Bad Dog
Chumbawamba Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Puppy eyes
Puppy eyes
Tearing clothes
Spitting pride
Roll over
Roll over
Roll over
Roll over
Pretty please
Pretty pledge
Chase away
Chase away
Nasty, nasty, snapping, nasty, biting, spitting, nasty, nasty,
hammer, hammer
teeth, nail,
sit, sit, sit, sit,
bet ya can't beg
bet ya can't blink
bet ya can't do those clever tricks
heel, fetch, run, lie
nasty, nasty, snapping, nasty,
see these eyes
puppy eyes
roll on over and die, die!

bad dog
you bad dog
you bad dog
you bad dog
play fills up with trouble and spice
nasty, nice, nasty, nice
slip the lead
fight, bite
my bark is softer than my bite
roll over, roll over
mock his chewing, spewing mouthful
hammer, hammer
teeth, nail
bad dog
bad dog
good girl
pat, pat
bad dog
smack, smack
here's a bitch who will give it back
slap, slap
slap, slap
puppy eyes will start to play
this nasty dog will have it's day

this is heaven
this is hell
this is living
this is tale to tell
this is drive wheel
this is cog
this is master
this is snarling dog
this is hammer
this is spanner
this is no sir
this is table manners
this is history
this is how it's been
this is over, and over, and over, and over again

bad, good, bad, good, bad dog
good, bad, good, bad, good girl
(Repeat several times)


stay tuned for style

I don't think it was a funny record
I think it made me laugh, you know
it made me cry

it goes A R T
it goes M O N E Y
it goes corruption, corrupt...

hi boy's and girls I'm Derbert Nobacon, I'm the transvestite of the group





I like it, I like it!

Overall Meaning

The song Bad Dog by Chumbawamba is a powerful commentary on the nature of power dynamics in society. The repeated phrase of "roll over" and "puppy eyes" sets up a dynamic of subservience and obedience, indicating that the subject of the song is being controlled by someone else. The use of dog-related language reinforces this idea, with commands like "heel" and "fetch" being used alongside more violent language like "fight" and "bite."


However, as the song progresses, there is a shift in tone. The subject begins to rebel against their controller, mocked as having a "chewing, spewing mouthful." The phrase "my bark is softer than my bite" indicates a desire to seem obedient while actually plotting their revenge. As the song continues, the focus shifts from the subject to the controller, with attention paid to the "history" of the situation and the "corruption" that has allowed it to continue.


Ultimately, the tone of the song is one of empowerment and rebellion. The repeated phrase "bad dog" is reclaimed as a badge of honor, and the final lines convey a sense of triumph as the "nasty dog" finally has its day. Overall, Bad Dog can be read as a commentary on the way that power dynamics are enforced through language and the importance of rebelling against those structures in order to find true liberation.


Line by Line Meaning

Puppy eyes
The dog looks at its owner with big, begging eyes


Tearing clothes
The dog is using its claws to rip apart clothes


Spitting pride
The dog is acting proud and won't obey commands


Roll over
The dog is expected to do a rolling motion on the floor


Pretty please
The owner is saying the command in a sweet way


Pretty pledge
The dog is being asked to promise to behave properly


Chase away
The owner is telling the dog to go away and leave them alone


Nasty, nasty, snapping, nasty, biting, spitting, nasty, nasty,
The dog is misbehaving in a very unpleasant way


hammer, hammer
The owner may use force to discipline the dog


teeth, nail,
The dog may use its teeth and/or paws to bite or scratch


sit, sit, sit, sit,
The dog is expected to sit down and stay there


bet ya can't beg
The owner challenges the dog to beg in a cute way


bet ya can't blink
The owner challenges the dog to keep its eyes open without blinking


bet ya can't do those clever tricks
The owner challenges the dog to do some advanced tricks


heel, fetch, run, lie
The dog is supposed to follow basic commands


see these eyes Puppy eyes
The owner is using affection and love to get the dog's attention


roll on over and die, die!
The owner is frustrated and tells the dog to die


bad dog
The owner accuses the dog of being naughty or disobedient


you bad dog
The owner repeats the accusation of bad behavior


play fills up with trouble and spice nasty, nice, nasty, nice
The dog is unpredictable, sometimes being friendly and other times being rough


slip the lead fight, bite
The dog is trying to break free and acting aggressive


my bark is softer than my bite
The dog is not as dangerous or intimidating as it may seem


mock his chewing, spewing mouthful hammer, hammer teeth, nail bad dog bad dog
The owner is frustrated with the dog's misbehavior and may resort to using punishment


good girl pat, pat bad dog smack, smack here's a bitch who will give it back slap, slap
The owner is praising good behavior while punishing the bad


puppy eyes will start to play this nasty dog will have it's day
The owner is using guilt to manipulate or control the dog's behavior


this is heaven this is hell this is living this is tale to tell this is drive wheel this is cog this is master this is snarling dog this is hammer this is spanner this is no sir this is table manners this is history this is how it's been this is over, and over, and over, and over again
The owner is comparing the dog's behavior to life in general, with its ups and downs and established rules and expectations


bad, good, bad, good, bad dog good, bad, good, bad, good girl (Repeat several times)
The owner is expressing frustration with the dog's inconsistent behavior




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUDITH ABBOTT, DUNCAN BRUCE, PAUL GRECO, DARREN HAMER, NIGEL HUNTER, ALICE NUTTER, LOUISE WATTS, ALLAN WHALLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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