The legend of Ugly Casanova was based around the character of Edgar Graham, a.k.a. "Ugly Casanova", who (according to the Ugly Casanova press release) met the band Modest Mouse while backstage at a concert in Denver, Colorado.
"After some prodding, he shared his work with the band, and began performing it early before shows while some people were milling around. Whenever he completed these performances, he retreated quickly with a look of anger and shame. After a time, a few small recordings were created, after which Edgar vanished." The release goes on to mention that the batch of songs found on Sharpen Your Teeth was delivered to Sub Pop, "in a strange parcel filled with Silly Putty and pelts of three unidentifiable rodents."
In truth, Ugly Casanova is a side-project of Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock and a number of other collaborators. In fact, two U.C. tracks -- Baby's Clean Conscience and Parasites have appeared as unreleased Modest Mouse demos from their 1993 "Paracite Sessions".
The origin of the band name itself is contested. Brock has admitted he created the pseudonym to "escape having to do interviews", but Modest Mouse's 1996 EP The Fruit That Ate Itself was credited to the production company "Ugly Casanova", suggesting Brock may have used the name to retain creative control and publishing rights while under a major label.
Though Ugly Casanova is Brock's brainchild, he shares some co-writing and vocal duties with Holopaw's John Orth. The collective also included Tim Rutili (Califone, Red Red Meat), Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession) and Brian Deck.
It seems that another release is unlikely, owing to contract issues between Modest Mouse's label, Epic Records, and the contract Brock signed with Sub Pop Records to produce the record.
Barnacles
Ugly Casanova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I don't need to see so I'll paint
I don't know, I'll paint it black
I don't need to see
I don't see how you see out of your window
I don't need to see, I'll paint mine black
I don't know me and you don't know you
So we fit so good together
We clung on like barnacles on a boat
Even though the ship sinks you know you can't let go
I was talking like two hands knocking
Yelling 'let me in, let me in, please come out.'
Black glass, dirt-based soap,
Tell yourself what you know.
My friends, oh my friends,
Bury your head I'll help you bury your plans.
Hard hit, hard to miss, problems are what a problem is.
My light came up quick, call it your asterisk,
Buried like boys in a boys first book of the stars
Saw it as satellite
Constant unblinking as
Buried in the bottom of a bottom of a brackish lake
The lyrics to Ugly Casanova's "Barnacles" paint a picture of someone who is so fed up with the world and their own perception of it, that they've decided to just paint everything black. They don't need to see anymore, although they acknowledge the irony of the situation by stating they don't understand how someone else can see out of their window. They then compare their relationship with someone else to barnacles clinging to a boat, despite the ship sinking. The line "even though the ship sinks you know you can't let go" is an especially poignant one, as it speaks to the idea of holding onto something, despite it being futile or even damaging to oneself.
The song then turns towards a more introspective tone, with the singer talking about their own problems and those of their friends. They offer to help their friends bury their plans, a gesture that speaks to the loyalty that's been established between them. The final lines are somewhat cryptic, with references to a "boys first book of the stars" and being "buried in the bottom of a bottom of a brackish lake." However, they convey a sense of someone who has been buried or forgotten, yet still exists in some form, like a satellite that's constantly blinking.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't really need to see
I don't require sight
So I don't need to see so I'll paint
Therefore, I'll just paint instead of seeing
I don't know, I'll paint it black
I'm unsure, but I'll use black paint
I don't see how you see out of your window
I don't understand how you see through your window
I don't need to see, I'll paint mine black
I don't need to see, so my painted window will be black
I don't know me and you don't know you
I don't truly know myself and you don't truly know you
So we fit so good together
That's why we match so well
'Cause I knew you like I knew myself
I understood you as well as I understood myself
We clung on like barnacles on a boat
We held on tight just like barnacles on a boat
Even though the ship sinks you know you can't let go
Despite the ship sinking, you cannot release your grip
I was talking like two hands knocking
I was talking loudly and fiercely
Yelling 'let me in, let me in, please come out.'
Screaming to be allowed to enter and for someone to come out
Black glass, dirt-based soap,
A stained window, sooty and grimy
Tell yourself what you know.
Remind yourself of what you're certain of.
My friends, oh my friends,
Oh, my dear friends,
Bury your head I'll help you bury your plans.
Ignore your troubles; I'll help you avoid them
Hard hit, hard to miss, problems are what a problem is.
Difficult times are difficult to avoid; that's what they are
My light came up quick, call it your asterisk,
I shone brightly and rapidly; it's your footnote
Buried like boys in a boy's first book of the stars
Entombed like children in a beginner's astronomy book
Saw it as satellite
Considered it to be a man-made orbiting object
Constant unblinking as
Steady and unwavering, like a fixed stare
Buried in the bottom of a bottom of a brackish lake
Entombed at the very depths of a murky lake
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: THOMAS KENNY, ANDY PALEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mothboy4858
Lyrics:
I don't really need to see
so I don't need to see so I'll paint
I don't know, I'll paint it black
I don't need to see
I don't see how you see out of your window
I don't need to see, I'll paint mine black
I don't need to see
I don't see how you see out of your window
I don't need to see, I'll paint mine black
I don't know me and
you don't know you
so we fit so good together
'cause I knew you like I knew myself
We clung on like
barnacles on a boat
Even though the ship sinks
you know you can't let go
I was talkin' like
two hands knockin' yelling
"Let me in! Let me in! Please come out!"
Black glass, dirt-based soap
Tell yourself what you know
My friends, oh, my friends
Bury your head, I'll help you bury your hands
Hard hit, hard to miss
Problems are what a problem is
My light, it came up quick
call it your asterisk
Buried in a boy's, in a boy's first book of the stars
Saw it as satellite
Constant unblinking eyes
Buried at the bottom, at the bottom of a brackish lake
I don't really need to see
so I don't need to see so I'll paint
I don't know, I'll paint it black
I don't need to see
I don't see how you see out of your window
I don't need to see, I'll paint mine black
I don't need to see
I don't see how you see out of your window
I don't need to see, I'll paint mine black
@grace83ify
Buried at the bottom of the bottom of a brackish lake is one of my favourite lines of all time. Im happy to hear others appreciate it. Isaac Brock is a frigging genius. Modest mouse is still my favourite band. Im forty.
@Ztimes22
He has this magical ability to say so much with so few words.
'Ice age heat wave can't complain' is one of my favorites, 6 words and it's like hugely profound idea. Fucking genius
@ClintWestVood
my teenage years were spent listening to this album and every other album modest mouse has made.
they have made such an impact on my life its amazing.
you're never alone when listening to them.
@kylescott8522
Literally the same bro. Something about being wrapped up in melancholy with issac made me feel more than I ever would of in this world. I also feel that with the band Pinback
@joshuamayberry2183
Same
@DaeganJones
"And I'm lonesome when you're around and I'm never lonesome when I'm by myself"
@ClintWestVood
@@DaeganJones exactly bud
@spankymagee
Same, first time to hear this one in a few months and I almost feel high just soaking in it. Nothing like the MM experience. Found them when my ex wife and i were first starting to drift apart.. even though the ship sank, we knew we cant let go... prolonging the pain really.
Closest band to affect me like this band would be Cursive, The Ugly Organ and earlier. Got a little too Poppy after that.
@ben_jammin242
People like Isaac make me feel less alone. Seeing this many comments makes me feel even less alone. This song is pure art
@ashleynicole6699
Your never alone💜