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.
Things I Don't Remember
Ugly Casanova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How the hell'd we get here?
How the hell did we get here?
Things I don't remember
Dressed up alligators.
How'd the hell we get here?
Things I don't remember
There was dressed up alligator.
Disco dancing neighbors
Who were born in mashed potatoes
Caught with our pants down
Hiding in the doghouse
Figured out what we're good for
You're the sailor and I'm the port
Things I don't remember
We undressed for the tailor.
Your skin was lightly salted
Opened up a can of loud mouth malted
High fives in your eyes
Pushed the gas and now I'm kissin' your thighs
Looking for a purpose
How'd the hell'd we get here?
There were things I don't remember
There was messed up alligator
There were endless conversations
No one's mouths were really moving
All them dumpsters overflowing
All my (?) intentions.
Things I don't remember
I figured out what I'm good for
Making anything look better
How the hell could I blame her?
Even then I was a savior
There were jokes (?)
Every hand was tipped in subliminal sand (?)
Things I don't remember
There was undressed for the tailor
There are jokes (?)
There were disco dancing neighbors
They were born in mashed potatoes
There was no town, Motown.(?)
There were things I don't remember
Dressed up alligator
How the hell'd we get here?
How the hell'd we get here?
The lyrics in "Things I Don't Remember" by Ugly Casanova are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The overall theme seems to revolve around a surreal experience in which the singer is grappling with memories of strange events and encounters, all the while struggling to make sense of where they are and how they got there. The phrase "Things I Don't Remember" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the sense of confusion and disorientation.
The first stanza mentions being surrounded by "dressed up alligators", which could be a metaphor for feeling out of place or in over one's head. The singer wonders how they even ended up in this situation in the first place. The second stanza talks about catching someone in a compromising position and realizing their own purpose in the situation. The line "You're the sailor and I'm the port" suggests a sense of dependence or partnership with the other person.
The third stanza is particularly surreal, mentioning disco dancing neighbors who were "born in mashed potatoes". The nonsensical nature of the imagery further emphasizes the singer's confusion and disorientation. The final stanza brings things full circle, repeating much of the same imagery from earlier in the song. Overall, "Things I Don't Remember" could be seen as a meditation on memory, identity, and the elusive nature of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Things I don't remember
The singer cannot recall certain events that have happened in the past.
How the hell'd we get here?
The singer is questioning how they arrived in their current situation.
How the hell did we get here?
The singer is questioning how they arrived in their current situation.
Dressed up alligators.
There was an unusual or unexpected sight of alligators dressed in costumes.
There was dressed up alligator.
There was an unusual or unexpected sight of an alligator dressed in a costume.
There was come on the piano
There was someone playing the piano.
Disco dancing neighbors
The singer's neighbors were dancing to disco music.
Who were born in mashed potatoes
This line seems to be nonsensical and unclear in its meaning.
Caught with our pants down
The artist and someone else were caught in an embarrassing or compromising situation.
Hiding in the doghouse
The artist and someone else were hiding in a small, uncomfortable place (like a doghouse).
Figured out what we're good for
The singer has realized their strengths or what they are skilled at.
You're the sailor and I'm the port
The artist is comparing themselves and someone else to a sailor and a port, respectively (implying that one is the adventurer and one provides stability).
We undressed for the tailor.
The singer and someone else got undressed in order to be measured for clothing by a tailor.
Your skin was lightly salted
The singer is describing someone's skin as being pleasantly salty, like the ocean.
Opened up a can of loud mouth malted
This line is unclear in its meaning.
High fives in your eyes
The artist gave someone a high-five in a celebratory gesture.
Pushed the gas and now I'm kissin' your thighs
The artist and someone else have engaged in sexual activity in a car or other vehicle.
Looking for a purpose
The singer is seeking meaning or direction in their life.
There were things I don't remember
The singer cannot recall certain events that have happened in the past.
Endless conversations
The artist had long and unending conversations with someone else.
No one's mouths were really moving
The conversations were so uneventful that it seems like no one was really speaking aloud.
All them dumpsters overflowing
This line is somewhat unclear in its meaning, but it could be interpreted as a reference to the filth and disorder around them.
All my (?) intentions.
This line is difficult to interpret due to its unclear audio quality.
I figured out what I'm good for
The artist has realized their strengths or what they are skilled at.
Making anything look better
The singer is good at improving or beautifying things.
How the hell could I blame her?
The singer is questioning whether they have the right to blame someone else for something.
Even then I was a savior
The singer sees themselves as a rescuer or someone who helps others.
There were jokes (?)
This line is difficult to interpret due to its unclear audio quality.
Every hand was tipped in subliminal sand (?)
This line is difficult to interpret due to its unclear audio quality.
There was no town, Motown.(?)
This line is difficult to interpret due to its unclear audio quality.
There were disco dancing neighbors
The singer's neighbors were dancing to disco music.
They were born in mashed potatoes
This line seems to be nonsensical and unclear in its meaning.
How'd the hell'd we get here?
The artist is questioning how they arrived in their current situation.
Things I don't remember
The artist cannot recall certain events that have happened in the past.
Dressed up alligator
There was an unusual or unexpected sight of an alligator dressed in a costume.
How the hell'd we get here?
The artist is questioning how they arrived in their current situation.
How the hell'd we get here?
The singer is questioning how they arrived in their current situation.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@schmity211
Issac told his assistant to make the video about kids and "shit". And this is what we got.
@oliverclark8460
For real lol? If so makes perfect sense
@sxnoss40
Of all the musical phases I go through, this song never seems to lose touch with me.
@LukeDude759
I like the somg, but I hope this video someday finds its way onto the list of things I don't remember.
@phantomarchive
Do you remember.
@SoSo-li6dn
i forgot i knew this song
@ThePc31
Word
@seanp1096
Yeah that was disgusting
@krilla
Have you forgotten?
@nailbiter44
the thought of this kid trying to get a gig when heβs older and putting this in his resume makes me chuckle