I didn't understand the song as a kid. I thought some cruel person (the Dad in the song?) had taken the dog and dumped her, and then made up some story for his family about her 'swimming away'. It always made me cry. I feel so much better now I know the real story behind it, about a much loved pet and dealing with the loss. Still sad, but in a happy-sad kind of way. The love you have for a pet as a child stays with you.
I didn't understand the song as a kid. I thought some cruel person (the Dad in the song?) had taken the dog and dumped her, and then made up some story for his family about her 'swimming away'. It always made me cry. I feel so much better now I know the real story behind it, about a much loved pet and dealing with the loss. Still sad, but in a happy-sad kind of way. The love you have for a pet as a child stays with you.