Signed to Heavenly Recordings, he debuted in 2000 with the 6-track EP Maplewood. His full length effort, Here Be Monsters followed in 2001.
He has since released From Every Sphere (2003), Strangers (2004), The Beautiful Lie (2006, his last for Heavenly), Lustre (2010), Back Into The Woods (2013), Time Of Dust (2014), and Furnaces (2016).
His first instrument is the piano, but he also uses several less common keyboard instruments as well as the guitar. Live, he is accompanied by a band typically comprising a drummer, guitarist, violinist and trumpeter. His work is sometimes reminiscent of Tom Waits but still entirely his own, varied and passionate style.
Visit From The Dead Dog
Ed Harcourt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He slept at the end of my bed last night
He could tell I was fading
And somehow fighting against the light
Everyday when I open my eyes
I see unwanted funerals
Maybe I'll be buried alive
But I've never seen you so beautiful
Oh, I'm staying in today
And watch the others play
Oh, wash my sins away
Like all good children I mean what I say
I guess God has the last laugh
From up on high he lets us kill
And his people die for their faith
And we call it triumph of the will
All the theories in my own head
Fragment and bump into themselves
I'll run instead of taking a walk
Instead of sixes I see twelves
Oh, I'm staying in today
And watch the others play
Oh, wash my sins away
Like all good children I mean what I say
Run where you've never been before
Lest the dead dog chase you home
Run where you've never been before
Lest the dead dog chase you home
The lyrics to Ed Harcourt’s song ‘Visit From The Dead Dog’ are filled with poetic imagery and introspection. The song seems to be about the singer’s struggles with mortality and the afterlife, as well as the hypocrisy and violence of humanity. The opening line, “Got a visit from the dead dog,” is a reference to the idea that dogs are often thought of as protectors and guides in the afterlife. The dog sleeping at the end of the singer’s bed is a symbol of this, as well as a reminder that death is always nearby.
The singer also references unwanted funerals, which could be interpreted as the constant loss and grief experienced throughout life. The line “Maybe I’ll be buried alive” speaks to the fear of not living fully, of not experiencing everything the world has to offer before it’s too late. However, despite these heavy themes, the singer also experiences moments of beauty and awe, as evidenced by the line “But I’ve never seen you so beautiful.”
Harcourt also explores the ideas of religion, faith, and war. The line “And we call it triumph of the will” could be seen as a critique of the glorification of war and nationalism. He also questions the idea of a just and loving God when he sings “From up on high he lets us kill / And his people die for their faith.”
Overall, ‘Visit From The Dead Dog’ is a haunting and introspective song that explores themes of mortality, spirituality, and humanity’s darker impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a visit from the dead dog
I had a dream where my deceased dog visited me
He slept at the end of my bed last night
In my dream, he slept at the end of my bed
He could tell I was fading
My dog knew I was struggling
And somehow fighting against the light
I was resisting something, even though it might have been better for me
Everyday when I open my eyes
When I wake up each day
I see unwanted funerals
I'm reminded of death and loss
Maybe I'll be buried alive
I worry about being trapped or overwhelmed
But I've never seen you so beautiful
Despite darker feelings, I find beauty in the world
Oh, I'm staying in today
I'm not interacting with others today
And watch the others play
I'm watching others from a distance
Oh, wash my sins away
I seek relief and absolution
Like all good children I mean what I say
I'm sincere and earnest in my intentions
I guess God has the last laugh
I feel like there's something ironic and unfair happening in the world
From up on high he lets us kill
I question the morality of war and violence
And his people die for their faith
I struggle to understand why people suffer and die for their beliefs
And we call it triumph of the will
I question the glorification of willpower and determination
All the theories in my own head
My thoughts and beliefs are complicated
Fragment and bump into themselves
My ideas clash and contradict each other
I'll run instead of taking a walk
I'll take a different approach than usual
Instead of sixes I see twelves
My outlook or perspective is shifting
Run where you've never been before
Encouraging others to take risks and try new things
Lest the dead dog chase you home
A warning against regret or guilt following you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ED HARCOURT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind