Putting the Dog to Sleep

'Putting The Dog To Sleep” is not literally about putting a dog down, but rather a song about reconciliation. In one sense, it’s about two people airing their grievances and moving on, learning to trust each other. In another, this is a song about making peace with Hospice and the events that inspired it. It’s a song about moving on, forgiving without forgetting.' - Peter Silberman

Cried so hard during this song...didn't even expect it to hit me but god

To me this is a song about having low self-esteem. A conversation between the positive mind and the negative mind. Where the Negative mind believes itself unlovable the Positive mind believes otherwise and it's about the sharing of information and strength to be more confident in ones own skin.

"Prove to me I'm not gonna die alone Put your arm 'round my collar bone Open the door" The negative mind trying to tell the person to get out and find someone, and then get rejected as proof of their lacking in attractive attributes by "put your arm 'round my collar bone" it basically says "put me in a headlock, force me into a position that will lower my esteem by confirming my belief (a relationship)"

"Don't lie to me If you're putting the dog to sleep That pet you just couldn't keep You couldn't afford" This is about giving up. "The will to go on" being the "dog. Again in terms of self-communication it's the Positive mind saying "I can tell you're giving up and losing hope, don't put me to sleep, let me prove that you'll be ok"

"Well prove to me I'm not gonna die alone Unstitch that shit I've sewn To close up the hole that tore through my skin" By "Unstitch that shit I’ve sewn" it refers to the emotional scars the negative mind has created, and the physical scars of self-harm "close up that hole that tore through my skin".

"Well my trust in you Is a dog with a broken leg Tendons too torn to beg For you to let me back in" The negative mind saying "I don't trust that I won’t get hurt further I'm giving up trusting you" "Tendons too torn to beg" I think of a person crying in their bed that feeling that you just can’t move, the soul crushing pain of a broken heart. (also it is "Tendons to torn to beg", imagine a dog dragging itself across the floor trying to beg for food a dog wouldn't do that because of the amount of pain it'd cause it, This is also symbolic of a human being emotionally bedridden after a breakup.)

"You said I can't prove to you You're not gonna die alone But trust me to take you home To clean up that blood all over your paws" The Positive mind basically saying "I can't assure you that you won’t get hurt, I can't say you will always have someone, but I can always bring you home I can always keep you comfortable. We can just go out and have fun. Let me clean up those wounds and scars, I'll look after you"

"You can't keep running out Kicking yourself off the bed Kicking yourself in the head Because you're kicking me too" The Positive mind saying "You can’t keep running away from your problems, you can't keep hurting yourself and blaming yourself for it all, you're not just hurting yourself, it's hurting me too"

"Put your trust in me I'm not gonna die alone Put your trust in me I'm not gonna die alone I don't think so" x2

"Put your trust in me" - Positive mind "I'm not gonna die alone" - negative mind (now cautiously optimistic) ... I don't think so..." - now cautiously optimistic mind, still unsteady and cautious telling itself constantly that it will be ok, almost using the words as a mantra "I'm not gonna die alone, I can make it" thus the repetition.

I'm hearing "unstitch that shit I've sown". Which would also make sense with the 'unstitching' part. But, I could be wrong of course.

Also, the band released a track-by-track guide to their album here http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4142670-the-antlers-track-by-track-guide-to-their-new-album-burst-apart

Also, "Tendons too torn to beg"

Also, I hear "unstitch that shit I've sold"

I believe these are the correct lyrics.

Prove to me I'm not gonna die alone Put your arm 'round my collar bone And open the door

Don't lie to me If you're putting the dog to sleep That pet you just couldn't keep And couldn't afford

Well prove to me I'm not gonna die alone Unstitch that shit I've sewn To close up the hole that tore through my skin

Well my trust in you Is a dog with a broken leg Tendons too torn to beg For you to let me back in

You said I can't prove to you You're not gonna die alone But trust me to take you home To clean up that blood all over your paws

You can't keep running out Kicking yourself off the bed Kicking yourself in the head Because you're kicking me too

Put your trust in me I'm not gonna die alone Put your trust in me I'm not gonna die alone I don't think so

Put your trust in me I'm not gonna die alone Put your trust in me I'm not gonna die alone I don't think so

I imagine this song set to one of those sad, conciliatory sex scenes.

I think it's

"Prove to me I'm not gonna die alone Put your arm 'round my collar bone Open the door"