My Gen X Playlist: Atomic Dog – George Clinton

Sure, Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat were cool. But there are two other childhood books I remember fondly.

Where the Wild Things Are

Go Dog Go

I’m sure the stories were fine, but I probably liked them for the illustrations. Dancing monsters and dogs driving race cars. What’s not to like?

George Clinton released Atomic Dog in 1982. This wasn’t your typical song about a loving pooch.

This classic funk song explains why men are always going after women: It’s because they have a little a dog in them, and dogs chase cats.

Clinton admitted to being in an “enhanced” state when he recorded this, entering the studio “blind as a bat and out of my head.” For most earthly beings, this would result in nothing more than cosmic slop, but Clinton was used to working under these conditions – he created much of his Funkadelic material on acid.

He came up with the opening spoken line, “This is a story of a famous dog,” and ad-libbed the rest of the lyrics, stumbling on the hook.

– Songfacts

OK. Maybe this is not children’s book material. Chasing women and blind as a bat enhanced states are not ideal ingredients in nursery rhyme recipes. I can’t imagine what the illustrations would look like.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Yeah, this is a story of a famous dog
For the dog that chases its tail will be dizzy
These are clapping dogs, rhythmic dogs
Harmonic dogs, house dogs, street dogs
Dog of the world unite - dancin' dogs
Yeah, countin' dogs, funky dogs
Nasty dogs (Dog)
Atomic dog
Atomic dog

Life on all fours
When you're out there walking the streets
May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya

Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

(Life on all fours)
Un-tied dog in a telematic society
(When you're out there walking the streets)
Ain't your average huckleberry hound
(May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya)
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?
Darn the dog in me

Life on all fours
When you're out there walking the streets
May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya
Roof
Roof
Roof

Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me

Do the dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher
(Dog, dog, dog)
Do the dogcatcher
Baby, do the dogcatcher, oh

Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me

Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah
Just walkin' the dog!
Oh, atomic dog

Futuristic bow-wow
Leader of the pack
Wild dog

Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?
Just the dog in me
Nothin' but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?
Just the dog in me
Nothin' but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?
Just the dog in me
Dog in me, dog is in me
Talking dogs, dog's in me

Do the dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher
Do you wanna do the dogcatcher?
Well, baby, why don't you do it again for me
Dogcatcher, dogcatcher
Do the dogcatcher

House-trained dogs
Wild dogs
Say it again
Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?