This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Meet him by the road.
There's a dog went running,
Picking through spit out leaves
A dog won't even touch.
Meant to shoot that dog long ago,
Just can't leave that dog alone.
Maria carry a rifle.
Maria carry a dog on her back.
That dog is hit again.
That slow dog is hit again,
With his see-thru skin,
The kind of skin you can see through.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a.
Heal me by a river.
Man retires his wife says,
But she was so sad and sick.
His heart breaks in the mud.
Thought I'd leave this world by twenty-one.
Couldn't leave that dog alone.
Maria carry a rifle.
Maria carry a dog on her back.
That dog is hit again.
That slow dog is hit again,
With his see-thru skin,
The kind of skin you can see through.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a.
Maria carry a rifle.
Maria carry a dog on her back.
Maria carry you on her back.
There's a dog went running,
Picking through spit out leaves
A dog won't even touch.
Meant to shoot that dog long ago,
Just can't leave that dog alone.
Maria carry a rifle.
Maria carry a dog on her back.
That dog is hit again.
That slow dog is hit again,
With his see-thru skin,
The kind of skin you can see through.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a.
Heal me by a river.
Man retires his wife says,
But she was so sad and sick.
His heart breaks in the mud.
Thought I'd leave this world by twenty-one.
Couldn't leave that dog alone.
Maria carry a rifle.
Maria carry a dog on her back.
That dog is hit again.
That slow dog is hit again,
With his see-thru skin,
The kind of skin you can see through.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a.
He's shot again.
He's shot again.
He's shot a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a.
Maria carry a rifle.
Maria carry a dog on her back.
Maria carry you on her back.
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
No, she says it's from an old Chinese(I think) custom of hanging a dead dog around the neck of an adulteress. The dog in the song is both the decaying animal she's saddled with (here's hoping it's a metaphor) and the jerk she's been sleeping with.