"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.
Phenomenon
Dr. Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sign me up, give me will
To keep the hounds from sitting still
Any longer
Red skies at night,
The mornings white
The sky is blue
Am I, to you, to intervene?
The fire's like the gasoline
And you are like the smoke
You're always leaving
But you're never gone
You're everywhere at once
Like a true phenomenon
So take me down your old back roads
And show me where you go
That god may help me know it
When I see it
I could use a job
But I ain't for hire
You ask and you receive
Or you learn to make believe
The fire's like the gasoline
And you are like the smoke
You're always leaving
But you're never gone
You're everywhere at once
Like a true phenomenon
You're always leaving
But you're never gone
You're everywhere at once
Like a true phenomenon
The opening lines of Dr. Dog's "Phenomenon" describe a sense of restlessness and the desire for change. The singer is looking for something new, some adventure or challenge, and they want to be propelled forward by this sense of urgency. They invite the world to sign them up and give them the will to keep from sitting still any longer. The image of an open road is often used to evoke a sense of possibility, and the broken rope suggests a desire to break free from constraints and limitations.
The next lines describe a moment of transition or transformation. The sky is a series of colors, and the singer wonders if they are meant to intervene in this world somehow. The fire and smoke imagery suggests a sense of passion and intensity, of something burning brightly and powerfully. The second verse describes the enigmatic nature of the titular phenomenon, which seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once. The lines "You're always leaving, but you're never gone / You're everywhere at once" suggest something ephemeral and impossible to grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
Open roads, broken rope
I'm ready and willing to take on new challenges, even if they might be risky or unpredictable.
Sign me up, give me will
I'm eager and motivated to try new things, and I need the courage and determination to see them through.
To keep the hounds from sitting still
I want to keep my restless and adventurous spirit alive, even if it means taking risks and pushing past my comfort zone.
Any longer
I can't stand the thought of staying in one place or doing the same thing for too long - I need to keep moving forward.
Red skies at night,
Even in the midst of chaos or uncertainty, there can be moments of beauty and clarity that shine through.
The mornings white
Every new day is a fresh start, full of endless possibilities and opportunities to pursue pastures new.
The sky is blue,
Nature offers countless wonders and mysteries that we can explore and learn from, if only we are willing to open our eyes and our minds.
The sky is green
The natural world can be a source of comfort and solace, reminding us of the cycles of life and the power of resilience and renewal.
Am I, to you, to intervene?
Can I be of help or support in your life, or am I merely an observer or bystander?
The fire’s like the gasoline
Sometimes passion and excitement can be overwhelming, driving us forward but also threatening to consume and destroy us.
And you are like the smoke
You may be elusive and difficult to pin down, but you are also fascinating and mesmerizing in your own way.
You’re always leaving
You have a restless and adventurous spirit, always seeking out new experiences and challenges.
But you’re never gone
Even when you're physically absent, your spirit and energy continue to fill the space around you and inspire those who know you.
You’re everywhere at once
Your influence and impact extend far beyond the boundaries of any one place or moment in time - you truly are a phenomenon.
So take me down your old back roads
Lead me on a journey through your inner world and the experiences that have shaped you into who you are today.
And show me where you go
Allow me to witness your struggles and triumphs, and share in the wisdom and insight you've gained along the way.
That god may help me know it
Perhaps through your example and guidance, I can gain a greater understanding of my own path and purpose in life.
When I see it
I'm still searching for the answers that will help me arrive at a place of peace and fulfillment - but I'm willing to keep seeking until I find what I'm looking for.
I could use a job
I'm seeking stability and security in my life, and a steady income would go a long way towards easing my anxieties.
But I ain’t for hire
I'm not willing to compromise my values or passions just for the sake of a paycheck - there are some things that are more important than money.
You ask and you receive
Sometimes, all it takes to get what we want is to ask for it - we often underestimate the power of simply putting our desires out into the universe.
Or you learn to make believe
If we can't have everything we want in life, perhaps we can learn to find contentment and joy in the small, everyday pleasures and little moments of magic that come our way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SAM FRANK, SOPHIA JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bertrand Duvauchelle
most underrated band ever!
David Welker
So amazing this band
grizz
Gosh this was great. Loved it.
askli64
wow