In the cartoon show Metalocalypse, globe-trotting death metal band Dethklok write an album titled Dethwater that’s specifically for fish (as guitarist Skwisgaar Skwigelf puts it, “Fish don’t gots no good metal to listens to”). While the idea is pretty ridiculous, it does open up the idea of writing rock songs for our animal friends, whose awesome stories aren’t often told. Now, guitar legend Slash is getting in on the game with a new single whose lyrics are from the point of view of singer Myles Kennedy’s dog.
As reported by Loudwire, Slash came up with the basic progression of his new song “Fill My World,” and sent it out to Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, who perform on the track. Kennedy came back with some powerful lyrics — from an unorthodox point of view.
“I thought, I don’t know what the guys are going to think… Because it has a certain sentimental kind of feel to it. But I sent it to Myles, and he came back with these heartfelt lyrics,” said Slash. “I thought it was about the loss we’ve all been suffering during this dark period, and then he told me it was about his dog. I said, ‘Well, you know, everybody has had somebody that they love affected by this, so…’”
Apparently, the song is from the point of view of Kennedy’s Shih Tzu, Mozart. One night, after his flight was delayed by a storm, Kennedy checked in on Mozart using a remote pet monitor. He saw Mozart freaking out because of the thunderstorm (as all dogs do), and wrote the song in an attempt to connect with what Mozart was going through in that moment.
“It was heartbreaking to watch. It terrified the little guy. So, the narrative of the song is inspired by what I imagined he might have been thinking as it all went down. And his plea to us to come home. When you listen to it, it could apply to a relationship between humans…But I thought it was interesting, at least for me, to sing it from Mozart’s perspective. And to be really honest, as I was singing the song in the studio, at one point you can hear my voice crack a little bit. It was getting to me. So, it’s definitely sung from the heart. And I’m man enough to admit it!”
***
Words by Chris Krovatin
