“Coyote Grace plays with the heart of traditional country and Americana music, but tells their stories with a bold twist,” says the Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray. “They write heartwrenching melodies and make such textured harmonies that I find myself enraptured and taken by their timelessness of song.”Coyote Grace
Armed with a bevy of acoustic instruments from guitar and upright bass to banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and accordion, Coyote Grace’s Joe Stevens, Ingrid Elizabeth and Michael Connolly fill theater, club, and festival stages with a wash of sound seemingly far too expansive for three musicians, mixing bluegrass and blues, soul and Southern twang into a unique sound that hovers just beyond the edge of ‘familiar.’ The sultry trio combines virtuosic musicianship combined with a humble, warm stage presence, all stemming from a history of self-invention – and re-invention.
“Playing roots music doesn’t simply mean imitating old traditions,” says multi-instrumentalist Michael Connolly. “All of us have a strong sense of wanting to hold onto the past, to tradition – while still being unburdened enough to move forward.”
This is perhaps no more evident than in the case of guitarist and transman Joe Stevens, whose gender transition resolved a lifetime of dissonance between being raised as female while identifying as male. Not without cost, Joe’s transition closed some doors while opening many others, and significantly informs his songwriting and performance.
Meanwhile, Ingrid Elizabeth, the self-proclaimed “pink sheep” of her small Ohio hometown, and Memphis-born Michael Connolly both carry the twang and soul of their Middle America roots while maintaining decidedly Left Coast values.
Coyote Grace’s rise to national prominence comes from a decidedly humble origin – beginning as a Seattle-based duo in 2004, Ingrid Elizabeth and Joe Stevens founded the band as street performers outside of Seattle’s Pike Place Market, using their busking proceeds to fund their first studio album, Boxes and Bags, which is now in its sixth pressing, and accompanied at the merch table by three other albums: The Harvey Tour, Buck Naked, and Ear To the Ground, which in February of 2011 reached #6 on the Roots Music Report’s Folk charts -- the highest charting independent album at the time.
The radio airplay itself comes on the heels of a highly successful touring season in 2010, during which Coyote Grace performed three separate tours opening for and playing alongside the Indigo Girls. Audience response was immediate and enthusiastic, with the group breaking the Indigo Girls’ tour records for album sales by an opening band. Coyote Grace has also performed with Girlyman, Melissa Ferrick, Chris Pureka, and Lowen & Navarro.
“There's a yearning, freight-train-hopping, propulsive energy to many of [Coyote Grace]’s songs that suggests not only an indie-band road tour, but the road to one's true identity, a destination on a map still being written. These youthful travelers depend on the kindness of strangers and of lovers, and on their journey they've experienced enough joy and heartbreak to last a lifetime.”
Sylvia Sukop – Huffington Post
Heaven Dog
Coyote Grace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hanging on by the soles of his shoes
All of this is pretty old news and look,
He’s gone a hunting
Hanging around your kitchen door
Big brown eyes are going to get me some more
Maybe a scrap from the floor, I’m sure
There’s got to be something
See him out there filled to the brim
All of his people disappointed again
Maybe he’ll get a second wind
But he’s sure to keep stepping in it
Ain’t it fun being out on a spin
Everybody knows just where you’ve been
Said you’d never do it again, but you did
Yes you did
Have you seen your face
You’re still a part of this human race
We all got to work for a brighter day
Don’t you think it’s time?
Your luck won’t last and you’re out of line
Don’t you already got everything you want anyway?
It’s hard to get on and let yourself sing
When you ain’t in love with anything
Howl at the moon and see what it brings
What does it say?
Slipping away from another bad scrape
Backing his ass down the fire escape
Time to invent a new way, draw up a new play
Get out of your own damn way
Have you seen your face?
You think you’re special, you think you’re safe
We all got to work for a brighter day
Don’t you think it’s time?
Your luck won’t last and you’re out of line
Don’t you already got everything you want anyway?
Heaven dog’s been out on the prowl
Tell me my friends, how you like me now?
I know that look in your brow
I’m sorry always
And at the end of a long, long day
Heaven dog’s going to have his way
There ain’t no rest for the pay to play
Just put together some days
Have you seen your face?
