I'm sure McGovern has a valid explanation about the imagery of a dog and frog, keeping it together and how this links to life - perhaps it means whatever the listener thinks it means? For me, it feels like the epitome of anxiety driven by other people's opinions. Beginning with a very raw-sounding vocal and acoustic guitar, McGovern weaves a story, lyrically poetic and rhythmic. As it moves from verse to chorus, back to verse and then onward, the song builds to a crescendo that reminds me of the heavier side of Paolo Nutini with a rough, gravelly vocal. I've had the privilege of watching McGovern perform live, and he doesn't hold back how he makes a song build with just his voice, even in an acoustic setting. There is something quite overwhelming about how intense the song becomes and it feels almost like I've encroached on something so personal and passionate that I shouldn't be privy to; yet it's in the public domain. I'm really conflicted with this one; I love it, yet it unsettles me. 'Keep it together / keep it together / keep it together'... I'm hanging by a thread here! I wonder if that's what McGovern intended?
Listen to Lock Keeper's Dog and other folk songs on our Folk Playlist: