Dogs

As I read some posts on the forum, I realized that, at least from what I've read, noone has really analyzed the last "verse" so to call it, of Dogs. So I saw fit to take the liberty to do it, any corrections, or opinions, on what sort of things the lines mean, feel free to respond, I take critisicm very well:

Who Was....
Born in a house full of pain - Dysfunctional Family?
Trained not to spit in the fan - Beaten for doing stupid things, maybe?
Told What to Do by a man - Father
Broken by trained personnel - TEACHERS!
Fitted With Collar & Chain - ??
Given a pat on the back - For doing things you might not like.
Breaking Away from the pack - Getting into their own world, starting depression
Only a stranger at home - Losing touch with your wife and/or children
Ground Down in the end - the feeling that people don't like you
found dead on the phone - suicide
dragged down by the stone - the metaphorical "stone" I believe (which he uses later on as well in The Wall) is the feeling of utter uselessness. A depression. One where you can't get back out of.

I noticed as well, that the Dogs song runs along the same theme as The Wall, and in a previous topic, some people were talking about how Dogs was about Roger Waters, which I support completely, the inability to trust anyone, the aggressive attitude, it sounds like Roger to me.

Also, using the term "who was" loosly, you get the feeling that he's saying "Hey, Guess who!"

I would have to disagree with one of your assessments: how can "Told what to do by the man" mean his father? Mr. Waters' father died so young that he cannot remember. I would think that "the man" instead represents the "establishment"...perhaps our leaders?

With the phrase "the Man", Roger is referring to any kind of rule making authoritarian body (police, the government, politicians et al).

See also "Hippies".


Cheers,

Mark

That's exactly what I was getting at! :smile:

A lot of that was written on the fly and I didn't really give time to think about my answers.

Anonymous--don't worry, nobody's bashing you! :smile:

...yet.

BoaB, what have I told you about scaring people off? Naughty, naughty!

Anon, I would agree with most of what you said although i'm sure we all have are unique interpretations. "found dead on the phone" I have always thought goes along with "dogs" being the workaholic, go gettem', cut throat types who would spend their whole lives making "contacts" to reach their goals. "Dragged down by the stone" as in their own ambitions and conflict of those ambitions w/ others dragging the dog down. how about "Given a seat on the bus" from earlier versions? I also noticed that the Animals sleeve lyrics have a different verse that i don't remember off hand. Anyway, it is a very moving end to an extrordinary song.

Sorry, sorry. Won't happen again...maybe.

Woof woof, bow wow.

Year of the diamond,
Byron

Oh I will be registering, so look for someone named.... VICIOUS CHICKEN OF BRISTOL (lol pink floyd reference lol just kidding it is monty python)

I see now that you've registered. Welcome to the All Pink Floyd Fan Network!

I thought that was my line?

Forget about it...

CIA,

You snooze, you lose, matey. :smile: