Dog Eat Dog

Album: Free For All (1976)
Charted: 91
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by the Motor City Madman himself, this song from Ted Nugent's second solo album was inspired by the 1967 Detroit riots:

    Sabotage in the downtown streets
    Police cars overturned
    Can't do nothing to beat the heat
    And if you don't you'll get burned


    Nugent isn't taking a side, but looking at the riots from the perspective of a citizen who gets caught up in them. "It's necessary to keep authority in check to some extent, but not always," he told Sounds. "A lot of times riots are just stupidity in action. A lot of times I can't tell you whether they are righteous or stupid and there may be occasions of both."
  • Ted Nugent didn't sing on many of his early tracks, and on this one, Derek St. Holmes did lead vocals. Nugent would often introduce the song, making it clear that he was the alpha dog in this outfit.
  • In the last verse, Nugent sings:

    Kamikaze from the hundredth floor
    Swan dive to the street
    He couldn't handle this madness no more
    He craved that sweeter meat


    This represents people who can't cope in the dog-eat-dog world and turn to suicide. "What it implies is that ain't nobody eatin' this dog," he said. "I'm a part of that city world, I was for many years and I was able to deal with it and take nourishment."

Comments: 1

  • Sim from Cleveland RocksKiller guitar in this song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.