Lyrics for To The Dogs Or Whoever as interpreted by gelosia

To The Dogs Or Whoever Lyrics
Deep in the belly of a whale I found her
Down with the deep blue jail around her
Running her hands through the ribs of the dark
Florence and Calamity and Joan of Arc

I love the way she looks in her underwear
I lose my page then the plot then the book then I swear
She makes the most of her time by loving me plenty
She knows there'll come a day when we won't be getting any

The stain of the sepia the butcher Crimea
Through the wreck of the brass band I thought I could see her
In a cakewalk she came through the dead and the lame
Just a little bird floating in a hurricane

I was flat on my back with my feet in the thorns
I was in between the apples and the chloroform
She came to me often I was sure I was dying
It was always hard to tell if she was laughing or crying

I thought I heard somebody calling
In the dark I thought I heard somebody call
Joan never cared about the inbtweens
Combed her hair with a blade did the Maid of Orleans
Said Christ walked on water we can wade through the war
You don't need to tell me who the fire is for

Oh, bring me the love that can sweeten a sword
A boat that can love the rocks or the shore
The love of the iceberg reaching out for the wreck
Can you love me like the crosses love the nape of neck?

Was it Casey Jones or Casey at the Bat?
Who died out of pride and got famous for that
Killed by a swerve laid low by the curve
Do you ever think they ever thought they got what they deserved?

Pity the bullet and pity the man
Who both find their place in the same sad plan
Who both are like the barrel going over the falls
Crying all the way down I never asked to be involved

I thought I heard somebody calling
In the dark I thought I heard somebody call

General George began the day by taking pink little pills
Sent his men to the top of some hell of a hill
Through the whisper of the trees came artillery breeze
He said, "I love the way the wind comes tickling my knees."

Jane shot the apple right between the eyes
I was thinking of her when you came outside
Lemonade on your breath sun in your hair
Did I mention how I love you in your underwear?

Deep in the belly of a whale I found her
Down with the deep blue jail around her
Running her hands through the ribs of the dark
Florence and Calamity and Joan of Arc

I thought I heard somebody calling
In the dark I thought I heard somebody call


Interaction
Mail to a friend Send Lyrics to a Friend
Share on Facebook

Stumble It
Add to Del.icio.us Add to Del.icio.us




  • 19 Comments
  • Printer Friendly Lyrics
oldest first     Expand All
heliorao
08-21-2007

Rated 0 
best song on the new album

Log in to reply
just4a6mirror
08-23-2007

Rated 0 
agreed.

Log in to reply
fireplace
08-24-2007

Rated 0 
saw him perform this live today...amazing song. he's fantastic, so talented.

Log in to reply
questionmark3345
09-01-2007

Rated 0 
I love this song, When I try to sing along to this song I can never keep up!
;-;
xD

Log in to reply
ckad79
10-14-2007

Rated 0 
anybody with the slightest clue what this song means? I can't get it out of my head! i love it! just clueless and the rest of the songs on the album, i pretty much get.

Log in to reply
elgard
10-26-2007

Rated 0 
I see it as a pretty straightforward love song as far as meaning goes. A pretty damn awesome one, but with Josh that's pretty much a given :P

Log in to reply
fits of print
11-29-2007

Rated 0 
nearly positive it's "don't pity the bullet; pity the man," also "ON a hurricane."

Log in to reply
infinitepet85
12-03-2007

Rated 0 
i think it's all about people who follow their inner voices, even if it makes them do monumental things that seem more than a little crazy--joan of arc, florence nightingale, calamity jane, george washington (or bush?), casey at the bat. that's why the chorus is "in the dark/ i thought i heard somebody call"--it's about hearing a call to arms and following that voice either to success, or failure. it's about taking a risk.

