Rock-tober: Day 22

There's a plaque hanging on the wall at my favorite watering hole. On this plaque is a quote from H. L. Mencken: "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."

You know those days when you get into that mood? Those days when you just double dare the meanest dog in the neighborhood to make a run at you? Those are the days made for "Hair of the Dog".

"Hair of the Dog" is the title track off the '75 release, Hair of the Dog. The lyrics are a one-sided dialog of a dude telling some manipulative temptress that she's met her match in him. Guess what? No one cares. Even if you could understand the lyrics through their thick Scottish accents, what hooks people is the chorus:

"Now you're messin' with a Son of a B*tch."

Amusingly, that part is very easy to understand. But what about the album name?

Nazareth wanted to name the album Son of a B*tch. The record label said, "No."

Nazareth then asked, "How about 'Heir of the Dog'?" (since heir of the dog loosely translates to SOB...). 

"No."

Fine. This is how we got Hair of the Dog - a misnomer, wrapped in a pun, wrapped in a PG-13 marketing strategy.

Regardless, this is the soundtrack you want backing you up when you're just ballsy enough to charge the world and take it on in a no holds barred grudge match.

You know what? I think I just found my new ring tone.