"There's a little folk, blues, indie rock, soul, bluegrass--and a whole lot of down-home harmonizing. It conjures images of old friends sitting on a porch swapping instruments and just letting the tape recorder run." - Doug Wallen
Dr. Dog has been creating music in various incarnations for four years now. Beginning with The Psychedelic Swamp, a concept album realized in the damp ruin of a flooded basement with waterlogged guitars and a digital delay pedal, the band has simmered on the back burner of our musical lives for most of its existence but we've recently renewed our resolve to forge ahead and give Dr. Dog the attention we think it deserves.
Although Dr. Dog has as many as 20 honorary "members" who have assisted in various (mostly spiritual) capacities through the years, the core of the band consists of five musicians. Our standard instrumentation includes two guitars, bass, drums, keyboard and three part harmonies. The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Tom Waits, David Bowie and Neil Young are influences, but we would be remiss in not acknowledging our debt to Pavement, Palace Brothers, R. Stevie Moore or Roy Wood.
Currently, the lineup is as such: Toby Leaman on bass and singing, Scott McMicken on woof+mud distortion solo guitar and voice, Frank McElroy on lean clean occasionally tremolo'd guitar, Zach Miller on keyboard(s) and Eric Slick on drums.
We've all done our share of playing. Toby and Scott have played together in a myriad of bands including Raccoon, Unleash the Bastards, and Beard; Andrew played bass in Raccoon and managed the phenomenal The Teeth; Zach has played with Bradford Trojan and Traffic Jam and studied jazz guitar.
Aside from the aforementioned Swamp album - a self-produced, self-recorded low-fi four track recording - we have two other recordings. Toothbrush is a compilation of fourth generation eight-track recordings culled from the past few years. Easy Beat was the first proper record, followed by the 2006 EP Takers and Leavers and two full-length albums, 2006's We All Belong and 2008's Fate. The latest release is called Shame, Shame, and was released April 6th, 2010.
My Friend
Dr. Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He don't hide his shame
Says its all the same
Like a man without a name
Old days asleep in the shade by the Brandywine
See a dog get paid
See a boy behave
Every bone deserves a grave
Like he might not forget by the morning
With no more terrifying thoughts of dying
Ooh oooooh oooh
My Lord, I'm climbing aboard and I'm going home
No time to lose, no time to pack
Take a step and take it back
But I heard the Good Lord's warning
Like he might not forget by the morning
With no more terrifying thoughts of dying
Ooh ooooh oooh
Keep on with the living you'll soon enough be dead
You got the whole world spinning in your head
And you don't want to give it up (don't give it up, don't give it up)
Cause no one should be sorry
We're just another day
You can say you'll be back
But you won't ever go away (won't go away, won't go away)
Cause love that never leaves is never ever welcome back
And I'm running out of skin thick enough to hide in (won't go away, won't go away)
Now hand in hand we're back in time we're chasing the train
Looking back looking back to wave goodbye
We're headed for the same disaster (don't give it up, don't give it up)
The song "My Friend" by Dr. Dog explores the theme of mortality and the fear of death. The lyrics depict a conversation between two friends, one who believes that death is the end and there is nothing more beyond it, while the other is grappling with the terrifying thought of dying. The first friend offers a bleak outlook on life, saying that everything is the same and there is no point in living. However, the second friend hears the "Good Lord's warning" and is convinced to climb aboard and go home, accepting death as a natural part of the cycle of life.
The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery that adds to the overall melancholic tone of the song. The references to the Brandywine river and a dog getting paid are poignant reminders of the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The line "every bone deserves a grave" is a reminder that no one is exempt from the finality of death.
The song is a powerful reminder to live life to the fullest and appreciate every moment, as death is an inevitable part of the human experience. It's a poignant reflection on the fragility of life and the importance of finding meaning and purpose in the face of our own mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend says that the end holds nothing more
My friend believes that there is no afterlife or anything beyond death
He don't hide his shame
He is unashamed of his views and expresses them openly
Says its all the same
He thinks that nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things
Like a man without a name
He feels anonymous and insignificant in the world
Old days asleep in the shade by the Brandywine
He recalls a time when life was simpler and more peaceful
See a dog get paid
He observes an animal getting rewarded for its efforts, which is rare for humans
See a boy behave
He notices a child being good and obedient, which is uncommon in the world
Every bone deserves a grave
He believes that death is inevitable and everyone will eventually die
But I heard the Good Lord's warning
Despite his friend's beliefs, the singer has heard a religious signal of caution
Like he might not forget by the morning
The singer thinks that the warning is crucial and cannot be ignored
With no more terrifying thoughts of dying
The singer is reassured that he won't be afraid of dying anymore
My Lord, I'm climbing aboard and I'm going home
The singer is ready to embark on a spiritual journey back to God
No time to lose, no time to pack
He is eager and impatient to leave and doesn't need any material possessions
Take a step and take it back
He reflects on his past decisions and actions before moving forward
Keep on with the living you'll soon enough be dead
The singer advises people to enjoy life since death is inevitable and inescapable
You got the whole world spinning in your head
He warns that one should not get too caught up in their own thoughts or desires
And you don't want to give it up
People tend to cling on to their dreams and aspirations
Cause no one should be sorry
There is no need to apologize for living one's life
We're just another day
Every day is the same and not that significant in the grand scheme of things
You can say you'll be back
People often make promises or plans for the future
But you won't ever go away
However, they can never truly escape or change their destiny
Cause love that never leaves is never ever welcome back
A relationship that never ends is unhealthy and dysfunctional
And I'm running out of skin thick enough to hide in
The singer feels vulnerable and exposed to the harsh realities of life
Now hand in hand we're back in time we're chasing the train
The singer is reminiscing about a simpler time when he had a partner or friend
Looking back looking back to wave goodbye
He is saying farewell to his past and memories
We're headed for the same disaster
The singer and his friend are both on a path of destruction or ruination
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DOUGLAS STEWART, JOE MCALINDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind