On January 4, 2008, after a few months hinting at "change," Dienel announced in her blog that "for the present and foreseeable future, there won’t be any more Casey Dienel." Her blog post coincided with Dead Oceans' announcement of the forthcoming release of White Hinterland's album Phylactery Factory.
Fat Old Man
Casey Dienel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You go down yo the bar every day
This morning you woke up in the park
Wearing only a tiny straw hat
You've got a mad dog with a bad leg
And a comb full of rotten teeth
But the days get longer you don't get no younger
And nobody's calling for you
You're chewing aspirin like M&Ms
Anything to dull the pain
But the doctor says it's nothing that a little courage wouldn't fix.
So they put you up on morphine and they strap you to the bed
Saying "Darling, it's just a bad dream, it'll be over soon"
Keeps moving on
Oh nobody
Nobody feels like fighting
You've unplugged all the phone lines
And changed the locks on the doors
You've been wearing suits and collared shirts
And you've changed your name to Carlos
You take up with a lady
The kind that wears perfume
And she likes the sound of your name
When it's following after hers
Keep moving on
Then she tells you there's a child
And he's three months along
She's been dying to tell you
'Cause she thinks he'll have your nose
You call her up the next day
It was St. valentine's
And you wanted to know about the hometown
And see if it was standing
And it keeps moving on
'Cause nobody
Nobody feels like fighting
The LeCalire boy died in a fire
The town gathered by the harbor's edge
And sure enough when the flames died down the boat almost sunk
The next day the sea was quiet
The tide came in, then moved out
That's just one way of saying
Nothing changes when you're gone
It keeps moving on
In Casey Dienel's song "Fat Old Man," she paints a vivid picture of a man who is down on his luck and struggling to find his way through life. The song begins by describing the man's physical location, as he has "moved off to Seattle" and spends his days "down at the bar." However, his circumstances are anything but ideal, as he wakes up in the park one morning wearing nothing but a tiny straw hat. He has a "mad dog with a bad leg" and "a comb full of rotten teeth," highlighting his physical decline. Despite this, the man is aware that time is slipping away from him, as he acknowledges the fact that "the days get longer but you don't get no younger." He recognizes that nobody is reaching out to him, and it's up to him to "keep moving on" if he wants to make any progress in life.
The second verse takes on a more introspective tone, as Casey describes the man's struggles with pain and addiction. He is "chewing aspirin like M&Ms" just to dull the pain, but the doctor tells him that what he really needs is "a little courage." His pain is so severe that he is put on morphine and strapped to the bed, desperately trying to escape the reality of his situation. However, he continues to "keep moving on" despite his struggles.
The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, as the man takes steps to reinvent himself. He changes his name to Carlos and starts wearing suits and collared shirts. He forms a relationship with a woman who likes the sound of his new name, and they discuss the possibility of having a child together. Despite this progress, there is still a sense of foreboding as the man learns that the town where he grew up has suffered a tragedy. This serves as a reminder that life goes on, regardless of whether we are prepared for it or not.
Overall, "Fat Old Man" is a poignant commentary on the struggles of life and the need to keep pushing forward, despite the obstacles that come our way. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who is on the brink of giving up, but who ultimately finds the strength to persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
You've moved off to Seattle
You have relocated to Seattle
You go down yo the bar every day
You visit the bar in your neighborhood every day
This morning you woke up in the park
You had spent the night sleeping in the park
Wearing only a tiny straw hat
You had nothing else on in the cold
You've got a mad dog with a bad leg
You have a sickly dog that is not behaving well
And a comb full of rotten teeth
Your teeth are in poor condition and you have not brushed them in a while
But the days get longer you don't get no younger
Time keeps passing, but you keep getting older and not making meaningful changes
And nobody's calling for you
You do not have any close relationships or social connections who care about you
Keep moving on
Continue with your current lifestyle, despite how it is impacting you
You're chewing aspirin like M&Ms
You are taking aspirin frequently and without proper medical advice
Anything to dull the pain
You are seeking to lessen your physical or emotional discomfort through unhealthy means
But the doctor says it's nothing that a little courage wouldn't fix.
A medical professional has told you that you could improve your condition through better self-care
So they put you up on morphine and they strap you to the bed
Medical staff have given you a powerful painkiller and immobilized you due to your poor health
Saying "Darling, it's just a bad dream, it'll be over soon"
Staff are trying to calm and reassure you, despite the serious nature of your condition
Keeps moving on
Life goes on despite your struggles
Oh nobody
No one
Nobody feels like fighting
No one has the energy or desire to engage in conflict with you
You've unplugged all the phone lines
You have disconnected all communication devices in your home
And changed the locks on the doors
You have altered the entryways to your residence to prevent unwanted guests
You've been wearing suits and collared shirts
You have changed your personal style to reflect a more formal appearance
And you've changed your name to Carlos
You have adopted a new identity under the name Carlos
You take up with a lady
You begin a romantic relationship with a woman
The kind that wears perfume
She is feminine and has a tendency to wear fragrances
And she likes the sound of your name
Your new partner enjoys your chosen name
When it's following after hers
She enjoys the way your name sounds in conjunction with hers
Then she tells you there's a child
She informs you that she is pregnant with your child
And he's three months along
She has been pregnant for three months
She's been dying to tell you
She has been eager to share this news with you
'Cause she thinks he'll have your nose
She anticipates that the baby will inherit some of your features
You call her up the next day
You contact her by phone the next day
It was St. valentine's
It was Valentine's Day
And you wanted to know about the hometown
You inquire about your partner's place of origin
And see if it was standing
You inquire if her hometown was affected by any recent disasters or conflicts
And it keeps moving on
Time continues to pass, regardless of your individual circumstances
'Cause nobody
Because no one
Nobody feels like fighting
No one wants to engage with you through conflict or disagreements
The LeCalire boy died in a fire
Someone from your old community has died in a tragic incident involving fire
The town gathered by the harbor's edge
The community comes together to mourn and support each other
And sure enough when the flames died down the boat almost sunk
The incident involving the boy was destructive and impactful on multiple levels
The next day the sea was quiet
The day after the incident, things were somber and still
The tide came in, then moved out
The natural cycle of the tides continued despite this tragedy
That's just one way of saying
This is a form of expressing
Nothing changes when you're gone
Life reverts to its normal flow even if you are no longer around
It keeps moving on
Time and events move forward despite loss or absence
Contributed by Carter M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.