"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.
Mystery to Me
Dr. Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you've been thinking about moving in
Well I've been thinking about the Good Book
And you've been thinking that's a sin
You keep on thinking about the money
Well I've been thinking for free
You keep on thinking about the future
And I'm just letting it be
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never leave you alone
Oh no
Alone, no, no
You might be thinking I'm a baby
I might be thinking that's true
Cause when I think about my momma
I get to thinking about you
You might be thinking that I'm crazy
But there ain't no such thing
Let's get our heads together, darling
I'll meet you out on the wing
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never leave you alone
Oh no
Alone, no, no
No
I can't be cool with what you're thinking
When I leave the thinking up to me
I think about the way I'm thinking
And I wonder why you want to be with me
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never, ever, ever
(Alone)
The song Mystery To Me by Dr. Dog appears to be a conversation between two people who have different ways of looking at things. The singer seems to be in a domestic relationship with someone who is more practical and grounded than they are. The opening verse sets this dynamic up well, with the singer stating that while they've been thinking about a way out (perhaps of the relationship or the situation they're in), their partner has been thinking about moving in. The line "Well I've been thinking about the Good Book, and you've been thinking that's a sin" portrays a difference in belief systems between the two, and this theme is extended with the line "You keep on thinking about the money, well I've been thinking for free." The singer seems to value more abstract things, like the words in the Good Book, and their partner seems to be more concerned with tangible things like money.
Despite this tension, though, the chorus makes it clear that the singer values the relationship: "Every time we agree, it's a mystery to me / Cause I can't agree on my own / But between you and me, it's easy to see / That I could never, ever, ever / I could never leave you alone." The singer doesn't understand why they seem to be able to compromise and see things their partner's way, but knows that they want to stay in the relationship. The bridge of the song sees the singer questioning their own way of thinking and expressing doubt as to why their partner would want to be with them, further underscoring the contrast between the two.
Overall, Mystery To Me seems to be a song about differences in belief systems and lifestyles within a relationship, and the tension that those differences can create. However, the chorus reassures the listener that despite this tension, the singer values the relationship and sees their partner as an essential part of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been thinking about a way out
I've been contemplating a way to escape from the current situation/relationship
And you've been thinking about moving in
You've been considering getting closer/intimate in our relationship
Well I've been thinking about the Good Book
I've been reflecting on religious/moral principles and teachings
And you've been thinking that's a sin
You deemed religious/moral teachings/principles as immoral, dishonest, or improper
You keep on thinking about the money
You keep obsessing about material wealth and possessions
Well I've been thinking for free
I've been contemplating deeply on various matters without letting material desires influence my decisions
You keep on thinking about the future
You keep stressing/planning over the possibilities or consequences of what could happen later in life
And I'm just letting it be
And I've decided not to worry about the future as much; just let it play out as it is meant to be.
Cause every time we agree
Because every time we come to a consensus on something
It's a mystery to me
It's perplexing to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
Because I cannot make a firm decision by myself
But between you and me
But when we share our thoughts and ideas together
It's easy to see
It's obvious/clear to see
That I could never, ever, ever
That I could never, not in any way, shape, or form
I could never leave you alone
I could never walk away or abandon our relationship
You might be thinking I'm a baby
You could be judging me as naive, innocent, or immature
I might be thinking that's true
I too might recognize that I am indeed naive, innocent, or immature
Cause when I think about my momma
Because whenever I reflect on my mother, who represents the ideal model for me
I get to thinking about you
My thoughts start to drift towards you
You might be thinking that I'm crazy
You might deem me insane, irrational, or bizarre
But there ain't no such thing
But there's no such thing as insanity or irrationality, just different perspectives and beliefs
Let's get our heads together, darling
Let's brainstorm and discuss our thoughts, ideas, and issues together, sweetheart
I'll meet you out on the wing
I'll join you to work on this problem together
No
No interpretation is given for this line
I can't be cool with what you're thinking
I cannot be indifferent or nonchalant about your thoughts and beliefs
When I leave the thinking up to me
When I decide to do all of the thinking and problem-solving alone
I think about the way I'm thinking
I reflect on my own thought processes and try to understand my own biases, perspectives, and inconsistencies
And I wonder why you want to be with me
And I question why someone like you would willingly choose to be in a relationship with someone like me
Alone
Expressing a sense of loneliness, solitude, or self-reliance
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SCOTT MCMICKEN, TOBY LEAMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ABRAHAMCA
I've been thinking about a way out
And you've been thinking about moving in
Well I've been thinking about the Good Book
And you've been thinking that's a sin
You keep on thinking about the money
Well I've been thinking for free
You keep on thinking about the future
And I'm just letting it be
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never leave you alone
Oh no
Alone, no, no
You might be thinking I'm a baby
I might be thinking that's true
Cause when I think about my momma
I get to thinking about you
You might be thinking that I'm crazy
But there ain't no such thing
Let's get our heads together, darling
I'll meet you out on the wing
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never leave you alone
Oh no
Alone, no, no
@benyamino
I'm proud to say I am today's youth and this music is amazing and influential. Thank you Dr. Dog
@jonathonparson7465
This album has mad vibes. It's got this antique sound to it. Love it so much.
Repeat Repeat.
Repeat.
@ImTheManResponisble
I've never heard a bad Dog song, well played guys. If I can hope to achieve anything in life, it's the freedom you all feel.
@edboggo5488
Just discovering Dr Dog and holy shit it's a gold mine of some of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard
@MassHero
I felt the same, with Fate and with Shame, Shame. Now Shame, Shame is one of my favorite albums ever and I can't praise it enough. Dr. Dog just kicks ass.
@ABRAHAMCA
I've been thinking about a way out
And you've been thinking about moving in
Well I've been thinking about the Good Book
And you've been thinking that's a sin
You keep on thinking about the money
Well I've been thinking for free
You keep on thinking about the future
And I'm just letting it be
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never leave you alone
Oh no
Alone, no, no
You might be thinking I'm a baby
I might be thinking that's true
Cause when I think about my momma
I get to thinking about you
You might be thinking that I'm crazy
But there ain't no such thing
Let's get our heads together, darling
I'll meet you out on the wing
Cause every time we agree
It's a mystery to me
Cause I can't agree on my own
But between you and me
It's easy to see
That I could never, ever, ever
I could never leave you alone
Oh no
Alone, no, no
@gabeb.3733
Can one person please comment on the most radical production of this album? frickin pure lofi. This is what some might call .... lofi gold. Its out there now. It's in the universes hands
@pondelion1
I think I found my favorite band.
@TheArtistIsStarving
this sends shivers down my spine. its like rock was reborn in this band. i havent heard a song by them i havent liked. they is too good to be true breh.
@gramcox
Wow! this band is good, one of those bands that have hits after hits!