 Walk On (1995) [ larger cover art ] |
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Could not get to sleep
It was on my wedding night
I was tangled in the sheets
And I was dreaming of a light
Pouring from her window
Coming up through the floor
Lifting up the darkness
Crashing through my kitchen door
Down to that old oak table
I went to take a look
And my whole life flashed before me
Just like a story book
She used to make me breakfast
Or sit around and talk
Have another cup of coffee
Or maybe take a little walk
Chorus:
Dust down a country road
Blowing int he wind
Behind an old truck load
Up before the rooster crowed
There's an old dog staring
At the dust down a country road
And that truck is going somewhere
I just can't be sure
When tomorrow's just the day
After all that's gone before
And I always thought of leaving
I never could stay too long
Now her memory's catching up
And our sweet dreams are all gone
Chorus
If I had a bullet I'd put it in this gun
And I'd catch that old dog napping
And I'd shoot him before he runs
Cause he ain't much good for nothin'
Except staring at the dust
Lord I wonder what he's looking at
Sneaking up on us
It was on my wedding night
I was tangled in the sheets
And I was dreaming of a light
Pouring from her window
Coming up through the floor
Lifting up the darkness
Crashing through my kitchen door
Down to that old oak table
I went to take a look
And my whole life flashed before me
Just like a story book
She used to make me breakfast
Or sit around and talk
Have another cup of coffee
Or maybe take a little walk
Chorus:
Dust down a country road
Blowing int he wind
Behind an old truck load
Up before the rooster crowed
There's an old dog staring
At the dust down a country road
And that truck is going somewhere
I just can't be sure
When tomorrow's just the day
After all that's gone before
And I always thought of leaving
I never could stay too long
Now her memory's catching up
And our sweet dreams are all gone
Chorus
If I had a bullet I'd put it in this gun
And I'd catch that old dog napping
And I'd shoot him before he runs
Cause he ain't much good for nothin'
Except staring at the dust
Lord I wonder what he's looking at
Sneaking up on us
| Huey (Netherlands) | Posted: Jan 27, 2013 - 15:09 h8rhater wrote: Cluelessness earns you a one. Is cluelessness a word??? Yes it's a word. But is it clueless?? I dunno. |
| h8rhater | Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 10:12 danagle wrote: I like John's sound and can generally appreciate this song, but the second he talks about maybe shooting his dog because he doesn't like the way it keeps looking down the road is when this song earned a one. Cluelessness earns you a one. |
| karljonasson (Edmonton, AB, Canada) | Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 10:09 Every song on this album is a 10. The best songwriter in America at his creative peak. |
| jeremyleo (Canada's Capital City) | Posted: Nov 28, 2012 - 13:20 John played this at a recent show on his Mystic Pinball tour. Part of the 'mandolin set'. Very nice to hear - this is a JH favourite of mine. |
| stub30 (East Wenatchee) | Posted: Oct 05, 2012 - 15:39 You're really killing me Bill with your set this late Friday afternoon. I am really finding it difficult to get any work done with this great music. |
| HazzeSwede (Vinyl Land) | Posted: Jun 19, 2011 - 08:33 Jelani wrote: Who gave this guy permission to sing?! I did !  ..got a problem with that ?  |
| 72foxes | Posted: Mar 16, 2011 - 17:11 Proclivities wrote: ...a somewhat jarring transition, not too painful though. Strangely repeated almost 2 years later, however. repeated yet again almost 2 years later???? transition still jarred though..... |
| (former member) | Posted: Dec 12, 2010 - 14:51 It's not about shooting a dog, I don't think. He's missing his lost wife, is uncertain about the future, and is thinking about shooting himself, the old dog that stands and stares. All he does now is stand and watch and wait for something, sneaking up on him. The good memories are gone and he stares out at the stuff that's happened, but otherwise isn't much good. Tomorrow's just the day after all that's gone before... —- Could not get to sleep Down to that old oak table
If I had a bullet I'd put it in this gun |
| peacockangel (Phoenix) | Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 10:44 love Hiatt ~ please don't play this out of Mazzy/Fade into You :) |
| SmackDaddy (San Diego) | Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 10:43 EssexTex wrote: IT'S FRIDAY!.....WAHHHOOOOOOOO No it's not |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Jun 04, 2010 - 14:40 mr.selfdestruct wrote: I don't know, I guess this guy just isn't my cup of tea... Try puttin' a little bourbon in it... |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: May 15, 2010 - 23:14 John Hiatt - "Dust down a country road" Live: |
