Many of the Lost Dogs albums include at least one or two cover songs. Songs covered by the Lost Dogs include Bob Dylan's "Lord, Protect My Child," Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will," The Beatles' "I'm A Loser," and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More." They have also recorded a number of Traditional or Gospel standards such as "Dust On The Bible," and "Farther Along."
In March, 2000, shortly after the release of their Gift Horse album, Gene Eugene died in his sleep at The Green Room, his recording studio in Huntington Beach, California.
2003 saw the release of the band's first DVD, Via Chicago, a black and white concert film released by Lo-Fidelity Records. A follow-up DVD, Via Chicago (All We Left Unsaid), containing additional songs from the concert, was released in 2006.
Although the loss of Eugene is noticeable, the remaining three Lost Dogs members continue to tour and record new albums. In 2004, the band got together with longtime friend Steve Hindalong to produce a special album for their summer tour. The result was entitled Mutt, and included new acoustic versions of nine songs originally written and recorded for each band member's regular rock bands, with one new song. The following year, the band would release one of their most unusual recordings to date, the almost entirely instrumental Island Dreams.
The band's most recent project, Old Angel, was released May 2010. The band — including the newest official "dog," drummer Steve Hindalong — once again hit the road for a national tour in support of their new album.
Diamonds To Coal
Lost Dogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go ahead and do it Lord
Change my Diamonds to Coal
Go ahead and do it Lord
Bring me lower than low
You said a man might gain the world
And lose his own soul
So go ahead and do it Lord
I was thinking I had everything
Thinkin' I was mighty
But lately I've been feelin' all the
Ash and dust inside me
And I can't ignore the Savior King
I can't avoid the cross
I'll need the help His spirit brings
To count my gain as loss (so)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
Thought my money was my worth
So my wealth was my devotion
My love for treasures on this earth
Is a chain that must be broken
And I can't ignore the Savior King
I can't just walk away
I desire to be redeemed
That's why I'm here to pray
(REPEAT CHORUS)
In "Diamonds to Coal," Lost Dogs sing about the transformation of a person’s soul from pride and materialism to humility and devotion to God. The chorus expresses a willingness to have the Lord bring the singer low, to “change my Diamonds to Coal.” The verse preceding the chorus shows a sense of repentance for the life the singer used to lead. They had felt mighty because they had everything, but now they see themselves as mere “Ash and dust.” The singer is humbled by the cross and seeks the help of God’s spirit to guide them through a change of mindset from one of greed to one of selflessness.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that their love for material treasures on earth blinded them from seeing the importance of the Savior King. The realization has led to the singer's desire for redemption and to break the “chain” of wealth and treasures on this earth. The chorus is repeated, driving home the idea that the singer is willing to let go of all the worldly possessions and be brought as low as coal, to serve the Lord and lead a life that is humble and true to the faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Go ahead and do it Lord
Give me strength to let go of my false sense of security and open myself up to change.
Change my Diamonds to Coal
Take away my superficial and materialistic values and replace them with humility and authenticity.
Bring me lower than low
Help me recognize the depth of my own flaws and shortcomings so that I can rebuild myself into a better person.
You said a man might gain the world
You reminded me that worldly success and wealth are fleeting and insignificant in comparison to spiritual fulfillment.
And lose his own soul
By obsessing over material possessions, a person can become detached from their own values and principles, leading to a loss of self-identity and purpose.
So go ahead and do it Lord
I trust that the challenges and hardships you place in my life are meant to help me grow and develop as a person.
I was thinking I had everything
I was blinded by my own arrogance and overconfidence in my own abilities and achievements.
Thinkin' I was mighty
I believed that my wealth and success were proof of my own superiority and worthiness.
But lately I've been feelin' all the
Recent events have caused me to question the validity of my own values and priorities.
Ash and dust inside me
I have come to realize that my materialistic pursuits have left me feeling empty and unfulfilled.
And I can't ignore the Savior King
I recognize the importance of spiritual guidance and the need to follow a higher power to find true meaning and purpose in life.
I can't avoid the cross
I accept that life is full of challenges and hardships that must be faced in order to grow and develop as a person.
I'll need the help His spirit brings
I recognize the importance of relying on spiritual guidance and support to overcome challenges and stay true to my values.
To count my gain as loss (so)
I understand that true success is measured by the impact I have on the world and the positive change I can bring, not by my material possessions or wealth.
Thought my money was my worth
I equated my wealth and material possessions with my own self-worth and value as a person.
So my wealth was my devotion
I became so obsessed with accumulating wealth and material possessions that it became the sole focus of my life.
My love for treasures on this earth
I became so consumed by my materialistic pursuits that I lost sight of the more important things in life, like relationships, personal growth, and spiritual fulfillment.
Is a chain that must be broken
I recognize that my materialistic pursuits are holding me back from reaching my true potential and I must break free from this cycle of obsession and attachment.
I desire to be redeemed
I am ready and willing to make the changes necessary to find spiritual fulfillment and live a more meaningful life.
That's why I'm here to pray
I turn to prayer as a way to connect with a higher power and seek guidance and support in my journey towards spiritual fulfillment.
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.