Don’t take for granted your loving grace
We all got to look for a brighter day
Don’t you think it’s time?
Your luck won’t last and you’re out of line
Don’t you already got everything you want anyway?
The song "Heaven Dog" by Coyote Grace is about a dog who wanders aimlessly, looking for scraps and attention. The first verse talks about how the dog is feeling down and trying to hold on by the soles of his shoes. He’s gone hunting and is now hanging around the kitchen door, hoping to get some scraps. The second verse talks about how everyone is disappointed with him again and nobody has faith in him anymore. He’s been down this road before, but he’s going to keep on stepping in it. Despite this, the chorus is an appeal to the listeners to work towards a brighter day and to not take their luck for granted.
The third verse is about the struggle of finding purpose when you’re not in love with anything. The lyrics invite the listener to howl at the moon and gather what it brings. The last verse is about how in the end, the Heaven Dog will still have his way and there is no rest for the pay to play. It reminds the listeners to not take their loving grace for granted and to strive for a brighter day.
Overall, the message of the song is to not give up hope and to keep trying, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven dog’s got the old show blues
Heaven dog is feeling down, like an old performer who has lost their spark
Hanging on by the soles of his shoes
Heaven dog is barely holding on, struggling to keep going
All of this is pretty old news and look, He’s gone a hunting
Heaven dog is tired of the same old routine and is seeking something new
Hanging around your kitchen door
Heaven dog is waiting by the door for any scraps or attention
Big brown eyes are going to get me some more
Heaven dog is using his charm and innocent look to get more out of people
Maybe a scrap from the floor, I’m sure There’s got to be something
Heaven dog is hopeful that he'll get something, even just a scrap, because he deserves it
See him out there filled to the brim
Heaven dog is full of emotions, overflowing with feelings
All of his people disappointed again
Heaven dog's loved ones are frustrated with him for not changing his behavior
Maybe he’ll get a second wind
Heaven dog might find new energy and motivation to change his ways
But he’s sure to keep stepping in it
Despite his efforts to change, Heaven dog is likely to make mistakes and stumble
Ain’t it fun being out on a spin
Heaven dog is enjoying his reckless behavior, for now
Everybody knows just where you’ve been
Heaven dog's reputation precedes him, everyone knows about his behavior and mistakes
Said you’d never do it again, but you did Yes you did
Heaven dog has promised to change before, but has failed to follow through
Have you seen your face
Have you taken a good look at yourself and your actions?
You’re still a part of this human race
No matter how different you feel, you're still a person who belongs in this world
We all got to work for a brighter day
We can all do our part in making the world a better place
Don’t you think it’s time?
Isn't it about time we start making positive changes?
Your luck won’t last and you’re out of line
You can't rely on luck forever, and your behavior is unacceptable
Don’t you already got everything you want anyway?
Do you really need more, or should you be grateful for what you have?
It’s hard to get on and let yourself sing
It's difficult to move on from past mistakes and find happiness
When you ain’t in love with anything
If you don't have something to love, it's hard to find joy in life
Howl at the moon and see what it brings What does it say?
Try new things and see what happens, what insights can you gain?
Slipping away from another bad scrape
Heaven dog has narrowly avoided trouble yet again
Backing his ass down the fire escape
Heaven dog is retreating and running away from danger
Time to invent a new way, draw up a new play Get out of your own damn way
It's time to come up with new strategies and stop getting in your own way
Don’t take for granted your loving grace
Appreciate the love and kindness you have in your life
We all got to look for a brighter day
We should all strive to make the future brighter and better
Heaven dog’s been out on the prowl
Heaven dog has been acting recklessly
Tell me my friends, how you like me now?
Heaven dog is challenging his friends to judge him and his behavior
I know that look in your brow I’m sorry always
Heaven dog recognizes his loved ones are skeptical of his promises to change, and apologizes for letting them down
And at the end of a long, long day Heaven dog’s going to have his way
Despite everything, Heaven dog remains focused on his own desires and pleasure
There ain’t no rest for the pay to play
There are no breaks or shortcuts for those who want to succeed
Just put together some days
Take it one day at a time, and start building positive habits
Contributed by Jack V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.