Easy living

 



The 1971 top-5 hit song "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" [click here to hear the song] was a soft rock hit written and performed by Lobo (real name: Roland Kent LaVoie), an American singer-songwriter born on July 31, 1943, in Tallahassee, Florida. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with his soft rock and folk-pop hits, most notably "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo," "I'd Love You to Want Me," and "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" - all sung a million times around campfires across the world.

Life on the open roads

The lyrics tell of a kinder, gentler time, when a young couple deeply in love travel across the USA with their dog, Boo. 

It’s a tale of rebellion, freedom, young love, and adventure on the open road — driving through places like Georgia and L.A., stealing food when broke, and working odd jobs just to keep rolling. 

It presents a romanticised view of the American road trip, resonating with the countercultural spirit of the early '70s and emphasises the simple joys of being together, regardless of the hardships, and ultimately, a longing for home.


Lyrics of  Me and You and a Dog Named Boo by Lobo

I remember to this day, the bright red Georgia clay
How it stuck to the tires after the summer rain
Will power made that old car go, a woman's mind told me that it's so
Oh, how I wish we were back on the road again


[Chorus]
Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travellin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love bein' a free man


I can still recall the wheat fields of St. Paul
And the mornin' we got caught robbin' from an old hen
Old Mac Donald, he made us work
But then he paid us for what it was worth
Another tank of gas and back on the road again

I'll never forget that day we motored stately into big L.A.
The lights of the city put settlin' down in my brain
Though it's only been a month or so, that old car's buggin' us to go
You gotta get away and get back on the road again


Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travellin' and livin' off the land

Footnote: This artwork is my own composition, and the song came as an afterthought, as most titles and write up do.

Comments

Anonymous said…
The picture first and narrative second. Consider the reverse. which one you find easier? Just curious... suman sasmal
May 11, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Anonymous said…
I still have the music...we used to sing it in the BSM Choir...♥️ - (A friend on WhatsApp)
May 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Kieran said…
How delightful. In a month’s time, I’m meeting with 6 childhood friends after 40 years … looking forward to singing all these old favorites once more 🥰- Kieran
May 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Anonymous said…
You are both a serious artist and a creative writer rolled in to one hell of a delectable 'two in one '
Pick a French or an Italian origin word to add to the glitz and you are on Kieran!👍 (A classmate on WhatsApp)
May 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Kieran said…
Thanks @⁨~Monty⁩ - not sure about the French and Italian bits but this anecdote comes to mind

Circa 1989 finds me working for ‘Swiss Card Processing’ a software company incorporated in Geneva with headquarters in Knightsbridge, London.

I’m scheduled to visit a customer in Luxembourg.

Remember this is in the era of fax machines and landlines.

The customer asks me for a brief description

For a laugh I faxed back something along these lines, _Look for an Indian with an Irish name and a Portuguese surname that works in Cyprus for a Swiss firm in England_

He had a great laugh and we hit it off becoming good friends that continued long after the project was completed - Kieran
May 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Anonymous said…
You are so anecdotal and all so relevant and entertaining Kieran!
Am almost waiting for another bomb!🥰 (Reply to above comment)
May 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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