The narrator hears the late September dogs outside her window, understanding their warning and feeling a change in the air since a person left her. She calls out for mercy and rain, grappling with the silence and longing for the person's return, as she struggles with the memories and pain of their absence.

Meaning of "The Late September Dogs" by Melissa Etheridge

The lyrics of "The Late September Dogs" by Melissa Etheridge delve into the complexities of loss, yearning, and emotional turmoil. The late September dogs can be seen as a metaphor for change, with the narrator feeling a shift in the air after someone significant has left her life. She searches for solace and mercy, crying out for rain to wash away her pain and set her free from the memories that haunt her. The silence that surrounds her represents the heaviness of grief, while dreams offer a fleeting connection to the person she misses. The mention of the child who walked before she crawled speaks to the vulnerability and innocence in facing heartache. The narrator grapples with the bitter sting of memories and the longing for what was lost, unable to escape the pain that lingers like a spear in her side.