The Lost Dogs have been called a country music supergroup, but they conside… Read Full Bio ↴The Lost Dogs have been called a country music supergroup, but they consider themselves to be a roots and alternative music group. They began in 1991 as a one-time collaboration between four very different vocalists and songwriters from four different bands at the behest of their label at that time. Terry Scott Taylor (Daniel Amos, the Swirling Eddies), Gene Eugene (Adam Again), Derri Daugherty (The Choir), and Michael Roe (The 77s) have over the last two decades released nine eclectic albums of traditional American music (country, folk, blues, rock) with a decidedly modern feel. The Lost Dogs' concert performances are filled with between-song jokes and one-liners between the band members (usually poking fun at each other).

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.

Ditto
Lost Dogs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You don't like my politics
You're not impressed with my magic tricks
You call cruel my rapier wit (and) think my poetry is drivel

Well, I don't care for your style of clothes
Your choice of food turns up my nose
And when it comes to love and hate then I suppose
We're both somewhere in the middle

(but when you say)

(CHORUS)
I want you, I say Ditto
You say, I need you, I say Ditto
No I'm not kiddin' you kiddo
Right here we got devotion
Let me second your motion... Ditto

You don't like my old pick-up truck
Or the things I'll do to make a buck
The fact I seem always down on my luck frightens you a little
Well, I don't always get your attitude
Your condescension can be flat and rude
Where this is leading is like your mood, something like a riddle
(when you say)

(REPEAT CHORUS)

We got in common that we don't have much in common
Ah, but these distractions are just a fraction
Of what you and me apparently been wantin'

You always mock my guitar licks
My metaphors, my puns and quips
You don't dig my friends, you call them hicks
It's your penchant to belittle
You act like it's a favor when you hang around
And you never show affection to my old hound
You don't eat your hot cakes till they've cooled down

I like 'em hot off the griddle
(now you say)

Overall Meaning

In the song "Ditto" by Lost Dogs, the lyrics explore a relationship where two people have conflicting interests and personalities, yet feel a strong connection to each other. The first verse describes how the two individuals do not see eye to eye on certain things, such as politics and interests, but ultimately, they both acknowledge that they are somewhere in the middle. The chorus repeats the phrase "I want you, I say Ditto," which shows that despite their differences, they have a mutual desire for each other. The second verse goes on to describe how they both have aspects about themselves that the other is not fond of, but again, they find a common ground in their shared attraction.

The song shows that even in relationships where there are differences, there can still be a strong bond built on common ground and mutual attraction. Although the two characters are critical of each other, they also have an understanding that they accept each other's flaws and quirks. The repetition of "Ditto" in the chorus emphasizes the idea that they feel similarly about each other, despite their differences.

Overall, "Ditto" is a song that explores the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which two people's differences can be reconciled through a shared attraction.

Line by Line Meaning

You don't like my politics
You disagree with my political beliefs and values

You're not impressed with my magic tricks
You are not amazed with my ability to perform magic tricks

You call cruel my rapier wit (and) think my poetry is drivel
You believe that my sharp humor is malicious and my poetry lacks substance

Well, I don't care for your style of clothes
I do not appreciate your choice of clothing

Your choice of food turns up my nose
I am not fond of the food that you prefer

And when it comes to love and hate then I suppose
Regarding feelings of love and hate, I assume that we have similar opinions

We're both somewhere in the middle
We share a neutral standpoint

I want you, I say Ditto
I desire you and express my agreement when you say the same

You say, I need you, I say Ditto
When you admit that you require me, I repeat that I reciprocate the sentiment

No I'm not kiddin' you kiddo
I am serious and not joking with you

Right here we got devotion
We are displaying our love and dedication for each other

Let me second your motion... Ditto
I support and echo your proposition

You don't like my old pick-up truck
You do not appreciate my old vehicle

Or the things I'll do to make a buck
You do not approve of the methods I employ to earn money

The fact I seem always down on my luck frightens you a little
My constant bad luck troubles and concerns you a tad

Well, I don't always get your attitude
I do not always understand your perspective and behavior

Your condescension can be flat and rude
Your patronizing behavior can be blunt and impolite

Where this is leading is like your mood, something like a riddle
It is uncertain where our relationship is headed, just like your unpredictable mood swings

We got in common that we don't have much in common
We share the similarity that we do not share many similarities

Ah, but these distractions are just a fraction
However, these differences are only a small part of the picture

Of what you and me apparently been wantin'
Of what it seems that both of us have been seeking in a relationship

You always mock my guitar licks
You regularly ridicule my guitar playing skills

My metaphors, my puns and quips
You criticize my use of metaphors, puns, and witticisms

You don't dig my friends, you call them hicks
You do not like my group of friends and refer to them as unsophisticated

It's your penchant to belittle
It is your tendency to diminish others' achievements or worth

You act like it's a favor when you hang around
You behave as if being with me is a benevolent act on your part

And you never show affection to my old hound
You do not display any fondness toward my loyal dog

You don't eat your hot cakes till they've cooled down
You wait for your food to cool down before eating it

I like 'em hot off the griddle
I prefer my food hot and fresh

Contributed by Kennedy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.