The Black Dog
At first listen, it might seem “The Black Dog” doesn’t have anything in common with “Florida!!!!!!” And when pondering the recovery from the devastation of recent hurricanes in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, it may seem as if the emotional song is about standing in the ruins of a relationship and wondering, “What next?”.
It’s almost as if the singer goes from sitting out the wild winds and rain in the safety of the bathroom to venturing outside to survey the damage and wondering how to move forward and rebuild her life.
Whether that is a romantic relationship, a friendship, a family member, or even a work relationship, break-ups are hard. We develop habits within those relationships that may seem to be part of who we are. The Black Dog is about discovering the need to let go and the true impact of the relationships.
“Old habits die screaming” (insert the music screaming as it emotes the singer’s feelings here) is a great way to describe the aftermath of a relationship. So much of who we are and who we become is tied to relationships and habits we develop with others. When those are gone, it’s almost like a loss of our identity and we need to figure out who we are again. Thus, those involved in the relationship move into recovery mode.
This idea of recovery is a theme that weaves through “The Black Dog.” We learn to identify with the idea of change and being able to process it. There are times in our lives it may feel easier to live with the old habits than allow them to die.
By this point, the habits have become an important part of our lives and could simply be muscle memory at this point. This is when change becomes difficult and we need to process it in productive ways.
As Taylor (or the narrator) ponders whether to sell the house and set fire to all her clothes, she also brings up the need to “hire a priest to exercise my demons.” This statement directly relates to the need we often feel to purge ourselves of the impact of anything that’s upsetting. This is usually done in one of two ways. The first is to completely ignore anything ever that happened and keep bottling up all thoughts, feelings and emotions.
This method often leads to poor choices, cutting off emotions, and building walls. The second choice is to process the relationship/event/trauma and its impact. Doing so will heal and create space for new habits, new perspectives, and a healthier life.
Recovery efforts can be challenging, long, and frustrating. No matter your circumstances, we hope you believe you are cherished. You are loved, rooted, and worthy. Remember that.
By Heather Olson, LPC-S and Faith Brown, LAC
