• From: California
  • Registered: 2008-05-04
  • Posts: 26

Topic: An Ode to my Dog

My best friend in the whole world died of cancer and old age a few years ago.  This song still brings me to the brink of tears.  I still carry his dog tags on my keychain.

An Ode to My DogWords and Music by Dan Bernhardt


Folk Ballad.  4/4, moderately slow tempo.  Nostalgic ode to a loyal friend




[F]Your brown eyes are [G]growing old and [C]tired


[F]But through the tears and [G]pain I find a [C]smile


[F]And even though it’s [G]bad


And [C]not much time is [Am]left


We [Dm]still can lay our plans of mice and [G7]men




So [F]let’s look back to [G]bright and better [C]days


[F]Remember all the [G]walks that we would [C]take


[F]Ignore the ceding [G]tide


And [C]chase down bigger [Am]waves


And [Dm]know that we have lived our lives with [G7]love, and not in vain


[F]Ooohh oh ooo-[C]hh


[F]Ooohh oh ooo-[C]hh[C/B]


But [Am7]saying goodbye is never [Dm]easy to say


You’ve [G7]been my friend for so long now, I [F]just want you to [C]stay


The [Am7]time that we shared will [Dm]always be with me


And [G7]when you’re gone, you’ll not be gone, [F]‘cause you’re a part of [C]me



[F]Last night I had a [G]dream that you were [C]young


A [F]funny crazy [G]mixed-up little [C]pup


[F]Running through the [G]trees,


You [C]lived your life with [Am]ease


And [Dm]always found the time to snuggle [G7]up


[F]But then I had a [G]dream that you were [C]gone


[F]You laid there on the [G]table, and the [C]nurse said you were numb


[F]The doctor said it’s [G]time,


I’d been [C]ignoring all the [Am]signs,


The [Dm]ones you always want to cover [G7]up


[F]You loved me as [G]much as I love [C]you


And [F]doing what is [G]right can feel so [C]goddamn wrong to do


But [Am7]saying goodbye is never [Dm]easy to say


You’ve [G7]been my friend for so long now, I [F]just want you to [C]stay


The [Am7]time that we shared will [Dm]always be with me


And [G7]when you’re gone, you’ll not be gone, [F]‘cause you’re a part of [C]me   



Music is my savior/I was maimed by Rock and Roll/I was tamed by Rock and Roll/I got my name/From Rock and Roll

-Jeff Tweedy

dbernhar's Website

  • dino48
  • Honoured Member
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  • From: los banos,california
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 6,801

Re: An Ode to my Dog

real sorry to hear about your dog,I know that pain as I have had to put down two of my best friends,it felt like the world ended. they were also a few years ago but I still miss them.

my papy said son your going too drive me too drinking if you dont stop driving that   Hot  Rod  Lincoln!! Cmdr cody and his lost planet airman
  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: An Ode to my Dog

Great stuff man. I got choked up reading. I've written several songs about my dog as well. She's still with me but her health is failing fast. It's hard to say goodbye. These lyrics really struck me. Well done!!!!

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello
  • From: Almancil, Algarve, Portugal
  • Registered: 2006-09-02
  • Posts: 6,205

Re: An Ode to my Dog

Hi Dan,

Any of us who have lost pets can relate this song. After playing it I had to dry my eyes before I could write this. Beautful song, well done.

Roger

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

Roger Guppy's Website

  • buvvy
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-06-01
  • Posts: 273

Re: An Ode to my Dog

Well done on what you've written. I had to put one of my dogs down a few weeks ago, and it's just such a terribly hard thing to do. Your words brought back many memories and moist eyes. I wrote a song for my dogs a while back and friends asked me to play it for them
a week ago, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Once again, well done, it is good to know that there are compassionate and caring people in this violent world in which we live.

Keep on Rocking and remember Animals Feel Pain Too.
  • Registered: 2010-09-21
  • Posts: 6

Re: An Ode to my Dog

Dan,

How can one not shed a few tears when strumming this for the first time, I sure did. Thanks for sharing my friend, I have been there too !!!

Tony

  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: An Ode to my Dog

Thank you for this.  On this past Monday I took a family member, my husband's dog, for his last car ride to the Vet.  It sucks... your song is written with true love and compassion and hits home in a beautiful way.  sad  A lovely write.

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

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