wag the dog
from 'wag the dog'

Now you can do the watusi
You can do it if you try
Any puppy Dog or pussy
Can do the jerk or do the fly
Now you can do the wooly bully
But can you pull the wooly wooly
Can you wag, can you wag the dog

You got the shimmy and the hustle
It's all the rage downtown
Yeh, you don't have to have the muscle
To get into the mess around
'cos you can do the wooly bully
But can you pull the wooly wooly
Can you wag, can you wag the dog

So make him sit, make him stay
Come to heel, go to play
Roll him over, lie still
Make him go kill, attaboy
Wag that dog, baby

You have had the duck and mashed potato
Funky chicken on a roll
Move on up a little later
To the monkey and the stroll
Now you can do the wooly bully
But can you pull the wooly wooly
Can you wag, can you wag the dog

Now go bow, bow wow wow
Now go woof, woof woof woof
Yeh, that's right, wag the dog

The locomotion boogaloo
The hully gully and the limbo too
Wag that dog

Yeh, hitchhike for me baby
Now we're barefootin'
The funky funky penguin

That's the bug, and that's the frug
Yeh, but can you wag
Wag the dog, can you wag the dog
Wag the dog, can you wag the dog

Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies
Be-Bop-A-Lua, Baby What I Say
Here comes Johnny singing I Gotta Woman
Down in the tunnels, trying to make it pay
He got the action, he got the motion
Yeah, the boy can play
Dedication devotion
Turning all the night time into the day

He do the song about the sweet lovin' woman
He do the song about the knife
He do the walk, he do the walk of life

Here comes Johnny and he'll tell you the story
Hand me down my walkin' shoes
Here come Johnny with the power and the glory
Backbeat the talkin' blues
He got the action, he got the motion
Yeah, the boy can play
Dedication devotion
Turning all the night time into the day

He do the song about the sweet lovin' woman
He do the song about the knife
He do the walk, he do the walk of life

Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies
Be-Bop-A-Lula, Baby What I Say
Here comes Johnny singing I Gotta Woman
Down in the tunnels, trying to make it pay
He got the action, he got the motion
Yeah the boy can play
Dedication devotion
Turning all the night time into the day

And after all the violence and double talk
There's just a song in the trouble and the strife
You do the walk, you do the walk of life

Once a jolly swagman¹ camp'd by a billabong²
Under the shade of a coolibah³ tree
And he sang as he watch'd and waited till his billy boiled
"Who'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me?"

"Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"
And he sang as he watch'd and waited till his billy boiled
"You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

Down came a jumbuck⁴ to drink at that billabong²
Up jump'd the swagman¹ and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck⁴ in his tucker bag⁵
"You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

"Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck⁴ in his tucker bag⁵
"You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

Up came the squatter⁶ mounted on his thoroughbred
Down came the troopers, one, two, three
"Whose that jolly jumbuck⁴ you've got in your tucker bag⁵?
You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

"Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"
Whose that jolly jumbuck⁴ you've got in your tucker bag⁵?
You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

Up jump'd the swagman¹, sprang into the billabong²
"You'll never catch me alive," said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong²
"You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

"Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong²
"You'll come a' waltzing Matilda with me"

comments

¹ itinerant
² waterhole
³ type of eucalyptus
⁴ young sheep
⁵ food sack
⁶ property owner

High and dry in the long hot day
Lost and lonely in every way
Got the flats all around me sky up above
I need a little water of love

I've been too long lonely and my heart feels pain
Crying out for some soothing rain
I believe I have taken enough
I need a little water of love

Water of love deep in the ground
No water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It'll carry that water of love to me

There's a bird up in a tree sitting up high
Waiting for me to die
If I don't get some water soon
I'll be dead and gone in the afternoon

Once I had a woman I could call my own
Once I had a woman now my woman is gone
Once there was a river now there's a stone
You know it's evil when you're living alone

comments

'Water Of Love' is an atmospheric tale of lost love. The lack of water is used as an allegory for the drying up of one's love life. In this song, the thirst for water is the thirst for love. 'Water Of Love' speaks of past love, present loneliness, the unnatural state of being alone, and the desire and hope for the return of love. This song is quite likely derived from, or at least, has elements of, Mark Knopfler's first marriage and divorce.

