Dog House - Written by Michelle Ward and Glenn Woodhouse © 2008
The backstory: This is a true story. The names have been changed to protect both the innocent and the guilty.
"Dog House" was the inspiration of a rainy day conversation around the kitchen table with Michelle's family about ways in which one might end up in the proverbial Dog House . At some point they began recalling the trials and tribulations of a dear family friend who often times was, as the chorus states, "never where he's supposed to be" when it came to him being at home when expected. He was one of the nicest "give the shirt off his back" kinda guys... when it came to helping out a "buddy". Clearly his wife was a saint because she never did resort to changing the locks on their door.
Michelle conceived the foreboding pulsing bass riff that became the character theme throughout the song, the music and lyrics for the chorus. Glenn applied his mastery of weaving a humorous tale of woe based on Michelle's recountings of her family friend to round out the lyrics for the verses.
"Dog House" was the inspiration of a rainy day conversation around the kitchen table with Michelle's family about ways in which one might end up in the proverbial Dog House . At some point they began recalling the trials and tribulations of a dear family friend who often times was, as the chorus states, "never where he's supposed to be" when it came to him being at home when expected. He was one of the nicest "give the shirt off his back" kinda guys... when it came to helping out a "buddy". Clearly his wife was a saint because she never did resort to changing the locks on their door.
Michelle conceived the foreboding pulsing bass riff that became the character theme throughout the song, the music and lyrics for the chorus. Glenn applied his mastery of weaving a humorous tale of woe based on Michelle's recountings of her family friend to round out the lyrics for the verses.
Dog House - Lyrics
I stayed out late last night, playing, drinking, having fun.
I came dragging home at the rising sun.
But the key to my door don't work no more,
Guess I'll have to sleep out in the back.
Out in the old lean-to on a makeshift cot,
Drinking the last stash of my whiskey, Jack.
She caught me at the door this morning,
"Remember it's our special day?"
I promised I'd be there for her, wild horses couldn't keep me away.
But then Jimmy dropped by 'bout quitting time saying
"Brother can you have a quick beer?"
Four hours later down at the bar, his troubles still bending my ear.
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
Trouble seems to find him ("it never ends.")
He's never where he's supposed to be ("why does trouble always seem to dog me?")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
A quiet night last Christmas Eve,
My baby right there at my side.
The telephone rings, it cousin Ray, "Hey buddy can you give me a ride?"
I said "don't worry baby, I won't be long",
She gave me those doubting eyes,
Bad weather, bad traffic, ran out of gas,
Didn't make it home until sunrise.
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
Trouble seems to find him ("it never ends".)
He's never where he's supposed to be ("why does trouble always seem to dog me?")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
I came dragging home at the rising sun.
But the key to my door don't work no more,
Guess I'll have to sleep out in the back.
Out in the old lean-to on a makeshift cot,
Drinking the last stash of my whiskey, Jack.
She caught me at the door this morning,
"Remember it's our special day?"
I promised I'd be there for her, wild horses couldn't keep me away.
But then Jimmy dropped by 'bout quitting time saying
"Brother can you have a quick beer?"
Four hours later down at the bar, his troubles still bending my ear.
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
Trouble seems to find him ("it never ends.")
He's never where he's supposed to be ("why does trouble always seem to dog me?")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
A quiet night last Christmas Eve,
My baby right there at my side.
The telephone rings, it cousin Ray, "Hey buddy can you give me a ride?"
I said "don't worry baby, I won't be long",
She gave me those doubting eyes,
Bad weather, bad traffic, ran out of gas,
Didn't make it home until sunrise.
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
Trouble seems to find him ("it never ends".)
He's never where he's supposed to be ("why does trouble always seem to dog me?")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")
It's raining on the Dog House ("that I'm in.")