You keep a knocking but you can’t come in
The way you love I adore
You always come never know where you been
But a, now I’m here baby to even the score
You’re up, you’re down
You’re always running in place
Triathlon if you please
You’re always begging me for a taste
But ain’t up to snuff if you sneeze
Yak, yak, yak
Lord you give me the bends
Your head’s in jail
I’ll call out the law
Like the reason a dog
Has so many friends
He wags his tail instead of his tongue
Your older sister
She’s a lot like you
She likes to grab my microphone
Now there ain’t too much she won’t do
Especially when we’re all alone
You’re up, you’re down
You’re always running in place
Triathlon if you please
Her mind’s on rewind and erase
But you might get shot, babe
When you’re shooting the breeze
Yak, yak, yak
Lord you give me the bends
Your heads in jail
I’ll call out the law
That the reason a dog
Has so many friends
‘Cause he wags his tail instead of his tongue
That the reason a dog
Has so many friends
‘Cause he wags his tail instead of his tongue
Your older sister
She’s a lot like you
And there ain’t too much that she won’t do
Ooh ooh who who who whooo
Ooh ooh who who who whooo
There always something that you got to say
I lose my mind and then I surely fade away, yeah
Yak, yak, yak
Lord you give me the bends
You’re heads in jail
Now look what you done
That the reason a dog
Has so many friends
‘Cause he wags his tail instead of his tongue
That the reason a dog
Has so many friends
He wags his tail instead of his tongue
That the reason a dog
Has so many friends
‘Cause he wags his tail instead of his tongue…arf
Playful Wit and Rock ‘n’ Roll Attitude
“The Reason A Dog” by Aerosmith is a cheeky, metaphor-laden romp that showcases the band’s signature blend of humor and hard rock swagger. The lyrics lean into playful banter and clever wordplay, comparing the behaviors of people to a dog’s loyalty and simplicity. The recurring line—“the reason a dog has so many friends, he wags his tail instead of his tongue”—serves as a sharp observation about the pitfalls of gossip and constant chatter. The song’s flirtatious tone and tongue-in-cheek references, including nods to family dynamics and wild relationships, keep the energy high and the mood mischievous.
Song Credits
- Artist: Aerosmith
- Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry
- Release Year: 1997
- Label: Columbia Records