Dogs On The Run

Tom Petty

Well we come with what was on our backs
Yeah, when the leaves had died and all turned black
Back when the wind was cold and blew them 'round
When we laid our blankets on the ground
Yeah and I woke up feelin' hungry
Lookin' straight into the sun, and left a cold night on the ground
Like a dog on the run

I fell overboard and washed up on the beach
Yes, let the waves and sand roll over me
I was helped to the home of a young bleached blond
Who said 'honey I discovered early in life there's ways of getting
Anything I want , some of us are different
It's just something in our blood, there's no need for explanations
We're just dogs on the run'

The room was painted blue and gray
All my meals were served on a silver tray
Oh she would laugh, and light m why cigarettes
She said 'honey, ain't it funny how a crowd gathers around
Anyone living life without a net?
And how they'll beg you for the answers
But it won't ever be enough, there's no way you could ever tell 'em
It's just dogs on the run'


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Dogs on the Run Lyrics as written by Tom Petty Michael W. Campbell

Lyrics © Gone Gator Music

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Dogs On The Run song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    No comments still? Shame. This is the hidden treasure that alone makes the second side of _Southern Accents_ rival its first. (Yes, this one's from long enough ago that I have no choice but to think of that album in vinyl terms.) The theme of this album, from beginning to end, is nonconformism, and the benefits it brings, and the dilemmas that come right along with them. Not an unfamiliar theme for Petty, but this song is one of those instances in which he just plain nails it. "I Won't Back Down" is pretty good also, yes, but the serious romantic needs to hear the melodic and lyrical exuberance of "Dogs on the Run."
    raffishtenant2on December 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction
    Hell's bells, the inverted commas have all come out as question marks. Could you fix them please?
    treefrogdemonon September 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation
    The song's power makes me feel freedom, defiance, and strength. Joy and relief too. This fits the words. I agree with a comment here...one can call this song about those who don't conform. People are afraid to NOT conform. But the nonconformists sometimes get free of the strictures of society and show the way. THEN everyone who stuck to their boring path envies them and keeps asking them, as though they were gurus, 'what's the secret? How do I live to get the freedom, passion and joy you have?' The song is in A major, a bold key where a strong D major and D ninth fit well and a supporting floor E major form a solid floor for the song...............so we bravely take off for FLIGHT and FREEDOM and the joy of taking that risk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    math109993on March 07, 2018   Link

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