My Black Dog is Sleeping

[The Gobi Desert Canoe Club]

Hi all,  something a little different. Hands up all those that had an imaginary friend when growing up. Hope you enjoy.       Willie

Rickenbacker 12 String, Fender Precision Bass

We laid by the river just watching the sky
And counting the clouds as they slowly rolled by
Then home through the dark wood
It's time for my tea
Mother was waiting, waiting for me

Leave your friend out there
He doesn't live here
I know she can't see him
So I thought that was queer
And after we'd eaten I turned on the news
Detectives were searching
Still looking for clues

Oh where did he go
Did he pack up his things and just go
He's not used his card or his phone
But I don't think that he's coming home

Instrumental

The up to my bedroom
He's waiting for me
My black dog is sleeping
So I just let him be
But he'll wake up soon
He makes me forget
The things that I do
And you can have one
If you want one to

Oh where did he go
Did he pack up his things and just go
He's not used his card or his phone
But I don't think that he's coming home
Outro

[chapperz66]

Great song as usual Willie.  I still love that Ricky 12 string. 

Fine harmonies.

I didn't have an imaginary friend.  I was too busy having pitched battles with Airfix  tanks and planes.

[Greeny]

Lovely folky / celtic feel to this, and an intriguing story in the lyric. Some lovely guitar work and layering as always. I like that last hanging chord - it adds to the mystery, leaving us hanging too. Nice one!

[Pine]

A musical mystery... i love it! Nice vocals Willie..solid harmonies. Definite celtic vibe. Cool 12 string rhythm.
A ride back into the blur of childhood. Creative. Brilliant move with that unresolved chord ending...

[SE]

Yes an other from Willie, just a classic Willie listen, magic!

[WarpCanada]

I like it.  The term "black dog" always makes me think of Winston Churchill, I think.  He called his suffering from manic-depression the "black dog":

"Churchill knew it and named it his "black dog", following Samuel Johnson (who, like many great men, suffered from the great disease of manic-depression).
Churchill was so paralysed by despair that he spent time in bed, had little energy, few interests, lost his appetite, couldn't concentrate. He was minimally functional – and this didn't just happen once or twice in the 1930s, but also in the 1920s and 1910s and earlier. These darker periods would last a few months, and then he'd come out of it and be his normal self."
source: https://theconversation.com/winston-churchill-and-his-black-dog-of-greatness-36570

Musically that 12 string Ricky has me thinking of Floyd.

[T.C. Elliott]

The lyric is kind of open for interpretation. My penchant for murder ballads is giving this a kind of twisted... twist. I like the phrasing in the melody. The guitars sound good. The doubled vocal on the chorus is quite effective. (I almost said the chorus on the chorus, but not 100% sure if you're using chorus or a detuner or what.) This song has a lovely feel to it, the longing comes through both the lyric and especially in the music.

[Jean Pierre]

I love the parts with choirs (harmonies make me think of CSN)
...and I also have a black dog (Jahia)

[tonyc]

great song willie , painted the picture well , i was on there counting the clouds , love the sound of the vocal harmony's sounds superb .....cheers tony cee

[Ferryman_1957]

Wow, I love this one Willie. A little different from you and it's fab. That folky feel and rhythm works really well, it's a great backer for some suitably spooky lyrics that are certainly open to interpretation. The lead lines work really well and your vox are great. It's beautifully put together and it works really, really well. Very good indeed!