The group was founded by Ken Downie along with Ed Handley and Andy Turner, who had already been producing music under the Plaid moniker.
In 1989, they were unable to find a label to back their releases and had to start their own, Black Dog Productions.
Their first full-length album, Bytes, was released in 1992 on WARP Records, the label later to publish records from some of the most notable of IDM artists, such as Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, and Autechre.
Their music was often produced under a number of different names, such as Close Up Over, Xeper, Atypic, I.A.O., Balil and Discordian Popes. These were often names for the different projects of the three artists.
Later on, in 1994, Ed and Andy broke off from Black Dog Productions, to work full-time on Plaid. Ken Downie continued working in The Black Dog on his own for a while, taking it easy, later to return to music production with Richard and Martin Dust, owners of the label Dust Science Recordings. Since, they have released fourteen EPs and four full-length albums.
The Wind Spirit
The Black Dog Lyrics
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Ahhh bchouia
Ga3 zhar li 3andi oztouni ntouma
Sabar 3la koulchi manghir chamta
3lach ana yana gololi ntouma
F "tribune" 3argan ktar man li f "terrain"
Ach had lmoussiba
Ya galbi b la3ssal o sokar natla3
Ghnit o ba7it o 3it o "souffert"
Tmanit chi bit li 3omro ma jaa
Ach had lmoussiba
Ah ah a willi ya willi a willi yaa
Wa lhwa wahya ayééh tékchték tékchték...
Ahh 3ét taba3kom b nefs o niya
Ga3 jahd li fiya o sfitouh liya
La khlass " ticket" f lbab rani ma7gour
Tsbar 3la da9 o tgol dakhal fabour
Ya l babour ya mon amour)
Wakha mdégouté 3amri nglab wajhi
Ya jrabt kolchi man l "golf" 7ta l "rugby"
Ma3andi ki ndir hadchi li ktab 3liya
Llah ghalab o likom rani mwali
Ach had l moussiba
Ah ah a willi ya wili...
Wach ga3 zhar li 3andi o ztouni ntouma
Nsbar 3la kolchi manghir chamta
Wach tsana lbarani yji l ladak ydi rba7
O zagal "penalty" rassak rass l poto
Yakma b9at fik tchwika ola??
O 9taltouna b ton f terrain
O 30 DH dyal lakhlass o lkora makaynach
Amakaynach makaynaaach
A3tiwni tenue o nahbat n taclé
A3tiwni jwija ola ndir chi moussiba
A3tiwni tenue o nahbat n taclé
A3tiwni jwija ola ndir chi moussiba
A3tiwni tenue wa rakom 9taltouni
A3tiwni jwija wa rakoum ma7antouni
A3tiwni tenue wa darto fiya sokar
A3tiwni jwija ya darto fiya tension
A3tiwni tenue wa darto fya lmal7a
A3tiwni jwija wa rakoum chragtouni
A3tiwni tenue o 3tiwni tenue
A3tiwni jwija o 3tiwni jwija
A3tiwni tenue a3tiwni jwija
The lyrics of The Black Dog's song "The Wind Spirit" are predominantly in French and Arabic, with a few lines in English. The song gives the impression of someone who is struggling to cope with the pressures of life and is looking for an escape. The repetition of "hadik" creates a sense of frustration and desperation. The lyrics suggest that the singer is both physically and emotionally exhausted, with lines such as "ya galbi b la3ssal o sokar natla3" (my heart is tired and I'm leaving in a hurry), and "yahda li fiya o sfitouh liya" (there's too much effort in me and it's suffocating me). The singer appears to be struggling to find meaning in their life, with lines like "tmanit chi bit li 3omro ma jaa" (I've hoped for something my entire life that never came).
Line by Line Meaning
Siiiir hadik hadik hadik hadik
Sounds of footsteps, possibly of a person running or walking quickly.
Ahhh bchouia
A sound of relief, possibly after a stressful situation or experience.
