A Dog's Life

Album: Present Tense (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song details the final breaths of a faithful canine. Wild Beasts' Tom Fleming told NME: "It's about a dog dying, which is tragic because dogs think they are people. We all think we're something we are not, we all die, and we're all tied to a post and left behind."
  • The main lyrical theme that runs through Present Tense is the expectancy to live life a certain way and stepping out of that cycle. Singer Hayden Thorpe explained to DIY magazine: "This album is about the compromise of human nature, and it's about the powers that be. We're a little bit more aware of them now. Like most people, I seemed to go through a mid-twenties crisis. You kind of glide through this extended childhood. You pop out the other side at twenty-four, twenty-five and all of a sudden you have to stand for something."

Comments: 1

  • Don from Sevierville, TnElvis Presley recorded a different song with this same title. It was from his 1966 movie, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.