| h8rhater | Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 05:35 Papernapkin wrote: The voice alone is a turn off. But killing his dog? Sad. Metaphor escapes the ignorant and unwashed. |
| EssexTex (Gitche Gumee) | Posted: Nov 27, 2009 - 07:16 IT'S FRIDAY!.....WAHHHOOOOOOOO |
| Chinto (kelowna) | Posted: Aug 24, 2009 - 20:00 garthwb wrote: Dogs tend to look at something that catches their attention for as long as it takes them to work out what it is. We had three dogs on our farm, all of which would often stare at many things, sometimes for ages, as if in a reverie of sorts, then suddenly lose interest and look away... And if we had visitors, often we could tell by the dogs suddenly looking up and staring intently at the rising column of dust, until first one, and then all of them, would start barking. They would always hear the sound of the vehicle first, obviously, but even after the visitors had left, they would stare at the dust long after the vehicle had become too small to see... Almost as if they were fixing the visit in their memories. I'm moved by your insight and comments. Are you sure you're not JH himself!? :-) Aptly said...thank you. |
| Papernapkin (Mountain View, CA) | Posted: Aug 24, 2009 - 19:53 The voice alone is a turn off. But killing his dog? Sad. |
| danagle | Posted: Jul 24, 2009 - 06:01 I like John's sound and can generally appreciate this song, but the second he talks about maybe shooting his dog because he doesn't like the way it keeps looking down the road is when this song earned a one. |
| crockydile (The swamps of Houston) | Posted: Jul 24, 2009 - 05:58 It sounds like he's being strangled? Did someone call 911??  |
| robco1 (Chicago, IL) | Posted: May 21, 2009 - 17:07 garthwb wrote: Dogs tend to look at something that catches their attention for as long as it takes them to work out what it is. We had three dogs on our farm, all of which would often stare at many things, sometimes for ages, as if in a reverie of sorts, then suddenly lose interest and look away... And if we had visitors, often we could tell by the dogs suddenly looking up and staring intently at the rising column of dust, until first one, and then all of them, would start barking. They would always hear the sound of the vehicle first, obviously, but even after the visitors had left, they would stare at the dust long after the vehicle had become too small to see... Almost as if they were fixing the visit in their memories. I didn't enjoy the song until I read this comment, and it all became clear. Guy's got chops, too . . . |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Mar 19, 2009 - 12:48 shakitten wrote: (on May 27, 2007) Ouch! I think that was the worst segue I ever heard Bill do. Mazzy Star to this was, like, painful.... ...a somewhat jarring transition, not too painful though. Strangely repeated almost 2 years later, however. |
| brians201 | Posted: Feb 15, 2009 - 23:58 xkolibuul wrote: Same person who gave you permission to comment. Only, Hiatt makes better use of his bandwidth. Ha Ha .... amen to that .... Hiatt writes beautifully .. |
| SwampYankee (Berkley, MA) | Posted: Jan 15, 2009 - 06:53 OK, maybe it's not Hiatt's best work, but this is still a damn good song by a great artist. |
| ala_frosty | Posted: Oct 12, 2008 - 13:02 This song belongs on the the same island as Pong and Space Invaders and the Hula Hoop. I don't know where that island is, but the sooner this song gets onto it and they test an atomic bomb on it .. the better. Garfrfdfs ... please make it stop! |
| Excelsior | Posted: Jul 09, 2008 - 18:33 Jelani wrote: Who gave this guy permission to sing?!
I don't know, but they should be fined, or arrested, or something. All John Hiatt recordings should be locked up forever, and the key thrown away. :puke: |
| garthwb (Emerald Isle) | Posted: Jun 08, 2008 - 04:18 LaurieinTucson wrote: Wow. Tell me more. It was in Zimbabwe, a place filled with beauty and tragedy, to which I wish I could return... It needs our help, prayers, whatever... I wish you could go! |
| LaurieinTucson (Tucson,AZ) | Posted: May 07, 2008 - 18:03 garthwb wrote: ...they would stare at the dust long after the vehicle had become too small to see... Almost as if they were fixing the visit in their memories. Wow. Tell me more. |
| garthwb (Emerald Isle) | Posted: Apr 06, 2008 - 06:14 robinesque wrote: "There's an old dog staring at the dust down a county road"
This line doesn't ring true. My dog only stares at meaningful things, like food, or her master, or other dogs, or interesting sounds. When she's relaxed, she lies with her eyes half closed. "Staring" isn't the right word for that at all. "Lying in the dust" or "sleeping in the dust" maybe? Dogs tend to look at something that catches their attention for as long as it takes them to work out what it is. We had three dogs on our farm, all of which would often stare at many things, sometimes for ages, as if in a reverie of sorts, then suddenly lose interest and look away... And if we had visitors, often we could tell by the dogs suddenly looking up and staring intently at the rising column of dust, until first one, and then all of them, would start barking. They would always hear the sound of the vehicle first, obviously, but even after the visitors had left, they would stare at the dust long after the vehicle had become too small to see... Almost as if they were fixing the visit in their memories. |
