Heart breaker, soul shaker I’ve been told about you
Steamroller, midnight stroller
What they’ve been saying must be true
Red hot Mama
Velvet charmer
Time’s come to pay your dues

Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch

Talkin’ jivey, poison ivy
You ain’t gonna cling to me
Man taker, born faker I ain’t so blind I can’t see

Red hot Mama
Velvet charmer
Time’s come to pay your dues
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
(Son of a bitch)

Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch
(Son of a bitch)
Now you’re messin’ with a
A son of a bitch
Now you’re messin’ with a son of a bitch


Lyrics submitted by soultosqueeze, edited by LTS55

Hair of the Dog song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +3
    Memory

    Great song. Was lucky enough to see Nazareth in their prime in the '80s, and this song was a show highlight. Never really thought much about the words, but the past few years I have been enjoying satellite radio and the sound clarity is so good that I can actually understand what the words are. This song is one that took on a new meaning.

    My thought is similar to Lizardking1971's. The expression 'Hair of the Dog' refers to taking a sip of alcohol the morning after tying on a bender. The booze (in theory) helps smooth out the recovery from the hangover...I can say from my own experience that it doesn't work. This urban myth comes from an old wive's cure that a dog bite would heal better if clotted with dog hair. This song seems to refer to a very selfish woman who runs into her flip side. Not a pretty relationship, but maybe that will cure her ill behavior.;-)

    In any event, this song is always a crowd-pleaser and I always turn it up in the car. The sound effect is indeed a 'talk box' like both Frampton and Bon Jovi use, and the live version of this song includes Scottish bagpipes. Funny White Chedda mentioned AC/DC, because they also used bagpipes in 'Long Way To The Top', and the Yhoung brothers and Bon Scott ware from Scotland just like the guys in Nazareth.

    JayCeezyon March 13, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love that this song talks about a girl who's kindof a tease and stuff and now apparently she's fallen for a guy who is just as bad as she is (hence the son of a bitch lines)... but yah I love this song

    Lizardking1971on December 14, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Hahaa, Hair of the dog is simply "Son of a bitch" . This term was used because the record company thought the title would be overly offensive ( despite the lyrics repeatedly stating just that .. The band compromised offering "Heir " of the Dog ie "Son of a bitch" but the record company had the final say, The song has nothing to do with a hangover . There are also no bagpipes . The effect is a "talk box" as stated elsewhere, The lyric itself is simple . A girl who comes with a reputation meets a man who won't be messed with "son of a bitch" . It's a macho Fife anthem from a place where men traditionally were hard , and worked long shifts underground in the coal mines and refused to compromise on anything when they emerged to see the light of day.

    Serpentspeakson March 05, 2016   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    dude, i love this song...i love the chorus i think it'd be like, the perfect fight song (except maybe "If You Want Blood (You Got It)" by AC/DC...) but ya does anyone know what those "Pipes" are? i think it'd be awesome to have those in a band they sound so cool, but i know they're definitely not bagpipes, dude...i think it's like some kinda tube they stick in your mouth but i dunno what it's called...

    White Cheddaon May 26, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The effect you're talking about is done with a talk box.

    Sleaze Diseaseon July 08, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Heir of the dog = son of a bitch :)

    bogbrush88on August 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hair of the dog was the first Nazareth album I bought. Went I saw them in concert they played this and it was amazing. I really had no idea that the weird sound about half way through the song was a bagpipe noise. It was so cool.

    bluebirdofpeaceon September 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    they're called bag pipes

    Levitator89on June 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    or a vocoder

    foffofon November 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hair of the dog hasn't got very many comments. That's odd.

    Great song!

    Pink_Floyd_fanon April 12, 2007   Link

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