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Walkin' the Dog
Aerosmith Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mary Mac, dressed in black
Silver buttons up and down her back
I know the mistletoe
She broke a needle now she can't sew

Walkin' the dog
I'm just a-walkin' your dog
Well, if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog

Ask my mama for fifteen cents
To see a elephant jump the fence
It jumped so high, it touched the sky
Didn't come back till the fourth of July

Walkin' the dog
I'm just a-walkin' your dog
Well if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog

Mary Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow? Baby
Silver bells and little bitty bitty white shells
Pretty maids all in a row

Walkin' your dog
I'm just a-walkin' your dog
Well, if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog, yeah

Well, if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog
If you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Aerosmith's song Walkin' the Dog are packed with playful language and references to childhood pastimes. The song appears on the band's debut album, released in 1973, but it was originally written and recorded by Rufus Thomas in 1963. The song's protagonist is a woman named Mary Mac, who is described as being "dressed in black" with "silver buttons up and down her back." The lyrics go on to say that Mary broke her needle and can no longer sew, but she is still out "walkin' the dog." This seems to suggest that walking her dog is a form of release or escape from her troubles.


The chorus of the song is all about "walkin' the dog," and the lyrics encourage listeners to join in and learn the dance themselves. The song even includes a reference to asking "mama for a fifteen cent" to watch an elephant jump a fence, a nod to the simpler pleasures of childhood. The second verse introduces a new character named Mary Mary, who has a garden filled with "silver bells and itty bitty bitty white shells, and pretty maids all in a row." The song ends with the chorus once again, inviting everyone to "walk the dog" with the band.


Overall, Walkin' the Dog is a fun, catchy tune that captures the playful spirit of youth. It encourages listeners to let loose and have some carefree fun, whether that means dancing or simply taking a walk with their furry friend.


Line by Line Meaning

Mary Mac, all dressed in black
A description of Mary, wearing all black clothing


Silver buttons up and down her back
Detailing the silver buttons on Mary's clothing, running along her back


Hi, Ho from tip to toe
Expressing Mary's happiness, from head to toe


She-a broke the needle now
Mary has broken her needle and can no longer sew


And she can't sew
Reiterating that Mary is unable to sew due to her broken needle


Walkin' the dog
A statement of action, walking a dog


Just a-walkin' your dog
Continuing the statement of action, implying possession of a dog


Well if you don't know how to do it
Offering assistance to those who may not know how to walk their dog


I'll show you how to walk the dog
Further offering assistance, promising to show how to walk a dog


Ask my mama for a-fifteen cent
Recalling asking Mary's mother for fifteen cents


To see the elephant jump the fence
The purchase of admission to see an elephant jumping a fence


It jumped so high, it touched the sky
The impressive height the elephant was able to jump


And Didn't come back till the fourth of July
Highlighting the length of time the elephant was gone, returning on Independence Day


Mary Mary, quite contrary
Starting a new set of lyrics, addressing Mary in a nursery rhyme manner


How does your garden grow
Asking about the status of Mary's garden


With silver bells and itty bitty bitty white shells
Detailing the contents of Mary's garden, including silver bells and small white shells


And Pretty maids all in a row
Further listing the items found in Mary's garden, including rows of pretty maids


Well if you don't know how to do it
Repeating the earlier offer of assistance


I'll show you how to walk the dog
Ending on the same promise of help with walking a dog




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Rufus Thomas

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@antithug7942

Their first 5 LP's are some of the best rock & roll that came out during them years. Aerosmith, Get Your Wings, Toys In The Attic, Rocks & Draw The Line. A lot of great music was made back then.

@joanjett8814

Totally a amazing song .. just love those great bands from my youth

@arieljade275

Aerosmith will always be classic <3

@KoolHandJuke

No doubt about it!💥
See that little boy next to me? I named him Tyler for a reason! 👍🎸🎶👊

@Checkstatz

I remember being a younger me, my father played this song..still love it!

@swainsonsouthernhotmess655

You just can't get any better than this....one of the best songs ever....would love to have a great band cover this one right here

@stephengaydos4346

bumped into Steven Tyler @ the Gallarina Mall in TX. He was with his squeeze and buying sock. sometime in the 80's

@TheADDFiles-yk4dc

This is a cover.

@bobstanton6444

This is a cover. The song was written in 1963 by Rufus Thomas. The Stones covered it in 1964, as did a crap ton of other bands.

@66flamer

There is no other way to describe this song than yummy. It's rock but it very definitely is blues. It's like the music is grabbing you around the throat.

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