Here ya go, BlueJay. I hope I got the line breaks right. And don't worry about typos around here -- they give us some of the more interesting discussions we have!

-- Áine


DOG
Written by Tom Dundee
As recorded by Tom Dundee on "Lyfe Tyme Arhyme" (1997)

Well, I guess it started 'cause it looked like fun
When other people had a dog; "I'm gonna get me one,"
I said, "and have a little friend around the place."
So I went to the pet store down the street,
And lyin' in the middle of a canine heap
Was a sleepy little fellow with a quiet sort of face.

I handed over twenty-five dollars about.
I said, "I'll stick him in my shirt and just head on out"
And I reached for the one that looked like a little red fox.
It was then I was told about a collar and a leash,
And to take him in for shots in a couple of weeks,
And it was store policy to take him out in a box.

They folded up a cardboard crate in a minute,
Took my dog and stuck him down in it,
Pushed down his head, and folded in over the top,
And I can hear it yet how he scratched and cried,
And I stuck him in my shirt when we got outside,
But we was almost home before he decided to stop.

Well, the next few weeks were certainly strange
Between the barkin' and the thinkin' up of names.
Old Blue he wasn't, and Spot didn't really apply,
So I settled on Harry, just because
That's how he is, and that's how he was,
And that's how the house gets more and more as days go by.

For a time I was careful where I sat.
The rug got funky and he chewed up my hat,
And it still happens once in a while when he gets mad,
But it's been pretty even after all.
I taught him what I know about playin' ball,
And he's helped me get rid of a lot of stuff I used to have.

Sometimes friends drop by for a couple of beers.
We all sit around, take turns rubbin' his ears
And callin' him; it's been that way ever since he was a pup,
And he sleeps on the bed, and when I turn over,
He turns over, and then I turn over,
And then he turns over, and then we get up.

As my life keeps movin' through the different conditions,
The big changes come with the slightest decisions,
And you're in for a surprise when you think you got it figured, I've found,
'Cause who ever thought I'd ever dote on a pet?
But lookin' back now, I always forget
How I filled up the time before that dog was around.

Yeah, I guess it started 'cause it looked like fun
When other people had a dog; "I'm gonna get me one,"
I said, "and have a little friend around the place."