In 1968, Filmation produced "The Archie Show", a Saturday morning cartoon based upon the Archie comics. Jeff Barry and Don Kirshner, two of the producers credited with the success of The Monkees, signed on to produce recordings to be "performed" by the Archies for the show. Aside from being featured in "song of the week" sequences on the TV show itself, there were also five Archies LPs released between 1968 and 1971, and several singles, including four Top 40 hits. The most successful of the Archies' hits was "Sugar, Sugar", a number-one Billboard Hot 100 hit which became the top-selling song of 1969. "Sugar, Sugar" remains the only number-one American pop hit by a fictitious group. The other three Archies hits were "Bang-Shang-A-Lang" (1968), "Jingle Jangle" (1970), and "Who's Your Baby?" (1971); their other singles include "Feelin' So Good" (1969), "Inside Out, Upside Down" (1969), and "Get on the Line" (1970). Many of the Archies' songs, including "Sugar, Sugar", were composed by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, and several songs were compositions The Monkees had turned down.
Ron Dante provided the male lead vocals for the Archies recordings, with Toni Wine, and later Donna Marie and Merle Miller, providing the female leads. "The Archie Show" remained on the air under various names and in various formats until 1978, although the Archies studio musical group ceased to make new commercial recordings after 1971.
A complete reissue of the Archies albums was released in 2016, containing 60 tracks. However, the only hit by them, "Sugar, Sugar," gets a significant number of listeners.
Hot Dog
The Archies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life is tastin' pretty good
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Hot Dog
'Cause you love me like you should
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
So put some mustard on my roll
'Cause you're barking up my soul
Hot Dog
Feel like kickin' up my heels
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Hot Dog (hot dog)
Oh how good your kissin' feels
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
So wag your tail and let me know
Just how much you love me so
Hot Dog
I like to see you walk
(Hot Dog)
I like to hear you talk
(Hot Dog)
I really relish you
(Hot Dog)
Who could embellish you?
(Hot Dog)
Who could embellish you?
Hot Dog
So put some mustard on my roll
'Cause you're barking up my soul
Hot Dog
I like to see you walk
(Hot Dog)
I like to hear you talk
(Hot Dog)
I really relish you
(Hot Dog)
Who could embellish you?
(Hot Dog)
Who could embellish you?
Hot Dog
Hot Dog
Hot Dog
The Archies' song "Hot Dog" is a jovial, upbeat tune that seems to be dedicated to a partner who is likened to the titular food item. The lyrics talk about how life is tasting good because the singer's partner is loving them as they should, and how they feel like kicking up their heels because of their love. There's a strong sense of playfulness and light-heartedness throughout the song, which is reinforced by the use of dog-related imagery and puns like "barking up my soul" and "wag your tail and let me know."
At its core, "Hot Dog" appears to be a simple love song infused with a lot of humor and fun. The use of food metaphors to describe a romantic relationship is a common theme in music, and this song takes that idea to the extreme with its dog-centric wordplay. However, there may be deeper meanings to the lyrics that aren't immediately apparent. For example, the repeated refrain of "who could embellish you?" could be interpreted as the singer questioning why anyone would want to add anything more to their partner, who is already perfect as they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot Dog
Expressing a moment of excitement and anticipation
Life is tastin' pretty good
I am happy with how my life is going
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Exclaiming with enthusiasm and agreement
'Cause you love me like you should
I feel loved and appreciated by you
So put some mustard on my roll
Add some extra flavor and excitement to my life
'Cause you're barking up my soul
You are touching and affecting me deeply
Feel like kickin' up my heels
I am in the mood for celebration and having fun
Oh how good your kissin' feels
I enjoy being intimate and affectionate with you
So wag your tail and let me know
Show me how happy and excited you are as well
Just how much you love me so
Demonstrate your love and devotion to me
I like to see you walk
I enjoy watching you move and seeing your confidence
I like to hear you talk
I appreciate and admire your communication skills
I really relish you
I deeply enjoy and appreciate being with you
Who could embellish you?
There is no one who could improve or enhance you
Hot Dog
Expressing another moment of excitement and anticipation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITCHIE ADAMS, MARK BARKAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Sugar, Sugar
A great song by The Archie's that's still great more than 50 years after it came out.