The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Endless whispers, skies that bleed;
Dog's blood falls to earth like rain.
Choke the rivers, flood the streets;
Caught in a hail of canine teeth.
New kind of soldier, born of scars,
Cut from the skin and the blood of dogs
Face my arrow, campaign of fear;
Insides will drown, drink their own tears.
Howls heard for miles around.
(We will all drown, we will all drown!)
In dog's blood we will all drown.
(We will all drown, we will all drown!)
No escape, no mercy, from the lurid sound.
We'll all bathe in the blood of hounds!
They will hunt them to the last;
Time of the mongrel, down to the past.
Sterilize you a new scene.
Wolves awake from their endless dream.
Born of faith, but the alpha will fall;
Every new year marks who are born.
Man will strike with the hands of God;
Marks the end of the era of dog.
Howls heard for miles around.
In dog's blood we will all drown.
Howls heard for miles around.
In dog's blood we will all drown.
Dog's blood!
Dog's blood!
(Howls heard for miles around.)
Dog's blood falls to earth like rain.
Choke the rivers, flood the streets;
Caught in a hail of canine teeth.
New kind of soldier, born of scars,
Cut from the skin and the blood of dogs
Face my arrow, campaign of fear;
Insides will drown, drink their own tears.
Howls heard for miles around.
(We will all drown, we will all drown!)
In dog's blood we will all drown.
(We will all drown, we will all drown!)
No escape, no mercy, from the lurid sound.
We'll all bathe in the blood of hounds!
They will hunt them to the last;
Time of the mongrel, down to the past.
Sterilize you a new scene.
Wolves awake from their endless dream.
Born of faith, but the alpha will fall;
Every new year marks who are born.
Man will strike with the hands of God;
Marks the end of the era of dog.
Howls heard for miles around.
In dog's blood we will all drown.
Howls heard for miles around.
In dog's blood we will all drown.
Dog's blood!
Dog's blood!
(Howls heard for miles around.)
Lyrics submitted by MayaMoo, edited by TheAdvance, CAKunited
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
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
George said, before they released OC/YC, that he thought it was their best album yet.
I'm a massive fan of Alexisonfire. I've been listening to them for about seven years now, and I've seen them a fair few times. No matter what album, single or EP, there's a certain kind of magic about Alexisonfire that has always set them apart from the masses of other bands in similar genres. I'm proud to be an AOF fan; I'm not one of those people who moaned about George's "singing" how radio-friendly or mainstream they've become - who cares, as long as they still make good music?
The thing is, it wasn't good music. I respect that the band can't keep putting out the same albums forever - it's important and necessary for bands to evolve and change, but as much as I love Alexisonfire, I cannot fathom how they thought Old Crows/Young Cardinals was a good album, nevermind their best. Some of the old elements were there, particularly in songs like Midnight Regulations and Young Cardinals - those epic, rousing choruses so typical of Alexis, the sense of oppression and desperation coupled with the energy and unbreakable spirit of the masses Alexisonfire seem so good at channeling. However, these were the few gems in what was, sadly, an album almost completely devoid of the magic we'd come to expect. A band of that caliber should have been able to put out a much better album after we had to wait three years for it, surely?
I thought, when I first heard OC/YC, that maybe that was it for the band. We'd had a good run, and I'd always adore the first three albums with my entire heart, but their time was over. However, I had the pleasure of seeing them live three and a half times after June 2009 (the Olympics disaster doesn't count) and they still had it: the magic was not dead! I think that they realized on touring that people still loved the old stuff much more than the new stuff, (when I saw them in Seattle, more than half the setlist was orginally meant to be OC/YC, but they ended up playing more stuff from Watch Out! and Crisis at the crowd's request). Maybe this EP is their way of appeasing us like they did that crowd.
At any rate, I feel hopeful. Dog's Blood shows us that, even if it is relegated to an EP, the magic of the Alexisonfire we all know and love is still there
i think his saying that was geared more toward actually selling the album. there really wasn't as much spirit in OC/YC as Crisis. like you said, a few good tracks like Midnight Regulations and (in my opinion) The Northern stood out, but it wasn't that great. artists have to advertise for themselves to make sure their fan base is even still there. labels not only encourage it but sometimes force it to happen. not saying anything against the powers that be over AOF, but that's just how business operates. i agree wholeheartedly though, it's great to see some of their roots again.
i love aof and have for years like you guys.i don't think i share the same opinion about young cards tho.the slow tracks were amazing (the northern, burial)but they brought it with the tracks like young cards,midnight reg, i thought. i enjoyed the album and i understand it wasn't normal aof but it was refreshing to see that they could do something a little off from what we've come to expect from them. it was punkish is was fast and to the point while still having the magical songwriting that Ive come to love from them.that's just my opinion tho, this ep they have put out has been amazing so far. i like that there is more wade in this ep then usual.
Is everyone on this website drunk or some shit? OC/YC is easily my favourite Alexisonfire album! And heaps of other Alexisonfire fans, both old and new, love it! Fair enough if you don't like the album and prefer their other 3 albums, everyone's entitled to their opinion. But to say that just because you personally didn't like OC/YC that all the other fans dislike it or that 'that was it for the band' is inexcusably ignorant and arrogant. And it's downright disrespectful to Alexisonfire to imply that they sold out simply because you don't like their new release! Personally my least favourite album by them was Crisis, I mean it had a few good tracks but overall it was lacking. But you don't see me saying that they sold out, or that every Alexisonfire fan hates Crisis! Fuck's sake.