Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
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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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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IMO, this song is about the Catholic Order of Saint Augustine, or maybe about Roman Catholicism itself. That would be ironic because they recorded the organ part of the song in a Catholic church.
This is pure genius, songs like this aren't recorded anymore. Simple, yet with a clear message.
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