Log in to reply
waf07
01-03-2008

Rated 0 
pretty sure General George is Custer given the loads of Western refs in Ritter's songs, and it fits with the taking a risk (success or failure (as in this case) be damned)

Log in to reply
amb7s
02-20-2008

Rated 0 
Going along with the theme of this album, I feel that it is about a girl he used to be with. He was in love with her for what she did. She was brave, beautiful, mysterious, amazing. But that doesn't mean it worked out. She can do everything else to extremes, but she can't love him in the same way. "Can you love me like the cross loves the nape of the neck" to me symbolizes that she should be able to love him extremely (obviously this using a sarcastic analogy) but can't.

This is such a powerful song & I think the most mysterious and one of the best on the album.

Log in to reply
bb6634
03-31-2008

Rated 0 
I love this song. The imagery, literary and historical allusions; the way he seems to be channeling Dylan without sinking into parody. I think Ritter is shaping up to be one of *the* great songwriters, alongside Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, and of course Dylan.

Log in to reply
Ari06
04-24-2008

Rated 0 
I agree, it is very Dylanesque. The last time I saw Josh in concert I actually asked him which George he was referring to in this song. He said though there are many Georges it could be (Patton, Washington, ect) he was actually thinking of Bush when he wrote it. And since then I've noticed that when he sings it live he sometimes puts on a Bush voice for the line "I love the way the wind comes tickling my knees".

Log in to reply
rosaliedawn
11-27-2008

Rated 0 
Casey Jones...as in the guy from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Log in to reply
1 Reply
matthewconte
01-14-2009

Rated 0 
me and my friend have a continuing argument over the lyrics. I say the line is "Pity the bullet pity the man" while he says its "Pity the bullet don't pity the man." I feel that the first fits more with the theme of the song and the rest of the verse that goes on to say "who both find themselves in the same sad plan."

Log in to reply
3 Replies
matthewconte
01-14-2009

Rated 0 
Why the title?

Log in to reply
1 Reply
melancholyjen
02-13-2009

Rated 0 
this is such a dude's song. and i love it. how could you not want to get up and dance whenever you heard this, outside, middle of summer, fireflies and camping light strung along. drinking beer in the moond.

Log in to reply
nsteinme
06-23-2009

Rated 0 
Man, what kind of arrogance is that from "elgard" who says this is a "pretty straightforward love song as far as meaning goes"!? If it's so straightforward, why not inform us what is the meaning of referencing everyone from Joan of Arc to George Bush in a love song, why all the bible references ("belly of a whale", "somebody calling in the dark"), what are "the ribs of the dark", what's the title of the song about, and what the hell's so special about her underwear?? I think this song is about as far from straightforward as you can get, but maybe elgard would like to inform me that I'm an idiot. I don't know if I'd even be 100% sure that this is even a love song, but ok I'll agree that seems most likely to me.

I really like the line about "Lose the page then the plot then the book I swear", which just brings a really great image into my mind of that scene. Great song, even if I can only wish I understood it a little more...

Log in to reply
kassondralanae
06-25-2009

Rated 0 
This song seems everything except straightforward. I agree that its not a blatant love song, it feels more like a song about self discovery, taking a shot in the dark even when you're not sure if you hear someone else (not knowing if someone else will understand or be there for you). I think its about being lost and confused and feeling pulled toward a certain choice or direction, but not having anyone to back you up. The people mentioned in the song are all strong historical figures that took a strong stand for their beliefs, even if they lost their lives because of it.
Josh ritter is awesome and making tons of allusions and references to so many things that I personally don't know about or understand all of, but i think its what makes him so mysterious and intriguing.

Log in to reply
Joshcuba
07-30-2009

Rated 0 
I love songs like this because one can freely interpret it how he or she wants. Obviously Josh knows what this song means to him (or maybe he doesn't O_O) but the rest of us get to weave our personal experiences and emotions into the beautiful tapestry that is this piece of music, in order to find a meaning for ourselves. Songs that make you think are always the best. I listen to this song all the time, and still I am not entirely sure what it means to me.

Peace. :)

Log in to reply




  • Add Your Comments
What does this song mean to you?

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.





Popular
Top:   Lyrics, Artists, Albums
Random:   Lyric, Artist, Album

Your Ad Here