Almost everyone loves dogs. How can you not? Even your favorite musician or band probably can’t help but fall in love with their furry, four-legged pups.
And just like us, many musicians have been inspired by their best friends at one point or another. In fact, you might have heard a few songs by your favorite artists singing about their dogs.
Check out these six songs about beloved dogs from famous musicians.
1. ‘Martha My Dear’ By The Beatles
You might have heard this song and thought this was about a girl or romantic interest. It’s actually a song about Paul McCartney’s first dog, Martha.
Martha was an Old English Sheepdog who was a dear companion for McCartney and inspired him to write this song just for her on The Beatles’ White Album in 1968.
Speaking about Martha, McCartney stated:
She was a dear pet of mine. I remember John Lennon being amazed to see me being so loving to an animal. He said, ‘I’ve never seen you like that before.’ I’ve thought, you know, he wouldn’t have. It’s only when you’re cuddling around with a dog that you’re in that mode, and she was a very cuddly dog.
2. ‘Old King’ By Neil Young
Neil Young is a famous singer and songwriter from Canada. He had a Hound dog named Elvis who spent years with him on the road when he was touring.
Young stated that Elvis was the only creature to whom he could confide in about everything going on in his life. Thus, he added a track “Old King” in his 1992 album, Harvest Moon.
If you’re a pet parent, you know exactly where Young is coming from when you listen to his song.
3. ‘Man Of The Hour’ By Norah Jones
If you’ve never heard of Norah Jones, you are missing out on some good music. A multiple Grammy award winner, her haunting yet soothing voice has created dozens of unforgettable songs throughout the years.
One of those songs is “Man of the Hour” about her Poodle, Ralph. Jones sings of how Ralph has been a better companion and friend than any of the men she’s dated.
Speaking about Ralph, Jones stated:
I like to say that he’s a scruffy, manly Poodle. Because you say Poodle and people start rolling their eyes. My dog-ological clock started to tick. So I got a dog — it’s great. I’m madly in love with him.
4. ‘I Love My Dog’ By Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens hails from England and is one of the most famous folk and rock musicians to grace us with his talent. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, he’s created a lot of great hits throughout the decades.
But did you know his very first single was about his childhood dog? A song about weighing a love with a person and the purity of love for a dog. And, of course, the dog wins every time.
His song “I Love My Dog” reflects those feelings, and those of us who think of our dogs as family members can definitely relate.
5. ‘Seamus’ By Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is a famous rock and roll band hailing from London, England. Forming around 1965, they became an iconic rock and roll group and are one of the most successful bands in music history. You might’ve heard the song “Seamus” on their album Meddle.
The story behind the song is that, of course, it’s about a dog, but the interesting fact is that the dog didn’t belong to anyone on the band. It was actually the dog of Stephen Marriott, a guitarist for a lesser known band, Small Faces.
Marriott was close friends with Pink Floyd front man, David Gilmour, who noticed the close friendship and love Stephen had for his Collie, Seamus. That love inspired Gilmour to create this lovely track that even has Seamus’ grunts and howling included in the song!
6. ‘Cracker Jack’ By Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is one of the most famous country singers of all time and an iconic presence. Having won multiple awards, she’s a hall of famer with numerous hits that have graced billboard charts throughout the world.
One of those hits was “Cracker Jack,’ a song written by Dolly and inspired by her long-lost devoted pup who was, as she sang it, “The best friend I ever had.”
It’s a great tune that will have you wanting to cuddle your pup and appreciate their companionship.
Which song about dogs is your favorite? Do you know any other songs famous musicians wrote about their pups? Let us know in the comments below!
