His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Lay Down Little Doggies
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
LAY DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
WE'VE BOTH GOT TO SLEEP ON THE COLD, COLD GROUND
THE WINDS BLOWIN' COLDER AND THE SUN'S GOIN' DOWN
LAY DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
WE HIT THIS OLD BEEF TRAIL JUST TWO MONTHS AGO
WE BLISTERED IN THE SUN AND WE FROZE IN THE SNOW
SO LAY YOURSELVES DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
THIS DODGE CITY TRAIL SHE'S A HARD ROAD TO GO
UP THE TEXAS FLATLANDS THROUGH OLD MEXICO
I GOT DUST IN MY EYES AND MUD IN MY NOSE
SO LAY YOURSELVES DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
CHORUS
THAT BAD HOLE OF WATER WE DRUNK AND GOT SICK
CURLED UP OUT HAIR, TIED OUR TAILS BACK IN KINKS
WE GOT LOST IN A BLIND CANYON, TIPPY-TOEIN' AROUND
SO LAY YOURSELVES DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
HERE NOW WE COME TO THE END OF OUR TRAIL
YOUR HAIR, HIDE AND CARCASS TO THE STOCKYARDS I SELL
I'LL SEE YOU IN A TIN CAN WHEN YOU GET SHIPPED AROUND
SO LAY YOURSELVES DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
CHORUS
Arlo Guthrie's song "Lay Down Little Doggies" tells the story of a cowboy and his beloved dogs on a long and difficult journey. The chorus repeats the phrase "lay down, little doggies, lay down" which is a command given to the dogs to rest from their long journey. The dogs are the cowboy's companions, and they both share the hardships of the trail, as well as the rest at the end of a long day. The cowboy and his dogs face various obstacles, such as harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain, and they must overcome them to reach their destination.
The verses describe some of the challenges the cowboy and his dogs face. They have been on the trail for two months and have experienced extreme weather conditions, from blistering heat to freezing cold. The trail they are on is difficult, as it takes them through Texas flatlands and old Mexico. They encounter a bad hole of water which makes them sick, and get lost in a canyon. Despite all these obstacles, the cowboy continues on with his faithful dogs at his side, knowing that they will eventually reach their destination.
The final verse talks about the end of the journey for the cowboy and his dogs. He sells the cattle at the stockyards, including the hides and carcasses of the dogs. Though the cowboy knows the dogs will be shipped off to different places, he still commands them to "lay down, little doggies, lay down" as a final goodbye to his faithful companions.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the bond between a cowboy and his dogs, as well as the challenges they face on the trail.
Line by Line Meaning
LAY DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
Arlo Guthrie is telling the dogs to lay down and rest for the night.
WE'VE BOTH GOT TO SLEEP ON THE COLD, COLD GROUND
Arlo Guthrie and the dogs must sleep on the hard, cold ground.
THE WINDS BLOWIN' COLDER AND THE SUN'S GOIN' DOWN
The temperature is dropping as the sun sets, making it colder for the dogs and Arlo Guthrie.
WE HIT THIS OLD BEEF TRAIL JUST TWO MONTHS AGO
Arlo Guthrie started his journey on this trail two months ago.
WE BLISTERED IN THE SUN AND WE FROZE IN THE SNOW
Throughout his journey on the trail, Arlo Guthrie and the dogs have experienced extreme weather conditions, from hot sun to cold snow.
IN TEN DAYS WE'RE COMIN TO A PACKING HOUSETOWN
Arlo Guthrie and the dogs will arrive in a town where the beef is processed and packaged for sale in ten days.
SO LAY YOURSELVES DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
Arlo Guthrie is once again telling the dogs to rest and lay down.
THIS DODGE CITY TRAIL SHE'S A HARD ROAD TO GO
The trail Arlo Guthrie and the dogs are traveling on is difficult and challenging.
UP THE TEXAS FLATLANDS THROUGH OLD MEXICO
The trail goes through the flatlands of Texas and Old Mexico.
I GOT DUST IN MY EYES AND MUD IN MY NOSE
Arlo Guthrie is dirty from the trail, with dust in his eyes and mud in his nose.
THAT BAD HOLE OF WATER WE DRUNK AND GOT SICK
Arlo Guthrie and the dogs drank from a contaminated water source and got sick.
CURLED UP OUT HAIR, TIED OUR TAILS BACK IN KINKS
The sickness caused Arlo Guthrie and the dogs to be curled up and physically uncomfortable.
WE GOT LOST IN A BLIND CANYON, TIPPY-TOEIN' AROUND
Arlo Guthrie and the dogs ended up lost in a canyon and moved carefully to avoid danger.
HERE NOW WE COME TO THE END OF OUR TRAIL
Arlo Guthrie and the dogs are at the end of their journey on the trail.
YOUR HAIR, HIDE AND CARCASS TO THE STOCKYARDS I SELL
The dogs will be sold to the stockyards for their hair, hide, and carcass.
I'LL SEE YOU IN A TIN CAN WHEN YOU GET SHIPPED AROUND
The dogs will be packaged in a tin can for sale and Arlo Guthrie will see them in that form.
SO LAY YOURSELVES DOWN, LITTLE DOGGIES, LAY DOWN
Arlo Guthrie is again telling the dogs to rest and lay down before their eventual sale.
CHORUS
The chorus is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the need for rest after a long and difficult journey.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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