“We are alone / And all is one / The father daughter devil and son…” Hmm, the excerpted lyrics from the first verse of “Big Black Dog” seem to speak to an authoritarian and his closest disciples if you will… let that sink in. The verse continues, “They deal in art / The art of deal / They sing Sieg Heils in the aisles of high heels.” Sieg Heil, of course, is the Nazi salute, in all its utter infamy. Clearly, veteran punk-rock band Bad Religion deliver a song tailor-made for the ‘age of Trump,’ atoning for his absolute, non-inclusive approach as the President of the United States – “Bullshit beams from the bully pulpit.” “Big Black Dog” seems to atone for the ills of authoritarianism, elitism, racism and bullying.
Bad Religion have been politically and socially charged throughout their career. Their 2019 album, Age of Unreason is no exception. Guitarist/songwriter Brett Gurewitztweeted, Age of Unreason defends “enlightenment values,” while specific to “Big Black Dog,” asserts, “The ‘black dog’…is a metaphor for counter-enlightenment ideas… the ‘endarkenment.’” “Big Black Dog,” hence, seems to highlight how things are out of order: “No regrets for the bounty they’ve taken / The pigs must feed on their rasher of bacon.” Another prime example comes on the badass chorus:
“Big cyber-weapon, little traitor in chief
He’s got a big black dog on a leash.”
Of course, even beyond the ‘black dog’ referencing ‘endarkenment,’ black dogs have earned negative connotations to an extent, whether it’s British folklore or a representation of depression. Honestly, there’s plenty to unpack from what seems like a simple song that just crosses the two-minute mark. Besides the depth encompassed, listeners are also given an epic guitar solo, the aforementioned latching chorus, and a pretty awesome repeated closing lyric: I’ll be right here when I disappear.” The big takeaways? Eliminate the ‘endarkenment’ and restore those enlightenment values, eliminating authoritarianism, elitism, racism, and bullying.
You can learn more about Bad Religion here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
