Donkey
Dogs Lyrics

The opening lines of the song "Fall amongst that clover, roll amongst that clover, spread your bones just like I told ya" present an interesting juxtaposition of calmness and violence. The notion of falling amongst clover, rolling around and spreading one's bones is quite a picturesque and serene image – creating a sense of peace that is underscored by the following lyric: "that's where I found the love of my life". This suggests that the singer found love in a quiet and tranquil space, filled with natural beauty. However, the violent edge reappears immediately afterwards with the lines "Don't hang yourself on that rope, cut my veins and I'll cope". Here, the suggestion of self-harm and despair counteracts the previous calmness, bringing up the feeling of melancholy.

The chorus of the song is the most evocative, where the singer urges the listener to "shed your load, your donkey's come home". The metaphor of the donkey is one that has been used in song or poetry a few times, often symbolizing feelings of burden or pain. Here, the listener is being encouraged to unload their emotional baggage because the donkey has come home, which means that a sense of peace can be achieved. The repeated line of "come home" also carries a strong sense of conviction – suggesting that by shedding their troubles, the listener will finally find a sense of belonging and safety.