The spartan music of 'Water Of Love' reflects the aridness of the lyrical setting. The sparseness of the percussion in the beginning of 'Water Of Love' speaks of the emptiness of the desert reinforcing the idea that the singer is completely alone. Throughout the entire song, the percussions continue with no resonance, dry as a bone. In contrast, the guitar is sharp and filled with resonance, intensifying and proclaiming the pain of the singer.

It gets so dark before the dawn
That's when it gets to me
Before the city symphony of taxi horns

That's the way it always starts,
Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart.

Last night I thought I heard my name
Well it was too dark to see, but it had to be,
The voice was just the same

That's the way it always starts,
Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart.

So tell me why should it have to be this way
Why can't it be all right,
Why can't I sleep at night?
Why should it have to be this way?
Why must there be this price to pay?

Now all the streets are dark and bare,
Oh, if you can live in this town,
And stick around, you can live anywhere

That's the way it always starts,
Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart.

In that land across the sea there's a job for you and me
Though our presence there may not be found
We must stay standing there on the battle lines and pray
We must never lay our weapons down

We don't have to be a soldier in a uniform
To be of service over there
While the boys so bravely stand with the weapons made by hand
Let us trust and use the weapon of prayer

Many thousands miles away someone shed there blood today
With a heart so true and brave they're gone
To a war that's yours and mine let us join the battle line
With a weapon that will save our home

We don't have to be a soldier in a uniform
To be of service over there
While the boys so bravely stand with the weapons made by hand
Let us trust and use the weapon of prayer

And when the planes and tanks and guns have done all that they can do
And the mighty bombs have rained and failed
Still the helpful hand above, on the weapon made of love
And against him none on earth prevail

Now if I was to sing for you
A song you never heard
And give it to you my finest treasure
Would you look at what I bring to you
Turn without a word
Leave me at your gate
Keep me waiting at your pleasure

What have I
What have I got
What have I got to do
To win your love
Maybe never
What have I
What have I got
What have I got to do
To win your love
Forever

Well I'll beat out a lion heart tattoo
I'll bring you pipes and drums
I'll bring you books of burnished leather
I'll set to sea in ships for you
Brave a thousand runs
Ride a hurricane
Laugh at any stormy weather

What have I
What have I got
What have I got to do
To win your love
Maybe never
What have I
What have I got
What have I got to do
To win your love
Forever

You set no store by gems and gold
You scorn my weather chart
You are not concerned with men's advances
I want you more a hundred-fold
When you lift my heart
I'll burn no other flame
Bear no one else's lances

What have I
What have I got
What have I got to do
To win your love
Maybe never
What have I
What have I got
What have I got to do
To win your love
Forever
To win your love
Forever

There's a shadow hanging over the valley
Total eclipse of the moon
Closing up the gates of the city
The wind plays a wild tune

Don't you put the lock upon the window
Don't you put the bar on the door
Don't you cry for the rain in the sky
You seen the storm before

Well, what's the matter with you baby
Baby, what's the matter now
Tell me what's the matter you running in the shadows
Every time you hear the wild man howl

C'mon, tell me what's the matter with you babe
Baby, what's the matter now
What's the matter now you running in the shadows
Every time you hear the wild man howl

Lightning gonna strike at midnight
Thunder gonna shake it around
Don't you flinch don't give an inch
Just a-let the flood come down

C'mon, tell me what's the matter with you babe
Baby, what's the matter now
What's the matter now you running in the shadows
Every time you hear the wild man howl

C'mon, tell me what's the matter with you babe
Baby, what's the matter now
What's the matter now you running in the shadows
Every time you hear the wild man howl

If we can't get along we oughta be apart
And I'm wondering where'd you get that cold, cold heart
Set me free - sign my release
I'm tired of being the villain of the peace

