This is a song I wrote from the perspective of our dog, Pinto. When I get my harmonicas out, he often howls along (it’s because he wants to make noise, not because it hurts his ears – we looked it up!). Inspired by his musicality and how much he is a gift to my life, I thought he deserved a song. So, this song is written from his perspective. He didn’t dictate it to me verbatim, but there are other non-verbal ways he’s communicated parts of this song. Listen for him singing with the harmonica at the end!
V1
I was born in dead of winter in the south
My brother and I tried to find a way of getting out
But we were tiny, helpless, wandering in the cold
Afraid that we would die ‘fore we got old
Our daily bread was shivering and tears
And I can only guess about why mama disappeared
We looked for friendly faces in the crowd
And that’s how we found our way out
Chorus:
They wrapped us up, took us home
Gave us love, kept us warm
From the streets of Carolina, coming home
V2
They took us in and cleaned up all our wounds
Gave us soft blankets and a warm and cozy room
Then they said goodbye, sorry their time was short
My brother, he and I were headed north
Then I heard a man and woman picked us out
They had a nice big fenced-in yard and a little cozy house
They came and scooped me up with teary eyes
And finally I knew things were going right
Chorus 2:
You wrapped me up, took me home
Gave me love, kept me warm
From the streets of Carolina, coming home
V3
SOmetimes the man wants to say what’s on his heart
He gets out his harmonica and strums on his guitar
I feel it, too, and I want to sing along
That Pennsylvania-Carolina song
(Chorus 2)
*AWOOOO*
@tfish77 Mar 2022
Ooooh love that banjo! I wrote a song many FAWMs back from the POV of our now-departed dog, so this one really spoke to me. Beautiful and touching.
@angelinapowersuit Feb 2022
So freakin sweet, so many details and a wonderful story, and so much warmth and love and happiness throughout. But the chorus gets me most, how you keep raising your vocal up just another notch each time, kind of makes me think of when our dog barks to sing along with us :-)
@shallowcarrot Feb 2022
This warms my heart! :') The lyrics are so brilliantly crafted, and I love the subtle touches with the melody trying to imitate how a dog would sing it.
@breezyanna Feb 2022
Oh gosh that was so sweet!!! Really solid storytelling here! Not gunna like, it made me cry a little.
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
Yay for Pinto, who should get songwriting credit. This is so so sweet. (My pup fits this biography perfectly (though she's from Arkansas); I should try her on harmonica, perhaps.) I love, love this song. The melody on the chorus is especially gorgeous. (and I also love Pennyslvania-Carolina song.)
@reliabletoaster Feb 2022
I really enjoyed that. Well put together song.