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.

The New Physics
Lost Dogs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You say there's suffering here and suffering over there
There's suffering everywhere
Of suffering you're aware
"It's suffering," you declare
There's suffering everywhere

There's hungering and despair
There's hungering

It's unfair
There's hungering everywhere
There's hungering in solitaire
There's hungering in pairs
There's hungering everywhere
But it's not here

There's suffering billionaires
There's suffering on welfare
There's suffering everywhere
There's suffering undeclared
There's suffering unawares
There's suffering everywhere
But it's not here
No, it's not here
And if it's not here, then is it anywhere?

Is it here?

Overall Meaning

The Lost Dogs's song The New Physics deals with the complex and pervasive issue of human suffering. The lyrics start with the singer acknowledging the existence of suffering in the world, pointing out that it can be found "here and suffering over there, everywhere." The second verse pivots to focus on the specific type of suffering that exists in the form of hunger and despair. The singer highlights that it is unfair, and it exists everywhere, even in solitaire and pairs.

The chorus of the song, "But it's not here" is repeated throughout, and it emphasizes the sense of detachment and disconnection that many people feel towards the suffering of others. The song then asks the existential question, "If it's not here, then is it anywhere?" which highlights how easy it is to ignore and dismiss the problems that are not in our immediate environment. The final line of the song, "Is it here?" challenges the listener to reflect on their own responsibility towards the suffering of others and asks them to consider where they stand on this issue.

Line by Line Meaning

You say there's suffering here and suffering over there
According to your perception, there is pain and distress both nearby and far away

There's suffering everywhere
Pain and agony are pervasive and exist globally

Of suffering you're aware
You acknowledge and recognize the reality of suffering

"It's suffering," you declare
You state unequivocally that it is a situation of pain and anguish

There's hungering and despair
There is severe and prolonged hunger and hopelessness

There's hungering
There is an extreme craving for food and nourishment

It's unfair
It is unjust or improper

There's hungering everywhere
Persistent hunger and malnourishment are rampant and observed globally

There's hungering in solitaire
Individuals are experiencing hunger and thirst in a state of being alone

There's hungering in pairs
Hunger and starvation are affecting individuals in groups of two

But it's not here
You look around and see no signs of hunger or pain in your immediate surroundings

There's suffering billionaires
Even rich and privileged individuals can experience emotional and psychological struggles

There's suffering on welfare
Individuals who receive government aid may still endure agony and hardship

There's suffering undeclared
There is pain that remains unrecognized or unreported and therefore not addressed

There's suffering unawares
People can suffer without realizing it, whether it's emotional or physical in nature

No, it's not here
Again, you confirm that there are no indications of pain or suffering in your immediate environment

And if it's not here, then is it anywhere?
If you see no evidence of suffering around you, does that mean it doesn't exist anywhere else? A rhetorical question that prompts us to think about the unseen pain that exists worldwide.

Is it here?
A repeated question to emphasizes the search for any indication of suffering or hunger in the surrounding environment.

Contributed by Jonathan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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