In 1986, after twenty years with the Dirt Band, McEuen departed to pursue a solo career. From 1991–1997, he released four albums for Vanguard Records. He composed music for movies and television and he appeared as a guest on albums with several artists including five albums with Michael Martin Murphey. He returned to the Dirt Band in 2001, departing the band once again in late 2017.
Recently, he has also been playing smaller venues with his son, Nathan McEuen.
Dogs Are In the Woods
John McEuen Lyrics
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And the huntin's lookin' good
A racket on over the hill
I can hear them trailin' still
Now he's on the other side
Lookin' a place to hide
And the dogs are in the woods
And the huntin's lookin' good
The dogs'll hunt him down
And catch him on the ground
The fur's gonna fly
Then a hound's gonna cry
Might not know tonight
Who will finally win this fight
But the dogs are in the woods
And the huntin's lookin' good
Yeah, good boy woof, woof
Oh, the fire is burnin' low
So, we'll wet it down and go
We'll make a b-line
To that howlin' in the pine
It's too far to see
They barked him up a tree
Then we hear 'em on the run
And the night has just begun
And the dogs are in the woods
And the huntin's lookin' good
Yeah you hear that? You hear that?
Woof, woof
The hounds startin' to cry
And the fur is gonna fly
We may not know tonight
Who's gonna finally win this fight
But the dogs are in the woods
And the huntin's lookin' good
The song "Dogs Are In the Woods" by John McEuen portrays an exciting hunting scene. The lyrics describe the sound of the dogs chasing prey, and the anticipation of the hunters waiting to catch their game. The first verse sets the scene, with the hunter hearing the dogs in the distance and knowing that the hunt is on. The second verse describes the chase and the inevitable confrontation between prey and predator, with the "fur flying" and the hounds "cryin'." The chorus repeats the idea that the hunt is looking good, despite the uncertainty of who will ultimately win.
The lyrics are full of vivid imagery, with descriptions of the sound of the dogs' barking, the smell of the pine trees, and the adrenaline rush of the chase. They also capture the tension and thrill of the hunt, highlighting the unpredictability of nature and the power of instinct. However, the song leaves the outcome of the hunt open-ended, emphasizing the importance of the journey rather than the result.
Overall, "Dogs Are In the Woods" is a thrilling musical portrait of nature and the hunt, blending storytelling with poetic descriptions and atmospheric soundscapes.
Line by Line Meaning
The dogs are in the woods
The hunting dogs are currently in the woods
And the huntin's lookin' good
There is a high chance of success for the hunting expedition
A racket on over the hill
There is a commotion or noise coming from the nearby hill
I can hear them trailin' still
The sounds of the dog's pursuit are still audible
Now he's on the other side
The prey being hunted has crossed to the other side of something
Lookin' a place to hide
The prey is searching for a place to hide from the dogs
The dogs'll hunt him down
The dogs will successfully track down the prey
And catch him on the ground
The dogs will catch the prey on the ground
The fur's gonna fly
There will be a physical altercation between the dogs and prey
Then a hound's gonna cry
One of the hunting dogs will make a loud noise
Might not know tonight
It is uncertain who will win the fight between the dogs and prey
Who will finally win this fight
The ultimate victor of the fight between the dogs and prey is unknown
Oh, the fire is burnin' low
The campfire is almost out
So, we'll wet it down and go
The campfire will be put out and the hunting party will leave
We'll make a b-line
The hunting party will take a direct path
To that howlin' in the pine
The hunting party will head towards the sound of dogs howling in the distance
It's too far to see
The source of the howling is too far away to be seen
They barked him up a tree
The dogs have chased the prey up a tree
Then we hear 'em on the run
The dogs and prey are now on the move
And the night has just begun
The hunting excursion will continue into the night
Yeah you hear that? You hear that?
There is an excited tone in the artist's voice, encouraging others to listen to the sound of the hunting dogs
Woof, woof
The sound of hunting dogs barking
The hounds startin' to cry
The dogs are beginning to howl or bark loudly
We may not know tonight
It is uncertain who will win the fight between the dogs and prey
Who's gonna finally win this fight
The ultimate victor of the fight between the dogs and prey is unknown
But the dogs are in the woods
The hunting dogs are still in the woods
And the huntin's lookin' good
There is a high chance of success for the hunting expedition
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Cash, John Mceuen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind