i live on a little island in the kennebecasis river in new brunswick. in the winter we use big sled dogs to move stuff around, like firewood for example.
there were 9 or 10 dogs that needed feeding, and 'dogfood' was born one day at feeding time. it became my "feeding the dogs" song and sometimes if i was lucky, i could get them howling along. they were a pretty good chorus of singers. little bear had a low voice and sassparilla had a good high voice... i think they would sing because they knew that food was imminent, not because they enjoyed singing along with me.
~~~~~~~~~
steve sellors is a gifted songwriter, and he and billy and me, we get together to sing songs- he often has a new song, he's a pretty prolific writer and they're good songs. at one such event he brought out a new song 'riddle man' i think it was, and it was poignant and beautiful and then he said "you got any new songs?" like sorta challenging, and i sang 'dogfood' and laughed and giggled as i sang it the first time for him.
~~~~~
Billy said "be Careful, it's clever and quirky and they'll like it and it'll drive you crazy having to sing DogFood". he was a little right.
2018:
The dogs who inspired this tune are all gone now. I miss their singing out across the river. Even the coyotes on nearby Long Island don't howl anymore. I got to do it myself.
lyrics
DOG FOOD by SANDY MACKAY
I was walking down a street as I lay dreaming,
I was walking down a the streets in old Quispam (sisss)
My dog beside me walking as we’re dreaming
And my dog was singing as he ran…. And He sang:
Dog food is good for you, Full of nutrients and protein too
Dog Food is good for you, I eat it every day
Dog food is such a treat, Full of corn and soy and wheat
Sometimes there is even meat, I eat it every day
Dog Food, Dog Food, Dog Food, Dog Food
Dog Food, it’s Dog Food, and I eat it every day
then a man in a bowler hat said at me
“Don’t steal from the little fish Sunny Bubbles;
You wanna get anywhere in this world,
go lift some Waits. Always ask for more.”
My dog is behind the wheel of the pick-up truck,
driving over the edge of the cliff, (Thelma and Louise)
And as we are falling; he sprouted wings, and we began to soar
And he sang:
Dog food is good for you, Full of nutrients and protein too
Dog Food is good for you, I eat it every day
Dog food is such a treat, Full of corn and soy and wheat
Sometimes there is even meat, I eat it every day
Dog Food, Dog Food, Dog Food, Dog Food
Dog Food, it’s Dog Food, and I eat it every day
credits
from call of the wheel,
released September 15, 2012
produced by sandy mackay and tim davidson at ripple effect music in saint john nb with help from billy preeper
percussion: john morrison
harmonica and vox: steven sellors
other vox: zara bokay and fozzie (rip)
bass, mandolin, guitar, vox: sandy mackay
sandy
sometimes lives on a little island in a big river in New Brunswick.
Plays strings
keyboards and bagpipes.
We're writing new songs these days, it's fall coming into winter and enjoyable snow!
Looks forward to seeing you soon, somewhere... send
messages to easandymackay@gmail.com...more
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