After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Hound Dog
Gene Vincent Lyrics
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You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine
They said you were high class, honey that was just a lie
Called you all high class, that was just a lie
You ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine
Called you all high class, that was just a lie
You ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine
You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time
You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine
The song "Hound Dog" by Gene Vincent is a classic rock and roll tune that has been covered by countless artists over the years. The song is a scathing indictment of someone who is weak-willed and isn't able to stand up for themselves. The lyrics, "You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time" are meant to convey the idea that the person in question is spineless and constantly complaining about their situation. The line, "Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine" reinforces the idea that the individual is incapable of achieving anything of significance and is therefore unworthy of respect.
The second half of the song takes aim at the idea of class and the way that people use it to elevate themselves above others. The lines, "They said you were high class, honey that was just a lie / Called you all high class, that was just a lie" suggest that the person being addressed is pretending to be someone they're not in an attempt to impress others. However, the fact that they have never caught a rabbit (which was once considered a sign of true grit and resourcefulness) reveals them to be a fraud.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time
You are a weak and pathetic person, crying incessantly
You ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine
You have never accomplished anything significant, and I have no interest in being your friend
They said you were high class, honey that was just a lie
You were rumored to possess a high social status, but that was proven to be false and misleading
Writer(s): Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Contributed by Brody T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlos Manuel Reus
Great live version of "Hound Dog" by Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps.
Denis vanouk
super bien envoyé !!! tu es avec nous Gene .
Monika Środoń
Gene Vincent hound dog .