.
I always thought this song was about the restraints Christianity puts on its clergymen.
father you're life's a ship that's never been to sea
the bottle that surrounds your life you'll sail eternally
and
children please understand a man must stand alone
and face a world he'll never know and never call his own
=
Priests not being allowed to marry and have a family, etc.
I doubt it- Dennis DeYoung, who wrote this song, is a devout Catholic. To me it seems more like a lament for those whom the world has left with the passing of time.
I never knew what that song was about