Given the Dog a Bone – English Lyrics

• By: AC/DC
• Album: Back in Black

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the energetic world of AC/DC with 'Given the Dog a Bone,' a track filled with powerful riffs and the distinctive vocals of Brian Johnson. This song offers a glimpse into AC/DC's blend of hard rock and blues influences, inviting you to explore the double entendres and musical prowess that define their signature sound. Discover why this song remains a classic and a favorite among fans.

[English]

Ooh, yeah

...

She takes you down easy

Going down to her knees

Going down to the devil

Down, down to 90 degrees

Oh, she's blowing me crazy 'til my ammunition is dry

Oh, she's using her head again

She's using her head

Oh, she's using her head again

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Yeah, I'm givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Yaw!

...

Oh, she's no Mona Lisa

No, she's no Playboy star

But she'd send you to Heaven

Then explode you to Mars

Oh, she's using her head again (using her head again)

She's using her head (using her head again)

Ah, she's using her head again (using her head)

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Why don't you givin' the dog a bone? (Givin' the dog a bone)

Come on

...

Ow-oh-oh-oh!

...

She got the power of union

Yeah, she only hits when it's hot

And if she likes what you're doing

Yeah, she'll give you the lot

Givin' everything

I'm just givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

Givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

I'm just a-givin' the dog a bone (givin' the dog a bone)

I'm just a givin' a dog, givin' a dog, givin' a dog

Ooh, I'm just a givin' a dog a bone

Aw, no

...

Key Grammar Structures

• She takes you down easy

  ➔ Simple present tense for habitual actions

  ➔ The verb "takes" is in the present simple tense.

• Going down to her knees

  ➔ Present participle phrase functioning as an adverbial clause

  ➔ "Going" is a present participle introducing the phrase.

• Oh, she's blowing me crazy 'til my ammunition is dry

  ➔ Present continuous + contraction + 'until' clause

  ➔ "she's blowing" = "she is blowing" (present continuous). "'til" = "until".

• I'm just a‑givin' the dog a bone

  ➔ Present continuous with informal contraction and gerund‑like '-ing' form

  ➔ "I'm" = "I am". "a‑givin'" shows the informal dropping of "g" and the "-ing" gerund form.

• She only hits when it's hot

  ➔ Simple present + adverb of frequency + adverbial clause with 'when'

  ➔ "only" is an adverb modifying "hits"; "when it's hot" is a time clause.

• If she likes what you're doing, she'll give you the lot

  ➔ First conditional (if + present simple, will + base verb)

  ➔ "If" introduces a condition with "she likes" (present simple). The result clause uses "she'll give" = "she will give".

• She'd send you to Heaven then explode you to Mars

  ➔ Conditional modal "would" contracted as "'d" + base verb; sequence of verbs

  ➔ "She'd" = "She would". The verbs "send" and "explode" follow the modal.

• She got the power of union

  ➔ Simple past (colloquial "got" for "has")

  ➔ "got" is used colloquially to mean "has" (present perfect sense).

• Yaw!

  ➔ Interjection expressing excitement or emphasis

  ➔ "Yaw!" is an exclamation, not part of a grammatical clause.