Story Behind The Song

In fact I did have a very bright and witty labrador retriever whose main passions in life were excursions and pizza. There were four takeout pizza places in our neighbourhood, so it was a world 'o pizza crusts, and a fast move would occasionally bag one for the ole jaws. He lived for those moments. We did the whole modern dog owner thing -- 3 hrs per day on the trot. There has to be some fascination in this and indeed we were delightfully enslaved, as most urban dog people are. That's really what the song's about, apart from being a heartfelt tribute to that particular dog and all like him.

Song Description

Bluesy funk-rock, like Hot Chocolate gone post-punk, also sounding a little folky because of the acoustic guitar. One potential take on this is: a guy whose dog wants his pizza crust decides instead to reward him with tongue-in-cheek thanks for being suc

Lyrics

(Thank You for Being) My Dog

(Summerbell) © 2003

Think of those rainy afternoons in the muck and in the mire I wouldn't have had the abandon to splash about. Think of those winter days I could have been vegetating by the fire instead' of getting my snowboots on to take you out. You are a mystery in an enigma in a big ball of fur, an irresistible magnet to every child and flea and burr. Your nose is high-resolution while I live in a near scentless fog. You run at high speed while I just have to slog but it's a good old slog, so I just gotta thank you for being my dog. I just gotta thank you for being my four-footed crazy creature. Thank you for being my dog, I just gotta thank you for being my dog...

You know where you're heading, there's garbage ready for shredding ? that'll teach me for letting you follow your nose around. You're escaping into the alley, cause there's peanut butter and jelly in a week old sandwich smeared along the ground. Without you, I would surely have overlooked this, so what can I do but thank you?

Think of the sunny summer trails I would have missed completely, probably stayed at work and pushed those computer keys. Think of the way I'm fitter than the out of breath creature I would have been if not for the constant walking to community message centres on poles and trees. You've got it made, you live the life, and all I can do is be your escort and butler and chef and maid, but it isn't slavery; in fact I'm so dedicated my friends all say that I've slipped a cog ? except for the ones who own a quadruped analogue. And they understand when I thank you for being my dog ? It's an excellent vocation to be a slightly simple furry genius. Thank you for being your dog! What can I do but thank you? ?
for being one of those

classic canine fellows, whiplash tail attached to a bellows, and did I mention that amazing smell nose that you twitch? You hear every word that I say and understand and disobey, ?cause you know the important thing is to scratch that itch. Whatever that itch is, that's where the zen is: teach me to be that spontaneous ? or maybe not. Maybe I'll just keep letting you specialize in that dog dharma (song actually says: "thing"), but still I want to thank you for the wonderful job you do of being a digitigrade quadruped omnivorous carnivorous pizzivorous creature with a friendly head...I wanna feed that head. Have I been programmed? Who's got who on leash here? I don't wanna think about that. But I just want to thank you for being my dog. What more can you ask? Now, don't give me that big eyed look. I can't stand it any more...oh, hell, have another pizza crust.


words: digitigrade ? walking on the toe-tips; croquette ? a Dutch snack, breaded, deep-fried, shaped like a sausage, consisting of beef that has been minced so fine it has a texture like creamy mashed potatoes