Context

This line is from the song "Hound Dog," written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and sung by Elvis Presley (1956).

Everyone knows that Elvis Presley sang "Hound Dog," which is basically about a person (the "hound dog" in question) who's just no good. End of story, right?

Well, this tune actually has a pretty interesting back-story. See, the song was first written in 1953, three years before Elvis recorded it. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller originally penned it for the famous rhythm and blues singer Big Mama Thornton. That version was about a woman rejecting a man who acted like a lying, cheating "hound dog." The lyrics had a whole lot more sexual innuendo in them too.

Big Mama Thornton's version of "Hound Dog" made some money, but in 1955, a record company executive decided that the song could do even better if it were "sanitized" a little. Take out references to the sexy stuff, make the tune more appealing to mainstream audiences, and bam: you could have a hit on your hands. Enter Elvis.

In 1956, Elvis recorded his version of "Hound Dog" with updated lyrics that don't really make much sense. Why is the hound dog crying to Elvis all the time? What's with the rabbit? Why were they friends to start with? Wait, is Elvis singing to a literal hound dog? It's all a little bit confusing, but we get the general idea that this hound dog is just no good. Sorry, little pup.

Where you've heard it

The idea of a man who acts like a "hound dog" or just a "dog" is common slang, but songs like "Hound Dog" helped bring the term into the mainstream.

Here's another pre-Elvis version of "Hound Dog." These guys were the first ones to perform the song with the updated lyrics.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Hey, sometimes you gotta call a dog a dog. Nothing pretentious about that.