"Casey At The Bat" is a song by John Cale, which is a reinterpretation of the famous baseball poem of the same name written by Ernest Thayer. The song tells the story of Casey, a renowned and celebrated baseball player from Muddville. In the first verse, it is revealed that Casey has somehow let down the town and his team. He is missing on a Saturday night, and no one knows where he is. The lyrics question if Casey even started the game in the first place. The chorus emphasizes that there is something wrong with Casey. He should have returned by three o'clock, but no one received any communication from him. Despite this, the people had high expectations of Casey, but he has seemingly disappeared. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Casey is being criticized and accused of breaking down. The lyrics express disappointment and frustration towards him, referring to him as a "son of a bitch" who lets everyone down. They mention how Casey tried to gather his team but failed. It is suggested that Casey has run away and is now hanging around a different town, ultimately abandoning his responsibilities. The song ends with the repeated line of "Casey don't run no more," implying that people are urging Casey to stop running away and face the consequences of his actions. They consider him a coward and encourage him to give up his escapism. The meaning behind the song seems to revolve around the theme of disillusionment and the fall from grace of a once-revered figure. It portrays the disappointment and anger felt when someone we expect to be heroic and reliable turns out to be unreliable and disappointing.
