TED2008
Nellie McKay: "The Dog Song"
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Animal fan Nellie McKay sings a sparkling tribute to her dear dog. She suggests we all do the same: "Just go right to the pound/ And find yourself a hound/ And make that doggie proud/ 'cause that's what it's all about."
Nellie McKay - Singer/songwriter
Nellie McKay sings, croons, raps, grooves and -- barks? -- to glowing critical acclaim. Full bio
Nellie McKay sings, croons, raps, grooves and -- barks? -- to glowing critical acclaim. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
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I’d like to dedicate this next song to Carmelo,
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who was put to sleep a couple of days ago, because he got too old.
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But apparently he was a very nice dog
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and he always let the cat sleep in the dog bed.
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♫ (Dog panting noise) Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh. ♫
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♫ I'm just a'walking my dog, singing my song, strolling along. ♫
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♫ Yeah, it's just me and my dog, catching some sun. We can't go wrong. ♫
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♫ My life was lonely and blue. ♫
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♫ Yeah, I was sad as a sailor, ♫
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♫ I was an angry 'un too. ♫
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♫ Then there was you -- appeared when I was entangled with youth and fear, ♫
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♫ and nerves jingle jangled, vermouth and beer were getting me mangled up. ♫
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♫ But then I looked in your eyes ♫
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♫ and I was no more a failure. ♫
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♫ You looked so wacky and wise. ♫
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♫ And I said, "Lord, I'm happy, 'cause I'm just a'walking my dog, ♫
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♫ catching some sun. We can't go wrong." ♫
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01:35
♫ Yeah, it's just me and my dog, singing our song, strolling along. ♫
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01:41
♫ 'Cause I don't care about your hating and your doubt, ♫
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01:44
♫ and I don't care what the politicians spout. ♫
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01:48
♫ If you need a companion, why, just go out to the pound, ♫
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♫ and find yourself a hound, and make that doggie proud, ♫
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♫ 'cause that's what it's all about. ♫
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♫ (Dog panting noise) Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh. ♫
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♫ My life was tragic and sad. ♫
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♫ I was the archetypal loser. ♫
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♫ I was a pageant gone bad. ♫
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♫ And then there was you -- on time, and wagging your tail ♫
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♫ in the cutest mime that you was in jail. ♫
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♫ I said, "Woof, be mine!" and you gave a wail and then ♫
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♫ I was no longer alone. ♫
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♫ And I was no more a boozer. ♫
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♫ We'll make the happiest home. ♫
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♫ And I said, "Lord, I'm happy, 'cause I’m just a'walking my dog, ♫
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♫ singing my song, strolling along." ♫
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♫ Yeah, it's just me and my dog, catching some sun. We can't go wrong, ♫
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♫ 'cause I don't care about your hating and your doubt, ♫
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♫ and I don’t care what the politicians spout. ♫
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♫ If you need a companion, why, just go out to the pound, ♫
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♫ and find yourself a hound, and make that doggie proud, ♫
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♫ 'cause that's what it's all about, ♫
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♫ that's what it's all about, ♫
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♫ that's what it's all abou-BOW-WOW-WOW-WOW ♫
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♫ that's what it's all about. ♫
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♫ (Dog panting noise) Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh. ♫
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03:22
Good dog!
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03:27
Thank you.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Nellie McKay - Singer/songwriterNellie McKay sings, croons, raps, grooves and -- barks? -- to glowing critical acclaim.
Why you should listen
Playful, quirky, hilarious, endearing: not attributes of your typical political agitator. But singer-songwriter-producer-activist Nellie McKay merits the description. Her music is whimsical, colorful, catchy and as engaging as it is restless. Toying with antique genres and yet undeniably contemporary, it flirts with multiple styles of delivery while maintaining a sharp social conscience.
For these and other eccentricities, McKay has gained a devoted fan following. On stage and off, she's an outspoken advocate of animal rights, a friend and ally to any arch political quip and -- lucky for us -- artistically uncompromising. After cutting two major-label records, her own indie label, Hungry Mouse, produced her latest, Obligatory Villagers.
Nellie McKay | Speaker | TED.com