"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.
That Old Black Hole
Dr. Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I put the dogs on patrol in my own back yard
I don't wanna fight but I'm constantly ready
And I don't rock the boat, but it's always unsteady
There's an elephant in my head
And I tip toe around it
There are eggshells on the floor
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I got my eyes on the prize
But it looks just like a mystery
And it all goes by on the lonesome trail to victory
I'm drawing in the blinds, I got my own four walls
And the show really starts once the curtain falls
Take this thorn from my side
Fix this chip on my shoulder
Time is racing with the clock
And I ain't getting any older
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I put on my finest thread
And I wrap up my body tight
With the sun in my eyes
I step into the night
Like the mystery in the dark
Oh, it's just another kind of light
I don't expect you to believe me
But everything is alright
I don't make rules for a living
I don't do tricks for a dime
I was born on a good day,
Deaf, dumb and blind.
Who am I to tell the truth?
I don't even know what it is.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I tie my boots up tight
And I head straight for bed
There's a pistol and a crystal
Underneath my pillow
There's a tender heart
Inside that ugly armadillo
"These are tears of joy,"
Cried the weeping willow
There's a spirit in the air
And there ain't no way around it
I was not prepared to lose it
On the moment that I found it
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
The lyrics of "That Old Black Hole" by Dr. Dog express a sense of restlessness and unease, with a feeling that no matter how hard the singer tries, they are unable to escape the darkness of the titular black hole. The opening lines describe a sense of constant vigilance and readiness, with the singer putting on clothes "like a bodyguard" and keeping their dogs on patrol. They maintain a delicate balance, avoiding conflict but aware of the instability of their situation.
The metaphor of the elephant in their head conveys a feeling of something heavy and difficult to ignore, and the image of eggshells on the floor suggests a sense of walking on tiptoe to avoid triggering an explosion. Despite their efforts, however, the singer feels stuck, perpetually striving towards a goal that remains out of reach. This sense of frustration is reinforced by the repeated refrain of "It's like that old black hole, no matter how you try, you set out each day never to arrive."
The final stanza suggests a willingness to keep moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty and ambiguity. The singer ties their boots tightly and heads to bed, but there is an implied danger in the mention of the pistol and crystal beneath their pillow. The imagery of the weeping willow crying tears of joy creates a sense of paradox and unease, suggesting that even seemingly innocuous things can be fraught with complicated emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I put on my clothes like a body guard
I dress with a sense of caution, as if I'm preparing to protect myself
I put the dogs on patrol in my own back yard
I am always alert, and even in my own home, I am vigilant and watchful
I don't wanna fight but I'm constantly ready
I don't seek conflict, but I am always prepared for it just in case
And I don't rock the boat, but it's always unsteady
I try to keep things stable and peaceful, but the world and the situations around me are often unpredictable
There's an elephant in my head
There is a large, intrusive thought or problem that I can't seem to get rid of or ignore
And I tip toe around it
I am very careful not to touch on the elephant in my head directly or upset it in some way
There are eggshells on the floor
The atmosphere around me is tense and fragile, like walking on eggshells
Therefore I never touch the ground
I am always acutely aware of my surroundings and walk cautiously, never taking anything for granted
It's like that old black hole, No matter how you try, You set out each day Never to arrive
The challenges I face always feel insurmountable, and I never seem to make any real progress or headway
I got my eyes on the prize But it looks just like a mystery
My goal is clear, but the path to reaching it is uncertain, and there are always unexpected obstacles or complications
And it all goes by on the lonesome trail to victory I'm drawing in the blinds, I got my own four walls
The journey to success can often be lonely and isolating, and it's essential to have a strong sense of self and boundaries
And the show really starts once the curtain falls
The true reward or culmination of my efforts comes only after all the hard work and effort
Take this thorn from my side Fix this chip on my shoulder
There are things that are holding me back and causing me pain or frustration, and I want them to be removed or fixed
Time is racing with the clock And I ain't getting any older
I am keenly aware of the fleeting nature of time, and I feel a sense of urgency to achieve my goals
Like the mystery in the dark Oh, it's just another kind of light
Even though things may seem uncertain or unclear, there is always some form of illumination or understanding to be gained
I don't expect you to believe me But everything is alright
I don't need validation or approval from others to know that I am okay and making progress
I don't make rules for a living I don't do tricks for a dime
I don't waste my time or energy trying to appease others or follow societal norms or expectations
I was born on a good day, Deaf, dumb and blind. Who am I to tell the truth? I don't even know what it is.
