These lyrics are wrong, particularly in the chorus. This is more correct:
And oh, the rage is gone
And oh, the sorries begin
And though the drinking has thinned
Oh, still I wrestle
I wrestle within
And then to you
I don't look so good
Like I did what I felt like
Like I did what I would
But I don't have my dog
And I don't make a sound
I live on an island
In the middle of town
So if you've got a thing
With me or my friend
Remember what we've been through
Remember where we've been
We don't have our dogs
And we don't make a sound
We live on an island
In the middle of town
And oh, the rage is gone
And oh, the sorries begin
And though the drinking has thinned
Oh still I wrestle
I wrestle within
And then to you
I don't look so good
Like I did what I felt like
Like I did what I would
But I don't have my dog
And I don't make a sound
I live on an island
In the middle of town
No I don't have my dog
And I don't make a sound
I live on an island
In the middle of town
Pretty simple message. His alcoholism is no secret; it's about relapse from a supposed recovery, or even just a moment of sobriety. The rage is gone, but only on the surface. He's apologized it all away, and even "thinned" his drinking. Everything's better. But then...he starts to not so good. Like he's gone and done what he felt like. Like we all knew he would.
The part about not having his dog, I think, is a moment of feeling bad for himself, and also a bit of a red herring for anyone who wants to know what's really wrong. I miss my dog, he says. That's all. And then he withdraws back to his little island where no one can touch him. That's the significance of an island in the middle of town: it's where you withdraw to from all of the people who care about you.
These lyrics are wrong, particularly in the chorus. This is more correct:
And oh, the rage is gone And oh, the sorries begin And though the drinking has thinned Oh, still I wrestle I wrestle within
And then to you I don't look so good Like I did what I felt like Like I did what I would
But I don't have my dog And I don't make a sound I live on an island In the middle of town
So if you've got a thing With me or my friend Remember what we've been through Remember where we've been
We don't have our dogs And we don't make a sound We live on an island In the middle of town
And oh, the rage is gone And oh, the sorries begin And though the drinking has thinned Oh still I wrestle I wrestle within
And then to you I don't look so good Like I did what I felt like Like I did what I would
But I don't have my dog And I don't make a sound I live on an island In the middle of town
No I don't have my dog And I don't make a sound I live on an island In the middle of town
Pretty simple message. His alcoholism is no secret; it's about relapse from a supposed recovery, or even just a moment of sobriety. The rage is gone, but only on the surface. He's apologized it all away, and even "thinned" his drinking. Everything's better. But then...he starts to not so good. Like he's gone and done what he felt like. Like we all knew he would.
The part about not having his dog, I think, is a moment of feeling bad for himself, and also a bit of a red herring for anyone who wants to know what's really wrong. I miss my dog, he says. That's all. And then he withdraws back to his little island where no one can touch him. That's the significance of an island in the middle of town: it's where you withdraw to from all of the people who care about you.