'Outside Dog' by Gavin Adcock – Lyrics & Meaning

Now, that his new studio album, Own Worst Enemy, has been unleashed onto the world, the message has been made clear: Gavin Adcock can't be tamed, so don't even try to change him.

That's made obvious from the jump, the album's second track, 'Outside Dog', an ode to the artist's own headstrong resolve.

While Own Worst Enemy, which arrived on Aug. 15, is a 24-track collection of all that Adcock has become and all that he has learned on his meteoric rise to country stardom, this particular number is a testament to the ways in which he's also stuck to his guns.

Of the album, he's shared, "Over the last 4 years I’ve spent my life writing, traveling, and trying to find time to breathe. It doesn’t always add up on paper like it would seem, but through the happiness, hard times and self destruction I’ve found the best part of my job is letting out music for my fans. I can’t thank y’all enough for sticking with me for this long. I’m the furthest thing from perfect and I don’t ever plan to be."

Here, we're delving into the rising star's delightfully willful side.

Just as steady and stern as its message, 'Outside Dog' features a strong-willed arrangement, the tune bearing a consistent beat and sturdy riffs. The composition ebbs and flows, power being poured in where needed and held at bay when appropriate; but it does so seamlessly, rolling through the ears with the same finesse as the song's graceful lyricism.

"You wanted something to save, you wanted something to tame
You wanted me to come running when you called my name
You wanted something to train, girl
That you could keep on a chain, girl
Ever since you laid eyes on me
You've been barking up the wrong damn tree"

In relationships, it's not uncommon for one partner to view their significant other as a "project," someone who comes into their care as this malleable form in need of molding and twisting, in need of being made new or what they deem "better."

In 'Outside Dog', Adcock is experiencing this phenomenon. However, he's not having any of it, spelling it all out for his partner within the first few notes.

He describes a woman who wanted to change him, "train" him, make him into the man she desires instead of accepting him for who he is. He uses dog metaphors and pup-themed plays-on-words to get his point across, and for the most part, it's effective.

"Girl, you tried to tighten up the collar
Clean me up, pull me up by the holler
That's one pill I ain't never gonna swallow
There's only one way this ends
Me running off, you on the porch crying
Girl, I don't guess I can blame you for trying to fence me in
It's your fault, hell, you brought in this outside dog"

He goes on to explain that he's an "outside dog," an independent force in need of the space to run free and roam wherever. He won't be collared, leashed or fenced in; and it seems like she knew this truth from the beginning. It's in his nature – as he sings: "I'm born to howl at the moon / You know I need me some room / For chasing neon all night and then sleeping till noon" – and he doesn't see himself changing for anyone anytime soon.

To put it simply, "Gonna do what I do, girl / Hell naw, it ain't you, girl..."

This doesn't seem to be an isolated incident either, the artist apparently having had to untether himself from many of these situations. He'll forever be an outside dog, untamable and unashamed of that wonderfully willful truth.

Girl, you tried to tighten up the collar
Clean me up, pull me up by the holler
That's one pill I ain't never gonna swallow
There's only one way this ends
Me running off, you on the porch crying
Girl, I don't guess I can blame you for trying to fence me in
But that's your fault, hell, you brought in this outside dog
Yeah, this outside dog

You wanted something to save, you wanted something to tame
You wanted me to come running when you called my name
You wanted something to train, girl
That you could keep on a chain, girl
Ever since you laid eyes on me
You've been barking up the wrong damn tree

Girl, you tried to tighten up the collar
Clean me up, pull me up by the holler
That's one pill I ain't never gonna swallow
There's only one way this ends
Me running off, you on the porch crying
Girl, I don't guess I can blame you for trying to fence me in
It's your fault, hell, you brought in this outside dog

I'm born to howl at the moon
You know I need me some room
For chasing neon all night and then sleeping till noon
Gonna do what I do, girl
Hell naw, it ain't you, girl
Yeah, I've heard it before and I know that it hurts
But baby, you ain't the first

Girl who tried to tighten up the collar
Clean me up, pull me up by the holler
That's one pill I ain't never gonna swallow
There's only one way this ends
Me running off, you on the porch crying
Girl, I don't guess I can blame you for trying to fence me in
But that's your fault, hell, you brought in this outside dog
This outside dog

Ever since you laid eyes on me
You've been barking up the wrong damn tree

Girl, you tried to tighten up the collar
Clean me up, pull me up by the holler
That's one pill I ain't never gonna swallow
There's only one way this ends
Me running off, you on the porch crying
Girl, I don't guess I can blame you for trying to fence me in
But that's your fault, hell, you brought in this outside dog
Yeah, this outside dog

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