Little Fugue in G / Father O.S.A.

 

Little Fugue in G
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Arranged by Dennis DeYoung

[instrumental]

Father O.S.A.
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead vocals by Dennis DeYoung

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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...

Father
Father
Father
Father
Father
Father...

Interpretation

O.S.A. stands for Order of St. Augustine, so Father O.S.A. is probably about a priest or monk of that order. He is apparently still living in the past, and he is mocked by those around him as a result.

Father, you're a sad old man; your tawdry vest is gray. Memories of a former man are all your words convey.

"Father" is reference to the office of priest, in this case a member of the Order of St. Augustine (O.S.A.). He is an old man, and when talking with those around him can only relate to their lives based on long past memories of his life before dedicating his life to the priesthood.

Oh can't you see the tarnished robe you wear: a crown for fools, the people laugh, you never seem to hear

Outside of his presence, he is a laughingstock among the people, who see him and his office as out of touch with the times.

Father, you're life's a ship that's never been to sea; the bottle that surrounds your life you'll sail eternally.

As a priest who has dedicated his life to service, including a vow of celibacy, the old priest has missed so much in life that others experience.  Instead, he has chosen a life isolated in this world as an outcast, while maintaining a view of the eternity to come.

Children, please understand a man must stand alone and face a world he'll never know and never call his own.

"Children" refers to any of the worshipers in his parish but probably to the youth in particular. The youth may not understand things from Father's perspective or the sacrifices he is making, but as a priest, he deserves respect.