Putting the Dog to Sleep Lyrics
Put your arm 'round my collarbone
And open the door
Don't lie to me if you're putting the dog to sleep
That pet you just couldn't keep
And couldn't afford
Well, prove to me I'm not gonna die alone
Unstitch that shit I've sewn
To close up the hole that tore through my skin
Well my trust in you is a dog with a broken leg
Tendons too torn to beg for you to let me back in
You said, “I can't prove to you you're not gonna die alone
But trust me to take you home
To clean up that blood all over your paws
You can't keep running out
Kicking yourself off the bed
Kicking yourself in the head
Because you're kicking me too.”
Put your trust in me
I'm not gonna die alone
Put your trust in me
I'm not gonna die alone… I don't think so...
I'm not gonna die alone
Put your trust in me
I'm not gonna die alone… I don't think so...
About
In this song, the Antlers uses the idea of “putting the dog to sleep” as a metaphor to describe a dying relationship.
Pet owners may sometimes have to face the difficult decision of having to euthanize their pet – sometimes referred to as “putting to sleep” or “putting down” – to save their pet from pain. The pet owner knows that the end is near and by putting them down, they can say goodbye on their own terms rather than wait for an unexpected end.
The song uses that concept to describe the final moments of a relationship. To avoid the pain of a big fight or the permanent burning of bridges, the song considers whether they should end the relationship on mutual terms. The relationship is dying out and the breakup is inevitable, so it is better to end it now.
However, the song is ambiguous on whether the couple might want to take a second chance on trying again. Is a breakup really inevitable? Or can the relationship be saved? The song is equally depressing and hopeful if interpreted in such a way.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
A turning point in this band was the day we discovered that we all love classic soul songs. We learned this when we first started touring Hospice and it carried us all the way through recording Burst Apart, this song being the epitome of that shared discovery. “Putting The Dog To Sleep” is not literally about putting a dog down, but rather a song about reconciliation. In one sense, it’s about two people airing their grievances and moving on, learning to trust each other. In another, this is a song about my making peace with Hospice and the events that inspired it. It’s a song about moving on, forgiving without forgetting.
- 2.French Exit
- 3.Parentheses
- 4.No Widows
- 7.Tiptoe
- 8.Hounds
- 9.Corsicana
- 10.Putting the Dog to Sleep
- 11.Tongue Tied