8 Comments

1. 

   Looks like we need to add an Elvis tag!

   In this case, I would assume the hound dog has rewritten the lyrics to change the subject of the song, much like female singers who sing a song originally written for male voice.

   “I ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog… cryin’ all the time.”

2. 

   And does it mean anything that the singer is holding the guitar in a left-handed position?

3. 

   @Danny Kay (2): I think he’s just holding it that way to fit the frame.

4. 

   The original version of the song was a bit different, written for Big Mama Thornton by Leiber and Stoller.

   You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
   Been snoopin’ ’round my door
   You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
   Been snoopin’ ’round my door
   You can wag your tail
   But I ain’t gonna feed you no more

   https://genius.com/Big-mama-thornton-hound-dog-lyrics

5. 

   I think he’s just holding it that way to fit the frame.

   This comes up in comments on strips sometimes, “Oh look, X is left-handed!” But it really was just for framing, and you can find other strips where the character is writing or whatever with the right.

6. 

   The Thornton version is in Arlo territory because of the central double-entendre: “wag your tail” means exactly what you think it might…

   Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

7. 

   As a veteran of the folk open-mike circuit, there was always one guy who played left-handed guitar. It was especially amusing when we’d sit in a circle.

8. 

   The Elvis version clears this up:

   You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
   Just cryin’ all the time
   You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
   Cryin’ all the time

   Well, you ain’t never caught no rabbit
   And you ain’t no friend of mine
   Well, they said you was high-classed
   Well, that was just a lie