This song ‘Kinda funny’ was written for the challenge “write a song in a minor key” (3 of us meet regularly to reveal our songwriting response to a challenge set by one of us). The opening line of this song was borrowed from internet humour I read years ago (how to write a blues song), which in turn inspired the development of the story in the lyrics.
Kinda funny - Lyrics:
VERSE 1
I shot a blind dog down in Memphis, ‘cos he looked at me the wrong way
Let that be a cautionary tale if you disrespectin’ what I say
VERSE 2
The irony hasn’t escaped me none, that I’d take offense to a mongrel so blind
But I gotta kinda funny feeling in my waters that he’d snitch my britches from behind
VERSE 3
I been months on the road without a bath, I been chaffin’ up really fierce
My solitude’s proven quite handy in those moments of ointment and beers
VERSE 4
As I lay me down to get me some shut-eye, I felt a hot, rank breath on the back of my neck
Through one opened eye identify the mutt so determined to join my trek
CHORUS 1
Even though I like only one log beside the fire
This old mate is one dog that never tires
Always inspires, follows me higher and higher
SOLO OVER VERSE
VERSE 5
His eyes are rot, his sense of smell is not, he caught a whiff of the danger right on the spot
And he guided me up to safety and our hunter fell with just one shot
CHORUS 2
I feel rather shameful I treated him bad at first
He must have known I was living like I was cursed
Thinking the worst, but waiting to be inspired
CHORUS 1
Even though I like only one log beside the fire
This old mate is one dog that never tires
Always inspires, follows me higher and higher