Dog in the Sand is a song from the album of the same name by Frank Black and the Catholics. It was recorded live to two track (without editing) at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles.
Dog in the Sand is one of Black's later albums, and while some (see above) might argue that he has lost his way since he parted ways with the Pixies, there are those amongst us that believe that he has in fact found his way. This track is perfect proof of the fact that Black will be making excellent music until he can't move from his wheelchair to adjust his amp. Hey - no one said writeups had to be objective!
The song starts off with a couple of bars of soft finger plucking, and then moves into a slow paced strum. A second guitar in the background adds depth to the song, although it is only sporadically active.
This is definitely a reflective song; you can imagine Black sitting around a campfire, strumming this song and sipping some whiskey, as coyotes gather around and howl a background chorus. It's kind of mournful, but at the same time seems to celebrate an epic part of life (perhaps a memory of Black's).
Apart from that, I don't know what the heck this song is about, and neither does anyone else on the Internet, according to Google. If you're a Black fan reading this, help me out, because I would love to know. I get two images from the wording; the first is that of a dog lying half covered in sand, looking up at me with those mournful liquid eyes that dogs have. The second is a surrealistic image of a dog diving and swimming through the desert sand like a dolphin.
Ok, I've been reading the English Patient too much recently. So crucify me. In any event you should probably listen to this song when you have just had sex and are sitting smoking a cigarette, it seems to be made for that situation.
Lyrics:
where the water glows
where the water glows
bluish all in black
where the forest grows
I want to go back
I want to go back
let the moody out
let the moody out
ugly mood in you
open up your mouth
kill it with your shoe
kill it with your shoe
if your heart is sad
if your heart is sad
give your dog a bone
see her in the sand
this is your new home
this is your new home
Sources:
- the Dog in the Sand liner notes