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The Black Dog Lyrics by Ren Stedman

The Half-Arsed Defeat

2019

[Verse 1]
I really love dogs but the black dog's a cunt
And he always arrives when I really don't want him around
I grin through a clenched jaw, the dog's got it in for me
More so today than he has done before, but I've found
[Pre-Chorus]
That his bark it's got nothing on the bite that he bears
He's looming, consuming me, making me scared
Not of what he will do, but what I will when I no longer care
[Chorus]
I haven't showered for weeks and I stink
Of the ways that I cope with the dog, and the drinks
That I swear I won't have anymore - they add fuel to his fire
And I used to think I'd fight him off
But today I'm too tired
[Verse 2]
He's grown up beside me since I was fourteen
And back then they would call it a phase. I would find my relief
In the marks I would make and the tablets I'd take
By the handful to see if the black dog would stop chasing me
[Pre-Chorus]
But his kind do not take well to threats or decisions
That don't end in tears or another admission
To hospital wards or a waging of wars in your head
And the black dog has funded the fight to invade me again
[Chorus]
I won't fight out of bed or these jeans
I've been wearing too long and for too many weeks
I am weak by the bones from the sticks and the stones that he fires
And I used to think I'd fight him off
But today I'm too tired (Oh, woah)
Woah, woah
[Bridge]
He got stuck in my teeth, found him lodged in my throat
When I tried to scream that I can't take the black dog no more (Oh, woah)
He crept into my head, crawled inside of my bones
And I don't know the cure for a dog that is sick in his soul (Oh, woah)
Oh, woah
Oh, woah
But you cannot kill what has slowly been killing you
Honestly, all of your life you've been feeding him too (Oh, woah)
You've been feeding him too (Oh, woah)
You've been feeding him too (Oh, woah)
[Chorus]
So I'll stay in my bedroom and sleep
I won't show up for work and my friends will eventually leave
Me alone I should care but I don't, I am fine
And I used to think I'd fight him off
And I used to think I'd show some guts
And I used to think I was enough
But today I'm too tired

About “The Black Dog” by Ren Stedman

Read the complete lyrics to "The Black Dog" by Ren Stedman from the album "The Half-Arsed Defeat" in 2019. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Alternative, LGBTQ+, British Folk.

"The Black Dog" is performed by Ren Stedman. from the album "The Half-Arsed Defeat" in 2019 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "The Black Dog", explore more songs by Ren Stedman using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"The Black Dog" is credited to Ren Stedman. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Black Dog" appears on "The Half-Arsed Defeat" in 2019.

Visit the Ren Stedman artist page at /artist/ren-stedman for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.