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.
Scenic Routes
Lost Dogs Lyrics
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The lost dogs bark the nicene creed and dream of bones to eat
Praise eglantines, hot joe and beans, the sea, the desert heat
Chorus:
Yeah we'll take the scenic routes
(and stop and smell the roses)
find out what it's all about
(with wide-eyed wonder)
(there's nowhere else I'd rather be)
(chase the endless summer)
Paint the common things with mystery and renovate our history
when we take the scenic routes
the cloud enfolded Trinity unpacks the ancient tapestry
when we take the scenic routes
Auto rides narrangensets on back the westward wind
to pecan logs and shopping malls
and illustrated men
Loves Christ the Lamb, mom, eggs and ham
and this tattoo on his skin says
repeat chorus
Pigs in a blanket
Nice and hot
Wax museums
Mystery Spots
Great balls of string
Neat shrunken heads
the Penguin Boy says
repeat chorus
The lyrics of Lost Dogs' "Scenic Routes" describe the adventures and experiences Auto, a character, has while traveling down different roads and paths. Auto is depicted as being free-spirited and unencumbered, as he "shakes his blinders off" and travels down the common streets. The "lost dogs," who are with Auto on his journey, represent freedom and instinctual behavior. They are seen here barking a "nicene creed" and dreaming of bones to eat. The lyrics further describe the beauty and appreciation for nature, with "praise eglantines, hot joe and beans, the sea, the desert heat." This appreciation for simple things and nature is a recurring theme throughout the song.
The chorus, "Yeah, we'll take the scenic routes," emphasizes the idea of going off the beaten path and enjoying the journey rather than the destination, encouraging one to "find out what it's all about" with "wide-eyed wonder." It also encourages one to "paint the common things with mystery" and "renovate our history" by being present in the moment and appreciating one's surroundings. The lyrics further describe the journey's spiritual quality, as "the cloud enfolds Trinity unpacks the ancient tapestry."
Overall, "Scenic Routes" is a song that celebrates traveling, freedom, and appreciation of nature. It encourages people to explore new places, take the road less traveled, and to stop and appreciate the beauty around us. It is a reminder to appreciate the journey, not just the destination, and to seek out the beauty in the everyday.
Line by Line Meaning
Auto shakes his blinders off,
plows up the common streets
Auto, the singer of the song, breaks free from his conventional and familiar lifestyle and ventures into the unknown by touring different cities and towns, experiencing their culture and traditions.
The lost dogs bark the Nicene Creed
and dream of bones to eat
The lost dogs are Auto's companions, who follow him on his journey. They express their devotion to Christianity by reciting the Nicene Creed while also indulging in their primal urge to find food.
Praise eglantines, hot joe and beans,
the sea, the desert heat
Auto discovers and appreciates the simple joys of life, such as beautiful wildflowers, warm coffee and beans, the vast sea, and the scorching heat of the desert, during his travels.
Yeah we'll take the scenic routes
(and stop and smell the roses)
find out what it's all about
(with eyes wide open)
(with wide-eyed wonder)
(there's nowhere else I'd rather be)
(chase the endless summer)
The chorus describes Auto's determination to explore every aspect of his journey and experience everything it has to offer, with his eyes wide open and in complete awe. He would rather take the longer, scenic routes and make every moment count than rush through the trip. He longs for the adventure and the comfort of summer that never ends.
Paint the common things with mystery
and renovate our history
Auto and his followers find beauty in everyday things, like the common streets, and add intrigue and depth to them. They also learn about history from different perspectives and gain a new appreciation for it.
when we take the scenic routes
the cloud enfolded Trinity
unpacks the ancient tapestry
Auto feels a spiritual connection to the surreal and unfamiliar landscapes he experiences on his journey. He draws inspiration from the divine and uncovers the secrets of ancient history.
Auto rides Narrangansetts
on back the westward wind
to pecan logs and shopping malls
and illustrated men
Auto travels on his motorcycle, Narrangansett, through the wind and across the countryside to discover different cultures, including shopping malls and men with tattoos.
Loves Christ the Lamb, mom, eggs and ham
and this tattoo on his skin says
Auto expresses his love for his family, his faith in Christ, and his appreciation for good food. He also has a tattoo that symbolizes his identity.
Pigs in a blanket
Nice and hot
Wax museums
Mystery Spots
Great balls of string
Neat shrunken heads
the Penguin Boy says
Auto and his companions encounter some bizarre and wacky objects and places on their journey, including hotdogs wrapped in dough, wax museums, mysterious spots, balls of yarn, and tiny shrunken heads. They meet a boy who enjoys all these peculiar things.
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.