Delta Moon formed in the late 1990s when Mark Johnson and Tom Gray lived wi… Read Full Bio ↴Delta Moon formed in the late 1990s when Mark Johnson and Tom Gray lived within a few blocks of each other in Atlanta's Inman Park neighborhood. They got together regularly to work up arrangements of classic blues and original songs for two slide guitars. Soon, joined by singer Gina Leigh and a rotating cast of percussionists, drummers, and bassists, the band was playing festivals and nightclubs around Atlanta and the South.

Following the March 2002 release of their debut CD, "Delta Moon," the band started ranging farther from home. What really launched them on the national scene was when Delta Moon beat out over 50 other competitors to win the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2003. In June of that year they released their second CD, "Live," recorded at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta. The band was voted the Best Overall Music Act in Atlanta by Creative Loafing Readers that summer.

After a year of touring North America and England, in June 2004 the band released "Goin' Down South." Drummer Scott Callison, who had played with the band in its early days, rejoined in 2003. In fall 2004 Gina left the band, and six weeks later Kristin Markiton became Delta Moon's new female singer. "Howlin'" was released in 2005 and has been their most successful CD to date.

The band has come full circle with the latest changes in lineup, and Delta Moon is being re-born (again) as a tight 4 piece band featuring the dual slide guitars of Tom and Mark and the songwriting, as always, of Tom Gray. They are recording a new CD utilizing Ted Pecchio and Tyler Greenwell, the energetic rhythm section behind The Codetalkers. But in addition to great songs and critcally acclaimed CD's, this is a band that is best appreciated LIVE. Swampy, sinewy, improvisational, Southern roots music at it's finest.

Tom Gray
lap steel guitar,
keyboards & vocals

Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Tom has written songs recorded by Cyndi Lauper (“Money Changes Everything”), Carlene Carter, Manfred Mann, and many other artists. Tom was the leader of the 1980s rock band The Brains and has since recorded and performed with a long list of vocalists and groups.

Mark Johnson
guitar

A dedicated and talented player who is relentless in his quest for tone, Mark moved south from Ohio and formed a band called The Rude Northerners, then worked with the Atlanta band The Crawdads before becoming a founding member of Delta Moon. Mark made up the band’s name after visiting Muddy Waters’ cabin near Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Lap Dog
Delta Moon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby, if I'm gonna be your man
Baby, you got to take me as I am

I have tried
I've tried
I've tried
I won't be your
Lap dog

Baby, if we're gonna do this thing
Baby, you got to give up playing games

I have tried
I've tried
I've tried
I won't be your
Lap dog

Baby, I give all I got to you
But, baby, you got to give me something too

I have tried
I've tried
I've tried

I won't be your
Lap dog

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Delta Moon's song "Lap Dog" speak to the idea of mutual respect and reciprocity in a relationship. The song begins with the statement that if the singer is going to be someone's partner, they must be accepted for who they are. The repeated line "I won't be your lap dog" makes it clear that the singer is unwilling to be someone's subservient follower or doormat.

The second verse reinforces this idea by suggesting that in order for the relationship to work, both parties must be willing to give up playing games and be honest with each other. The final verse emphasizes the need for balance in a relationship, with the singer giving their all to the other person but also requiring something in return.

Overall, "Lap Dog" is a song about setting boundaries and demanding respect in a romantic partnership. It acknowledges the importance of compromise and compromise in any relationship, but also emphasizes the need for both parties to be equal partners.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby, if I'm gonna be your man
I want to be your partner, but for that you need to accept me as I am

Baby, you got to take me as I am
I can't be someone I am not to please you, you have to be okay with who I am

I have tried
I have attempted to meet your expectations before

I've tried
I put in an effort to change myself for you

I've tried
I attempted to make you happy by changing myself

I won't be your
But I won't continue to do this if it means losing my sense of self

Lap dog
I will not be your puppet, following your every command

Baby, if we're gonna do this thing
If we're going to be together, we need to be honest with each other and drop the games

Baby, you got to give up playing games
Stop playing mind games with me and be yourself

Baby, I give all I got to you
I have given myself completely to you, I care for you with all my heart

But, baby, you got to give me something too
But in order for this relationship to work, you need to give me the same effort and love in return