Cover Bird Dog
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Johnny is a joker (he's a bird)
A very funny joker (he's a bird)
But when he jokes my honey (he's a dog)
His jokin' ain't so funny (what a dog)
Johnny is a joker that's a'tryin' to steal my baby (he's a bird dog)

Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own

Johnny sings a love song (like a bird)
He sings the sweetest love song (ya ever heard)
But when he sings to my gal (what a howl)
To me he's just a wolf dog (on the prowl)
Johnny wants to fly away and puppy-love my baby (he's a bird dog)

Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own

Johnny kissed the teacher (he's a bird)
He tiptoed up to reach her (he's a bird)
Well he's the teacher's pet now (he's a dog)
What he wants he can get now (what a dog)
He even made the teacher let him sit next to my baby (he's a bird dog)

Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick




Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own

Overall Meaning

In “Bird Dog,” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are singing about a guy named Johnny who has two sides to him. On one hand, he’s a funny, carefree guy who jokes around and sings sweet love songs like a bird. On the other hand, he's also a bit of a dog. When he jokes around with Jett’s girl, it's not so funny anymore. And when he tries to steal Jett's baby, he becomes a bird dog. He's no longer just a joker, he's a predator.


The chorus tells Johnny to "stay away from [their] quail" and to "get away from [their] chick" because he's barking up the wrong tree. He needs to find his own girl to chase after instead of Jett's.


Line by Line Meaning

Johnny is a joker He's a bird
Johnny is someone who jokes around a lot, he's like a bird that chirps playfully


But when he jokes my hone He's a dog
However, when he crosses the line with my significant other, he becomes a bad dog


Johnny is a joker that's a cryin'
Johnny is still making jokes but they are no longer funny, he is desperate because he wants to take away my partner


To steal my baby He's a bird dog
Johnny is actively trying to win my significant other, he's like a bird dog that hunts its prey


Johnny sings a love song Like a bird
Johnny has a beautiful singing voice when he sings a love song, he sounds like a melodic bird


Sings the sweetest love song You ever heard
His love songs are enchanting and have a lasting impression on my partner, it's a warning sign that he's dangerous


But when he sings to my gal What a howl
When Johnny tries to charm my lover with his music, it sounds terrible to me like a wolf's howl


To me he's just a wolf dog On the prowl
He's just like a wolf dog on the hunt to take my partner away from me


Johnny wants to fly away and Bug a lug my baby He's a bird dog
Johnny wants to take my partner away and travel the world with them like a bird dog on an adventure


Hey bird dog stay away from my quail
I warn Johnny to stay away from my partner, who is my precious quail


Hey bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Johnny is chasing after the wrong person and he should change his direction


Bird dog you better leave my lovey dove alone
Johnny should forget about my partner because they are in love with me, their special lovey-dove


Hey bird dog get away from my chick
I warn Johnny again to stay away from my partner, who is my chick


Hey bird dog better get away quick
Johnny should leave immediately because he's not welcome near my partner


Bird dog you better find A chicky little of your own
Johnny should find someone else to love, he needs to stop pursuing my significant other


Johnny kissed the teacher He's a bird
Johnny is kissing his teacher, an older authority, he's like a bird who sneaks around unnoticed


He tiptoed up to reach her He's a bird
Johnny is trying to be sneaky and quietly approach his teacher, he reminds me of a secretive bird


Though he's the teacher's pet now He's a dog
Even though he may have an advantageous relationship with his teacher now, he becomes a bad dog when he crosses the line


What he wants he can get now What a dog
He can get whatever he wants due to his favorable association with his teacher, it's clear he's a bad dog


He even made the teacher let him sit Next to my baby He's a bird dog
Not only does he take advantage of his teacher, but he also uses the opportunity to sit next to my partner, like a bird dog taking its place next to its prey


He's a bird dog he's a bird dog
Repeated chorus to emphasize that Johnny is a persistent bird dog, chasing after my partner




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Raul Martinez

Joan Jett---QUEEN OF ROCK!! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!

psychedelicsam1

queen of covers. rock on joan

ChevyCaprice90

I wish there was a music video for this song))

LesSmith45

Joan Jett covering the Everely Brothers Just amazing to be able to pull this one off. Great Job Joan.

trfesok

I put both versions in my Jett playlist.

alonenjersey

If there's anyone else out here who can breathe new life into Rock-N-Roll classics better than her, someone tell me who.

Hans-Jorn Jakobsen

No matter what It's Rock and Roll - Great Joan Jett

silver588

Madonna listened this 347 times...learning how to sing.

dagypz RENEGADE

nvr heard her version.

markko17

One thumb down. How did Justin Bieber get in here?!!?

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