You been giving me a bad time
Tell me what I'd do
How come I always get a hard time
Honey when it comes to you
Sayin' things that you didn't have to
How come I always get a hard time
Honey when it comes to you

You only get one life - this I know
I wanna get my licks in now before I go
The fire of love is dead and cold
I gotta satisfy the hunger in my soul

And you been giving me a bad time
Tell me what I'd do
How come I always get a hard time
Honey when it comes to you
Sayin' things that you didn't have to
How come I always get a hard time
Honey when it comes to you

Where d'ya think you're going
Don't you know it's dark outside
Where d'ya think you're going
Don't you care about my pride
Where d'ya think you're going
I think a you don't know
You got no way of knowing

I understand your changes
A-long before you reach the door
I know what you came her for
And now I'm sick of joking
You know I like you to be free
A-where d'ya think ya going
I think you better go with me girl

You say there is no reason
But you still find cause to doubt me
If you ain't with me girl
You're gonna be without me

Where d'ya think you're going
Don't you know it's dark outside
Where d'ya think you're going
I wish I didn't care about my pride
And now I'm sick of joking
You know I like you to be free
A-where d'ya think ya going
I think you better go with me girl

Baby I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say
But baby I'll wipe away those bitter tears
I'll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into grey

Why worry, there should be laughter after the pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now

Baby when I get down I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
I know it isn't hard to say
But baby just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way

Why worry, there should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now

Stepping out to Angellucci's for my coffee beans
Checking out the movies and the magazines
Waitress she watches me crossing from the Barocco Bar
I'm getting a pickup for my steel guitar
I saw you walking out Shaftesbury Avenue
Excuse me for talking I wanna marry you
This is the seventh heaven street to me
Don't be so proud
You're just another angel in the crowd
And I'm walking in he wild west end
Walking with your wild best friend

And my conductress on the number nineteen
She was a honey
Pink toenails and hands all dirty with money
Greasy hair easy smile
Made me feel nineteen for a while
And I went down to Chinatown
In the backroom it's a man's world
All the money go down
Duck inside the doorway gotta duck to eat
Right now feels alright now
You and me we can't beat

And a gogo dancing girl yes I saw her
The deejay he say "Here's Mandy for ya"
I feel alright to see her
But she's paid to do that stuff
She's dancing high I move on by
The close ups can get rough
When you're walking in the wild west end

comments

'Wild West End' is about reminiscences of walking through one's hometown. In this case, the West End of London. The town is filled with familiar sights, sounds, and other people, from the coffee shop to the bus, from Chinatown to the go-go dancers in a night club. The descriptive lyrics and the laid back rhythm guitar give the impression of a warm and friendly atmosphere. In the lyrics, there are two plays on words, 'My conductress on the number nineteen... made me feel nineteen for a while' and 'duck inside the doorway gotta duck to eat.' This song might, also, be seen from another perspective. The walk through the different scenes may be symbolic of a 'walk' through the man's life. At the start of the song, he is confident, joking with a girl, asking her to marry him. At the end of the song, his confidence seems to have gone, and he has to pay dancers at a club.

Musically, the persistent rhythm guitar gives the impression of strolling along the streets without any urgency. It creates the feeling of no timetable for the man in the song to keep.

Will you miss me, will you miss me
Will you miss me, will you miss me
Will you miss me, miss me when I'm gone

Did you ever dream lucky, wake up cold in hand
Do you look at the stars in the heavens above
Do you sleep on the pillow where my head used to lay
While the moonbeams flicker 'cross your window pane
I'm on my way from here, don't know where I'm going

I'm rolling, rolling down that road
I'm rolling, rolling down that road
Just dreaming about the days of long ago

When darkness falls across the land
There's a shadow cast in the heart of a man
Though the flame of desire burns bright as a star
I hear a cry on the wind like a voice from afar
I'm a stranger here don't know where I'm going

I'm rolling, rolling down that road
I'm rolling, rolling down that road
Just dreaming about the days of long ago

Will you miss me, will you miss me
Will you miss me, will you miss me
Will you miss me, miss me when I'm gone