Album: Test For Echo (1996)

License This Song 

• In a dog's life
  A year is really more like seven
  And all too soon a canine
  Will be chasing cars in doggie heaven
  
  It seems to me
  As we make our own few circles 'round the sun
  We get it backwards
  And our seven years go by like one
  
  Dog years
  It's the season of the itch
  Dog years
  With every scratch it reappears
  
  In the dog days
  People look to Sirius
  Dogs cry for the moon
  But those connections are mysterious
  
  It seems to me
  While it's true that every dog will have his day
  When all the bones are buried
  There is barely time to go outside and play
  
  Dog years
  It's the season of the itch
  Dog years
  With every scratch it reappears
  Dog years
  For every sad son of a bitch
  Dog years
  With his tail between his ears (tail between his ears)
  
  I'd rather be a tortoise from Galapagos
  Or a span of geological time
  
  I'd rather be a tortoise from Galapagos
  Or a span of geological time
  
  Than be living in these dog years
  Living in these dog years
  
  In a dog's brain
  A constant buzz of low-level static
  One sniff at the hydrant
  And the answer is automatic
  
  It seems to me
  As we make our own few circles 'round the block
  We've lost our senses
  For the higher-level static of talk
  
  Dog years
  For every sad son of a bitch
  Dog years
  With his tail between his ears
  
  In the dog years (oh)
  In the dog years (oh)
  In the dog years (oh)
  In the dog years (oh)
  
  (Oh) in the dog years (oh Writer/s: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
  Publisher: Anthem Entertainment
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

• Irrushionalfan from SandiegoLove this song. Its obviously over most peoples heads. The metaphors are brilliant and reflect the nature of our times. It cleverly conveys the entrapped human condition wherein we don't believe what our eyes are seeing in favor of the lies that we are told.
• M Sandiego from San DiegoGreat song, unfairly dismissed by Rush fans. Neil was allowed to have fun, folks! And it's a great rocker as well.
• G from DenverI just don't like it. Its really harsh to the ear and although I get the puns and the silliness, its just not my thing.
• Claude from Kingston, MaNot my favorite Rush song, but I always like the line "for every sad son of a bitch." There's something really clever there....
• Tom from Newbury Park, CambodiaOn average, humans live seven times as long as dogs, and so have seven times as much time to enjoy.
  
  Are you getting seven times the value and accomplishment out of your seven years than a dog is getting out of his one?
  
  Are do you spend so much of that time *talking* about stuff that you only end up *doing* (and enjoying) as much as the dog?
• Sam from Violet, LaThis is a great song. Its one of my favs.
• Avlight from Anytown, Ncit is a corny 'filler' type of song. Hovever, the bass line is very unique.
• John from Asheville, NcThis is probably my least favorite Rush song. The lyrics walk that line of "cheeky fun" but I think clever veers into silly then collides headlong into stupid. The chorus melody also does not sit well in my ear.

More Songfacts:

Everything ZenBush

After Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale coupled up in 1996, Rossdale's Bush bandmates referred to their hit song "Everything Zen" as "Everything Gwen."

God Bless AmericaKate Smith

Irving Berlin, who wrote "God Bless America," said it was "not a patriotic song, but rather an expression of gratitude."

Only YouJosh Kelley

Katherine Heigl played Josh Kelley's love interest in the video for his 2005 song "Only You." They met on the shoot, became a real-life couple, and got married two years later. That's good casting!

EverlongFoo Fighters

The Foo Fighters song "Everlong" isn't about Kurt Cobain, but Dave Grohl's girlfriend at the time, Veruca Salt frontwoman Louise Post.

Let's DanceDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is about more than just dancing. It's about dishonesty, particularly when we mask our true feelings.

Tubular Bells (Part 1)Mike Oldfield

The Exorcist theme music is a portion of "Tubular Bells," a 25-minute song released by 19-year-old Mike Oldfield.

Editor's Picks

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."