British singer Arlo Parks creates a true sense of melancholy in her newest song, “Black Dog.” The song tells the story of someone trying to take care of a loved one with depression. With dreamy vocals and a calming beat, Parks manages to sing about the feeling of helplessness of being unable to help someone you love, while at the same time sounding hopeful. With lyrics like, “I would do anything to get you out your room,” and “It’s so cruel what your mind can do for no reason,” she shows her understanding of not being able to do anything but encouraging the smallest bit of activity.
Throughout the song, we can hear the patience and supportiveness of Parks trying to help her loved one and coming to terms with the fact that it’s not up to her. The music itself brings a peaceful feeling to this realization. The strumming in the music reminds us of the soft tapping of rain, adding to the calmness the song brings. This song means a lot to me and helped me realize that I can’t necessarily fix everything, but I can be there for support and encouragement.
Great review, I’m definitely going to have to find that song and artist
Thank you, Alan! And yes, you totally should! It’s a gorgeous track, like all Arlo’s work <3