Ga3 zhar li 3andi oztouni ntouma
I have a burden or problem that I am carrying on my own, without any help or support.
Sabar 3la koulchi manghir chamta
I am enduring everything silently, without expressing my pain or problems to anyone.
3lach ana yana gololi ntouma
Why am I alone? Why can't anyone help me with my struggles and pain?
F "tribune" 3argan ktar man li f "terrain"
Football fans in the stands criticize and argue more than the players on the field.
Ach had lmoussiba
What a predicament or problem!
Ya galbi b la3ssal o sokar natla3
My heart is racing with excitement and anxiety, as if I am about to reach the finish line of a race.
Ya 3la 9oblak a dba3 ra galbi tfarga3
Oh, my heart is beating faster and faster with anticipation of success and victory.
Ghnit o ba7it o 3it o "souffert"
I sang, I screamed, I cried, I suffered.
Tmanit chi bit li 3omro ma jaa
I have been waiting for something to happen for so long that I have lost hope that it ever will.
Ah ah a willi ya willi a willi yaa
A cry or wail of pain, sadness, or desperation.
Wa lhwa wahya ayééh tékchték tékchték...
A call to 'dance, dance' in celebration or to forget one's problems.
Ahh 3ét taba3kom b nefs o niya
I am getting tired of your attitude and behavior.
Ga3 jahd li fiya o sfitouh liya
I am struggling with something internally and it is causing me to act out or behave strangely.
La khlass " ticket" f lbab rani ma7gour
I can't find my ticket and I am worried I won't be able to attend the event.
Tsbar 3la da9 o tgol dakhal fabour
I will wait outside and ask someone to let me in.
Ya l babour ya mon amour)
Oh gatekeeper, my love.
Wakha mdégouté 3amri nglab wajhi
Even though I am disgusted and unhappy, I will put on a brave face and continue forward.
Ya jrabt kolchi man l "golf" 7ta l "rugby"
I have tried and failed at everything, from golf to rugby.
Ma3andi ki ndir hadchi li ktab 3liya
I don't know what to do about the situation that has been forced upon me.
Llah ghalab o likom rani mwali
God has triumphed and I have withstood the challenge.
Wach ga3 zhar li 3andi o ztouni ntouma
Do I have to carry this burden alone? Can't you help me?
Nsbar 3la kolchi manghir chamta
I will keep enduring everything on my own, no matter how difficult it becomes.
Wach tsana lbarani yji l ladak ydi rba7
Should we wait for luck to come to us, or should we actively seek it out?
O zagal "penalty" rassak rass l poto
And take the penalty shot, aiming for the bottom corner of the goal post.
Yakma b9at fik tchwika ola??
Did you get it done quickly enough, or not?
O 9taltouna b ton f terrain
And we both fell on the ground in the middle of the field.
O 30 DH dyal lakhlass o lkora makaynach
I only have 30 dirhams left, and I can't afford a soccer ball.
Amakaynach makaynaaach
It's impossible, it can't be done.
A3tiwni tenue o nahbat n taclé
Give me some clothes and boxing gloves.
A3tiwni jwija ola ndir chi moussiba
Give me strength and help me deal with my problems.
A3tiwni tenue wa rakom 9taltouni
Give me clothes, and you both tripped me.
A3tiwni jwija wa rakoum ma7antouni
Give me strength, and you held me back.
A3tiwni tenue wa darto fiya sokar
Give me clothes, and you put sugar in my tea.
A3tiwni jwija ya darto fiya tension
Give me strength, you are making me stressed.
A3tiwni tenue wa darto fya lmal7a
Give me clothes, and you made fun of me.
A3tiwni jwija wa rakoum chragtouni
Give me strength, and you made me angry.
A3tiwni tenue o 3tiwni tenue
Give me clothes, and give me more clothes.
A3tiwni jwija o 3tiwni jwija
Give me strength, and give me more strength.
Writer(s): Ken Downie
Contributed by Keira R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.