| jimoore | Posted: Sep 30, 2007 - 15:46 robinesque wrote: "There's an old dog staring at the dust down a county road"
This line doesn't ring true. My dog only stares at meaningful things, like food, or her master, or other dogs, or interesting sounds. When she's relaxed, she lies with her eyes half closed. "Staring" isn't the right word for that at all. "Lying in the dust" or "sleeping in the dust" maybe?  |
| Dahlia_Gumbo (San Francisco, CA) | Posted: Jul 29, 2007 - 18:56 A fave of mine.  |
| xkolibuul (Pacific Rim, salmon, big trees) | Posted: Jul 29, 2007 - 18:55 Same person who gave you permission to comment. Only, Hiatt makes better use of his bandwidth. Jelani wrote: Who gave this guy permission to sing?! |
| shakitten | Posted: May 27, 2007 - 21:31 Ouch! I think that was the worst segue I ever heard Bill do. Mazzy Star to this was, like, painful.... |
| davie70 (I'm outta hear) | Posted: Apr 26, 2007 - 11:11 love the song, sentimentality and all! such is the craft of a nimble song writer |
| Jelani (Woodstock, New York) | Posted: Apr 26, 2007 - 10:48 Who gave this guy permission to sing?! |
| sqqqrly (Baboosic Lake, NH) | Posted: Apr 26, 2007 - 10:47 robinesque wrote: "There's an old dog staring at the dust down a county road"
This line doesn't ring true. My dog only stares at meaningful things, like food, or her master, or other dogs, or interesting sounds. When she's relaxed, she lies with her eyes half closed. "Staring" isn't the right word for that at all. "Lying in the dust" or "sleeping in the dust" maybe? Ummm, I think it isnt really the dust that the dog is looking at...it is instead that his master just drove down the road creating the dust. The dog is looking for him, but sees only dust. |
| samrex (Brookline, MA) | Posted: Apr 26, 2007 - 10:46 Pedantic much? robinesque wrote: "There's an old dog staring at the dust down a county road"
This line doesn't ring true. My dog only stares at meaningful things, like food, or her master, or other dogs, or interesting sounds. When she's relaxed, she lies with her eyes half closed. "Staring" isn't the right word for that at all. "Lying in the dust" or "sleeping in the dust" maybe? |
| robinesque (CA) | Posted: Jun 13, 2004 - 16:09 "There's an old dog staring at the dust down a county road" This line doesn't ring true. My dog only stares at meaningful things, like food, or her master, or other dogs, or interesting sounds. When she's relaxed, she lies with her eyes half closed. "Staring" isn't the right word for that at all. "Lying in the dust" or "sleeping in the dust" maybe? |
| paulmall | Posted: Sep 04, 2003 - 14:40 tonyp2 wrote: Over the past 15+ years, Hiatt has built a remarkable body of work. Similarities abound among the songs. That's one of the elements of longevity, ultimately. I love his work!
This is definitely a great Hiatt album, I'm a bit biased when it comes to his music however, since he's one of my all time faves. I just had to agree with this comment. |
| wxman1978 (Bethesda, MD) | Posted: Aug 25, 2003 - 11:15 I can't think of too many bad songs that have a mandolin playing. |
| bing (46.0830N, 64.7670W) | Posted: Aug 15, 2003 - 05:58 John Hiatt is a fantastic song writer. I could listen to his stuff all day. |
| mr.selfdestruct (Edmonton, AB) | Posted: Jul 15, 2003 - 15:01 I don't know, I guess this guy just isn't my cup of tea... |
| chucc (canada) | Posted: Jul 15, 2003 - 15:01 i smiled all the way through........ brought me back to traveling days in smoky mountains  |
| Piratemurph (Raleigh, NC) | Posted: Oct 18, 2002 - 13:00 Great Album!! |
| jeremyleo (Ottawa) | Posted: Oct 08, 2002 - 07:18 Wonderful song. I can never hear this one often enough. Definately my favourite off of this excellent Hiatt album. |
| tonyp2 (Honolulu, HI) | Posted: Sep 07, 2002 - 14:48 Over the past 15+ years, Hiatt has built a remarkable body of work. Similarities abound among the songs. That's one of the elements of longevity, ultimately. I love his work! |
| banana (Bellevue, TN) | Posted: Aug 28, 2002 - 09:04 Si senor!!! |
| (8?ยป ((+2 RPT, bioload) Columbia, MO) | Posted: May 28, 2002 - 07:32 Originally Posted by Johray63:
Wow, what a lovely (sung) melody. This is a perfect example of a typical Hiatt song. I agree with the perfect example part. It sounds like any one of a half dozen other songs. I like John Hiatt, but I sure wish he varied a bit more. |
| Johray63 (Meppel) | Posted: Apr 06, 2002 - 21:50 Wow, what a lovely (sung) melody. This is a perfect example of a typical Hiatt song. |
| JBC75 (Decatur, GA) | Posted: Dec 06, 2001 - 21:04 Love this one. Great artist, great tune. |