Master and a Hound

I think this song is about an abusive father, and this song is coming from his perspective.

"Where were you when I was still kind" is pretty much him saying his son should have been around when he wasn't ill-tempered and grumpy.

The dry gin drinker could also symbolize his alcoholism.

But he still tries to be a good father and he recollects times from when he took his son to a circus, and the "Master and a hound" is him and his hound--his son-- who will do anything because he loves his father unconditionally.

Then he asks his son to shake a snow globe, not exactly sure why, but maybe so he can try and bond with his son.

And then they are back to the memories of the carnivals and how the carnival songs followed them as they "flew" around the carnival.

The Lucky Coins could have two meanings in my opinion. The first is he wants his son to throw him some lucky coins so they can win prizes together, or it could generally be the idea of him asking him to give him money to go to rehab and be a better person.

Beautiful song. "Where were you when I was still kind." Reminds me of when I was a child. Innocent and moldable. Carefree and kind. Looking up to a father for guidance.

I believe this is a child talking to and of his relationship with his father, and the troubles that exist between them as result of his father's addiction.

Where were you when I was still kind

This is a reference to the author being a child and the fathers absence during that period.

Just a water treader, Waiting on the line

This is the child, obediently trying to stay afloat, doing as he is told, obedience

Just a dry gin drinker, Master and a hound

A reference to the father's alcohol addition, father and son, the hound is a further reference to his obedience and unconditional love for his father

Turned a circus swinger

The father, the circus swinger represents his attempts to put on an act to the rest of the world, possibly providing a spectacle at times

Look, he's coming down...Down

This may hint at substance abuse, and literally coming down from another high, or refer to a period or periods when his alcoholism and or other addictions may have improved

Can you shake it up Just once for me

The son pleads for his father to make the effort to try to kick these additictions

Your little globe just so we can see

A reference to the small world in which his father lives

The snow blowing round your hands

A very honest substance abuse reference emploring the father to open his eyes to what's happening, and/or the suggestions that the only person who can make this right is the father

And the wing-nut turned

Initially I felt that the wing nut had tightened; representing a worsening of the circumstances of his father, but i also feel it could represent the loosening of the wing nut, suggesting his life is really starting to fall apart

The song that we both know

This represents repetition; once again the father spirals into addiction, walking a path they both know all to well

Sent us flying round the carnival

And once again the father pretends to the world that there is no problem, he is in control, he does not need help

You can throw all your lucky coins on me

This may be a fairly literal indication of a gambling addiction. But I feel it is deeper, a final plea from the son for the father to invest time and love in his son before its too late.

This song has touched me greatly. I have no idea if my interpretation is remotely close to the true meaning, I think we all have a unique perspective based upon our experiences in life and perhaps the true beauty that can be found in such an incredible song is that it will mean something different to each of us.

He wrote this song after being sent a snow globe as a gift. He has said that he doesn't really know what his songs are about as he writes them, so...it is up to our personal interpretation. This is, in my opinion, the way in which the greatest songwriters write their songs..with complete surrender to the creativity flowing through them. The greatest gift to the world.

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