The son of a professional jazz musician, right from the start, Jamie Hutchings, the band's songwriter, lead singer and guitarist demonstrated a voracious appetite for musical ideas. With records that could range from noise scapes to tender ballads and crushing rock, the band was clearly outside the mainstream of music taste. After two albums plus several singles / EPs, the band left murmur and began making records independently.
Always known for their live show, Bluebottle Kiss continues to play infrequently in Australia, with Jamie Hutchings currently working on his second solo album.
Outside Are The Dogs
Bluebottle Kiss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can cross the street all by my self now
I tend to sever the space that surrounds mine
And I seem to do it all the time now
Could I have a smidgen of you faith?
A strand of hair within a jar to pledge allegiance to you
Keep your dreams hidden behind a shelf
Guess I'm riding free beneath this moonlight
But this romance with my self is causing me to doubt
Try hard not to step on any pavement cracks
If I was ever there I can't seem to find my way home back
And I'm chained between more than four walls
Walls of my mind and I can't find the code to crack the lock
Not sure if it's me really riding now I'm like a ghost
Ghost of some road that everyone bypasses
And I just get so scared for myself
You can't rely on me or anybody else
Outside are the dogs so who can you trust
When you're scared?
When you're running so scared
When company's like vultures and your room's like some sepulchre
You found out
It weakens your resistance if you keep questioning your existence
So what now?
Open up, open up
There's no need to shut it down
Thaw it, thaw it out
Thaw the ice that's trying to hound you down to the ground
Buses, trains and miles of sheets of rain
Another night and it's alright
A little misadventure
Caught a cab, ran out of change again
It's not that bad, I've just been had, had by myself again
The lyrics of Bluebottle Kiss's "Outside Are The Dogs" talk about the fear of being alone and the fear of not being able to rely on anyone. The singer starts by saying that they are not as scared as they used to be, but they still tend to isolate themselves and distance themselves from others. They ask for a smidgen of someone else's faith, but they also want to keep their dreams hidden away, so no one else can possess them. They are scared and running, and they fear that they can't rely on anyone else, especially when company feels like vultures and rooms feel like sepulchers.
The lyrics paint the picture of someone who is struggling to find their place in the world and is scared to open up to others. They feel chained between four walls, walls of their mind, and they can't seem to find a way out. They doubt themselves and their own thoughts, wondering if they're really riding free or just like a ghost of some road bypassed by everyone else. They're scared for themselves and can't rely on anyone else, making the world seem like a scary and uncertain place.
Overall, the lyrics of "Outside Are The Dogs" explore themes of fear, isolation, and uncertainty, painting a picture of someone struggling to find their place in the world and questioning their very existence.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not as scared as I once was
I've grown more comfortable and confident over time
I can cross the street all by my self now
I've become more independent and self-reliant
I tend to sever the space that surrounds mine
I am emotionally detached from the world around me
And I seem to do it all the time now
This detachment has become a habitual behavior
Could I have a smidgen of you faith?
Can you share some of your confidence or belief with me?
A strand of hair within a jar to pledge allegiance to you
A small and symbolic gesture of loyalty
Keep your dreams hidden behind a shelf
Protect and keep your aspirations to yourself
Don't tell no-one or they'll become possessions of somebody else
Sharing your dreams makes them vulnerable to others' influence or control
Guess I'm riding free beneath this moonlight
I feel liberated and carefree in the night
But this romance with my self is causing me to doubt
My self-absorption is making me question myself
Try hard not to step on any pavement cracks
Superstitiously avoiding any perceived misfortune
If I was ever there I can't seem to find my way home back
I am lost or disoriented and cannot return to a familiar place
And I'm chained between more than four walls
I feel mentally trapped in my own thoughts
Walls of my mind and I can't find the code to crack the lock
I cannot break free from my own limiting beliefs or fears
Not sure if it's me really riding now I'm like a ghost
I feel disconnected or dissociated from my own actions and experiences
Ghost of some road that everyone bypasses
I feel overlooked or forgotten by others
And I just get so scared for myself
I am afraid for my own well-being and survival
You can't rely on me or anybody else
I do not trust myself or others to provide security or support
Outside are the dogs so who can you trust
The world is dangerous and full of threats
When you're scared? When you're running so scared
Fear can make you feel vulnerable and desperate
When company's like vultures and your room's like some sepulchre
Being surrounded by people who take advantage of you or make you feel trapped
You found out
I have become aware of this unhelpful pattern or behavior
It weakens your resistance if you keep questioning your existence
Repetitively doubting yourself can erode your self-confidence
So what now?
What can I do to break free from this cycle?
Open up, open up
Be receptive and vulnerable to change or advice
There's no need to shut it down
Do not dismiss or close off new ideas or perspectives
Thaw it, thaw it out
Melt the resistance and barriers in your mind
Thaw the ice that's trying to hound you down to the ground
Break free from the limiting beliefs or fears that hold you back
Buses, trains and miles of sheets of rain
Describing a journey through a bleak or dreary environment
Another night and it's alright
Finding comfort or resignation in routine or repetition
A little misadventure
A small or insignificant mistake or setback
Caught a cab, ran out of change again
Encountering a common and frustrating problem
It's not that bad, I've just been had, had by myself again
Realizing that I am the one responsible for my own problems and frustrations
Contributed by Abigail H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nicktrueman224
I saw them live a number of times.
Fuck time flies