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.
Smokescreen
Lost Dogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left in a smolder like some cigarette
I smoked every pack of lies made yet
I never read that little warning that said:
"I'd be an eternal soul with an eternal crave.
" Cashed every premium for this flip top grave
When I locked my heart and threw away the key
Now I'm left with nothin'
The lyrics to "Smokescreen" by Lost Dogs deal with the theme of addiction and the consequences of indulging in things we know aren't good for us. The first stanza talks about paying for something and being left with nothing, just like smoking a cigarette. The line "I smoked every pack of lies made yet" refers to the destructive habit of continuing to indulge in something despite knowing the harm it causes.
The second stanza talks about the consequences of addiction, where the singer has become a soul trapped in a body that craves something that is slowly killing him. The line "Cashed every premium for this flip top grave" refers to the idea of paying a high price for something that is leading to one's demise. The last two lines "When I locked my heart and threw away the key, now I'm left with nothin', nothin' but me" are a reflection on the isolation that comes with addiction and how it leads to a loss of self.
Overall, "Smokescreen" is a powerful song that highlights the dangers of addiction and the need to break free from destructive habits.
Line by Line Meaning
Paid all my money and what did I get?
I spent all my money and have nothing to show for it.
Left in a smolder like some cigarette
I am left burnt out and unfulfilled.
I smoked every pack of lies made yet
I believed every deceitful thing that was told to me.
I never read that little warning that said:
"I'd be an eternal soul with an eternal crave.
I didn't heed the warning that said I would always crave whatever it was I was chasing after.
Cashed every premium for this flip top grave
I paid a high price for something that ultimately led to my downfall.
When I locked my heart
and threw away the key
I closed myself off from others and refused to let anyone in.
Now I'm left with nothin'
Nothin' but me
Now I have nothing but myself and my own emptiness and regret.
Contributed by Sophie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.