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.
The Fortunate Sons
Lost Dogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cry when I need you
and march when I'm told where to go
Lessons I know
Is it the way of a soldier to offer his soul?
Bang the drum slowly for the fortunate son
I am one, said and done a fortunate son
Mud, ankles and bones
covered I pray when I need to
and sleep when I don't want to know
Letters from home
clutched in the hands of my comrades
My brothers, my own
Bang the drum slowly for the fortunate sons
It's said and done, I am the one, the fortunate son
(answers)
I feel the heat from my side
crucified, deep and wide
I could be saving a life
Couldn't I?
The Fortunate Sons by Lost Dogs is a haunting portrayal of war and its toll on soldiers. The lyrics describe the blood, thunder, and fear that flow within war zones, and how soldiers march when they are told where to go with fewer options to choose from. It highlights the way of a soldier who is willing to offer his soul to serve his/her country despite the emotional price. The singer cries when he/she needs emotional support, but when it comes to fulfilling duties, they march to their orders. The song emphasizes the idea of lessons learned in the battlefield, where one learns to survive at all costs.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of being a fortunate son, and the luck that accompanies the soldiers who survive. The line "Bang the drum slowly for the fortunate son" is a reference to the funeral march where soldiers that made it back from the war are honored but mourned for the loss of their comrades. The line "I am one, said and done a fortunate son" shows that despite the suffering and trauma that they may have experienced, they have survived and believe that they are lucky.
The song also touches on the emotional connection between soldiers and their families. It describes the longing for home and how letters from home are cherished by the soldiers. The line "clutched in the hands of my comrades, my brothers, my own" emphasizes the bond that soldiers share with each other, whereby each comrade transitions from a friend to a family member.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood, thunder and fear flowing
Emotionally charged and fearful feelings fill me.
I cry when I need you
In times of emotional need, I express my vulnerability through tears.
and march when I'm told where to go
As a soldier, I follow orders and move to where I am instructed to go.
Lessons I know
I have learned valuable lessons from my experiences.
Is it the way of a soldier to offer his soul?
As a soldier, I question if it is expected for me to sacrifice everything, including my soul.
Bang the drum slowly for the fortunate son
Paying tribute to those who are considered fortunate sons.
I am one, said and done a fortunate son
Acknowledging that I am one of the considered fortunate sons.
Mud, ankles and bones
My physical body is covered in mud and my bones and ankles ache.
covered I pray when I need to
In times of need, I turn to prayer for comfort.
and sleep when I don't want to know
When faced with difficult situations, I find solace in sleep and escape from reality.
Letters from home
The connection to my loved ones back home through the letters I receive.
clutched in the hands of my comrades
My fellow soldiers also hold onto their letters from home, connecting us in our shared experience.
My brothers, my own
I see my fellow soldiers as brothers, united in the camaraderie of military life.
I feel the heat from my side
I am physically and emotionally wounded, feeling the heat of the injury on my side.
crucified, deep and wide
The pain and suffering I endure feels like being crucified in body and spirit.
I could be saving a life
Despite my own pain, I feel the weight of the responsibility to save lives.
Couldn't I?
Questioning if there is more I could do to help.
Contributed by Carter C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.