You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Well, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Well, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Well, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Ya know they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
You ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog


Lyrics submitted by anna118k

Hound Dog Lyrics as written by Mike Stoller Jerry Leiber

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Hound Dog song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

17 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    I would think that having never caught a rabbit would actually help refute the accusation that one is nothing but a hound dog.

    "You're nothing but a snake, and you've never swallowed a mouse."

    kreniighon February 25, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hound Dog was written by Lieber and Stoller for an R&B singer Big Mama Thornton who did a low down and grittier version of it. It features one of the coolest guitar solos of that time period. The Elvis version is a more hyperactive version of the song. No less or better than the original in my opinion just different. It rocks. Watching Elvis do the "raunchy" version on that old tv show was certainly a big moment in rock and roll history. I think it's one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

    MrLongroveon March 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The Elvis version is good in its own respects, but nothing compares to the Mama Thorton version. That is AMAZING! It just puts me in a great mood and she sings with such a passion.

    Talljenn81on May 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I swear at one point he says "you never cut a record, you aint no friend of mine"....or maybe thats just me. Such a great song to shake yo hips to.

    autrefoison January 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Has anyone heard Robert Palmer's version from his last album 'Drive'? It's a cover of the ORIGINAL blues version. Lyrics are:

    "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, been snoopin' round the door You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, been snoopin' round the door You can wag your tail, but I ain't gonna feed you no more

    You told me you was high-class, but I can see through that You told me you was high-class, but I can see through that Now mamma I know you're just an alley cat

    You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, been snoopin' round the door You're just an old hound dog, been snoopin' round my door You can wag your tail, but I ain't gonna feed you no more

    You nearly had me fooled, but I ain't throwing you a bone You nearly had me fooled, but I ain't throwing you a bone Because you ain't no tiny-dinner (?) You stole my soul

    You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, been snoopin' round the door You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, been snoopin' round the door You can wag your tail, but I ain't gonna feed you no more"

    SilverWolfon November 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the song is like 2:16 and it doesnt take a chapter of writing to create great music. the song just picks you up and gets you going. easy to follow. simple and fun. dont hate.

    mordsithon March 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is as is implied about a character who believes a friend of his to be a hound - dog, simply because he is crying all of the time. It is possible that if he has some sort of medical condition or mutation which means that he has no tear ducts, and if he has lived an entirely solitary life then he may not realise that human beings are capable of crying, but that he has seen a dog cry before. This is how he mistakes a human being for a species of dog, having seen very few human beings, let alone one in distress enough to cry. It is the next section of this song that is considered the most controversial and dubious of all, as the singer refers to his misidentified subject as having never caught a rabbit and not being as friend of his. It has long been a debate amongst musicologists about whether the man who is misidentified as being a canine was not his friend to begin with, or whether being his friendship is subject to having caught a rabbit. May this debate continue for many years.

    ericlirricon March 02, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    every time I want to write something, but I'm afraid because I do not speak English particularly well, so that once I am sorry for the mistakes about this song, t is unclear how plainly perceive it, and so I had the idea that since the song was originally written on behalf of the on behalf of the woman that threw a man (played by Big Mama Thornton), the most natural way take it like a song’s character was thrown by the girl, and he sing that was said to him, and then a little bitchy manner of performance of Elvis become justified

    speaksoslightlyon May 18, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Lots of people cry just to get their way. Shamelessly.

    sdz896542on July 13, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like to think the song was based on this taleswithmorals.com/the-hare-and-the-hound.htm

    ed10733811on September 17, 2018   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.