Spitball Army

Besides other humans, dogs are probably the smartest animals that we come in contact with on a daily basis. I’ve known some dogs that are most definitely smarter than some humans I’ve known, but that’s another story.  Dogs play with us, they keep us company, and they make us happy. It is no surprise, then, that after humans (in, for instance, love songs and murder ballads), the next most popular animal represented in song is man’s best friend.

I thought of this as “Jenny” came up in rotation the other day. I liked this tune by Chicago before I knew it was about a dog.  After that, I liked it even more. It occurred to me that there are two distinct types of songs about dogs: those that use dogs as a metaphor or as a reference point or for descriptive purposes (David Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs,” John Prine’s “Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine,” Bob Dylan’s “If Dogs Run Free,” even obscurities like Bob Dorough’s beat-era “Dog”), and those that refer to specific dog characters.

“Jenny” fits the latter category, as well as Neil Young’s “Old King,” Harry Nilsson’s “Me and My Arrow,” and “Martha My Dear” from The Beatles’ White Album. I even uncovered such a dog song (“Rita”) on the 2007 self-titled album by Vulture Whale, a Birmingham-based band. I know that there must be dozens upon dozens of such songs…what are some that you know and love?

“Jenny” was written by Terry Kath – guitarist, sometime vocalist and founding member of Chicago. In a tragic accident, he died in 1978 at the age of 31 from a gunshot wound to the head, self-inflicted while playing a faux game of Russian Roulette. Kath had provided much of the necessary rock and roll muscle that kept Chicago balanced between going into full-on jazz mode like Blood, Sweat & Tears did in some of their later albums, and the treacly love song mode that the band eventually meandered toward once Peter Cetera’s vocal stylings became the group’s dominant sound.

Despite the potentially precious subject matter (man asks dog to watch over woman in his absence), “Jenny” has a surprising punch. Kath’s electric guitar playing is fluid, often in dialogue with Danny Seraphine’s gymnastic drumming, the bass line is lively, and the pedal steel break in the bridge describes wistful longing (and maybe a dog’s bay) perfectly. Sadly, “Jenny” was overshadowed on 1973’s Chicago VI by the monster radio hits “Just You ‘N’ Me” and “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day.” I think it could have been a smash on the airwaves.

[audio:Chicago___Jenny.mp3]
“Jenny” (1973) by Chicago

Jenny
Jenny
You know I’m goin’ away
And you know my woman’s here
Please don’t you stray
Watch over her

You can run and bark and play
Your whole life through
And you can chase the cats around
‘Cause she loves that, too
And if someone comes to cause her harm
You will protect her true
Oh Jenny

Jenny
Jenny
You guard her while I’m gone
Time moves so slow
For someone who’s alone
So comfort her

If she’s feelin’ low
You gotta be a card
And if she’s fast asleep
Don’t you sleep too hard
If someone comes to cause her harm
You gotta cut him down
Oh Jenny

Now maybe it’s gonna be alright
Won’t have to bite
Won’t have to fight
But then again
So sad but true
There’s always someone waitin’
Just to shit on you

[audio:Bob_Dorough___Dog.mp3]
“Dog” (1958) by Bob Dorough

[audio:Neil_Young___Old_King.mp3]
“Old King” (1992) by Neil Young

[audio:Harry_Nilsson___Me_and_My_Arrow.mp3]
“Me and My Arrow” (1971) by Harry Nilsson

[audio:Vulture_Whale___Rita.mp3]
“Rita” (2007) by Vulture Whale