I am not sure what the truth is, or even if there is a universal truth at all, and I don't feel qualified to make that judgement
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I may not be able to articulate my thoughts or feelings effectively, but I am confident in my abilities to demonstrate or embody them
I tie my boots up tight And I head straight for bed There's a pistol and a crystal Underneath my pillow
I am cautious and well-prepared wherever I go, even in the safety of my own home, and I am always keeping my guard up
There's a tender heart Inside that ugly armadillo These are tears of joy, Cried the weeping willow
There is more to me than meets the eye, and there are hidden emotions or vulnerabilities beneath my tough exterior
There's a spirit in the air And there ain't no way around it I was not prepared to lose it On the moment that I found it
There is something intangible and complex in the atmosphere or energy around me, and it's not always predictable or controllable
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Scott A McMicken, Toby Mark Leaman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anish Cherian
That Old Black Hole
Dr. Dog
I put on my clothes like a body guard
I put the dogs on patrol in my own back yard
I don't wanna fight but I'm constantly ready
And I don't rock the boat, but it's always unsteady
There's an elephant in my head
And I tip toe around it
There are eggshells on the floor
Therefore I never touch the ground
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I got my eyes on the prize
But it looks just like a mystery
And it all goes by on the lonesome trail to victory
I'm drawing in the blinds, I got my own four walls
And the show really starts once the curtain falls
Take this thorn from my side
Fix this chip on my shoulder
Time is racing with the clock
And I ain't getting any older
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I put on my finest thread
And I wrap up my body tight
With the sun in my eyes
I step into the night
Like the mystery in the dark
Oh, it's just another kind of light
I don't expect you to believe me
But everything is alright
I don't make rules for a living
I don't do tricks for a dime
I was born on a good day,
Deaf, dumb and blind.
Who am I to tell the truth?
I don't even know what it is.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I tie my boots up tight
And I head straight for bed
There's a pistol and a crystal
Underneath my pillow
There's a tender heart
Inside that ugly armadillo
"These are tears of joy, "
Cried the weeping willow
There's a spirit in the air
And there ain't no way around it
I was not prepared to lose it
On the moment that I found it
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
Daniel Stewart
"That Old Black Hole"
I put on my clothes like a body guard
I put the dogs on patrol in my own back yard
I don't want to fight, but I'm constantly ready
And I don't rock the boat, but its always unsteady
There's an elephant in my head
And I tiptoe around it
There are egg shells on the floor
Therefore I never touch the ground
It's like that old black hole
No matter how you try
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I got my eye on the prize, but it looks just like the mystery
And it all goes by on the lonesome trail to victory
I'm drawing the blinds; I've got my own four walls
Man the show really starts once the curtain falls
Take this thorn from my side
Fix this chip on my shoulder
Time is racing with the clock
And I ain't getting any older
It's like that old black hole
No matter how you try
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I put on my finest thread
And I wrap up my body tight
With the sun in my eyes
I step into the night
Like a mystery in the dark
Oh its just another kind of light
I don't expect you do believe me, but everything is alright
I don't make rules for a living
I don't do tricks for a dime
I was born on a good day - deaf, dumb, and blind
Who am I to tell the truth
Oh, I don't even know what it is
Well I don't know how to say it
But I know that I can show you
I said I don't know how to say it
But I know that I can show you
I tied my boots up tight and I head straight to bed
There's a pistol and a crystal underneath my pillow
There's a tender heart inside that ugly armadillo
These are tears of joy cried the weeping willow
There's a spirit in the air, there ain't to way around it
I was not prepared to lose it all the moment that I found it
It's like that old black hole
No matter how you try
You set out each day
Never to arrive
David Schopp
Hands down one of my favorite tracks of all time. The whole song is great but I could listen from 1:40 to the end over and over and over and over again.....and I have
Tim Dickson
Been jamming for almost 10 years still going strong
Scott Goulet
I love this song. I hope these guys put out music for a long time.
LazyMajora
I was not prepared to lose it all the moment that I found it. Best lyric in any song for my by far.
ThrasherGnar
Most meaningful lyric for me as well.
S P
How you feel as your heavy mushroom trip begins to dissolve and your brain goes from racing with incredible ideas to tired and grasping for even baseline coherence.
Audrey OMGosh
I really love this song, I could put it on repeat and not get bored of it!
Nate H.
One of the best songs on the face of this earth.
David Schopp
I am pretty sure I have listened to this track about 50 times n a row on multiple occasions. I completely agree it's one of the best tracks ever
Anish Cherian
That Old Black Hole
Dr. Dog
I put on my clothes like a body guard
I put the dogs on patrol in my own back yard
I don't wanna fight but I'm constantly ready
And I don't rock the boat, but it's always unsteady
There's an elephant in my head
And I tip toe around it
There are eggshells on the floor
Therefore I never touch the ground
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I got my eyes on the prize
But it looks just like a mystery
And it all goes by on the lonesome trail to victory
I'm drawing in the blinds, I got my own four walls
And the show really starts once the curtain falls
Take this thorn from my side
Fix this chip on my shoulder
Time is racing with the clock
And I ain't getting any older
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive
I put on my finest thread
And I wrap up my body tight
With the sun in my eyes
I step into the night
Like the mystery in the dark
Oh, it's just another kind of light
I don't expect you to believe me
But everything is alright
I don't make rules for a living
I don't do tricks for a dime
I was born on a good day,
Deaf, dumb and blind.
Who am I to tell the truth?
I don't even know what it is.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I don't know how to say it but I know that I can show you.
I tie my boots up tight
And I head straight for bed
There's a pistol and a crystal
Underneath my pillow
There's a tender heart
Inside that ugly armadillo
"These are tears of joy, "
Cried the weeping willow
There's a spirit in the air
And there ain't no way around it
I was not prepared to lose it
On the moment that I found it
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try.
It's like that old black hole,
No matter how you try,
You set out each day
Never to arrive