I Bet on Losing Dogs

Lyrics

[Verse 1] You circled number seven With a nick beside his name The clerk was counting twenties Like the weather might change His left ear folded sideways His coat was thin and brown You said, “He only needs one good day” And put your money down [Pre-Chorus] The favorite wore a silver tag And everybody knew But hope has never asked us What the odds were supposed to do [Chorus] I bet on losing dogs The ones who stumble from the gate The ones with borrowed collars And a little too much weight If they run until the finish I can call the whole thing fair I bet on losing dogs Because you’re always standing there [Verse 2] We waited by the railings While the loudspeakers rang A woman in a red scarf Sang along with every clang Your ticket stayed unspent In the pocket of your jeans You said, “Somebody has to love them Before they learn to dream” [Pre-Chorus] The favorite broke the sunlight And vanished down the line Our dog was last by half a field But he kept his head up high [Chorus] I bet on losing dogs The ones who stumble from the gate The ones with borrowed collars And a little too much weight If they run until the finish I can call the whole thing fair I bet on losing dogs Because you’re always standing there [Bridge] Maybe winning is a story That the loudest people tell Maybe getting back up slowly Is a different kind of well You pressed the ticket to my palm Like a promise, not a loss And the track lights clicked to morning While we counted what it cost [Final Chorus] I bet on losing dogs The ones who stumble from the gate The ones with borrowed collars And a little too much weight If they run until the finish I can call the whole thing fair I bet on losing dogs Because you’re always standing there [Outro] Number seven, take your time There’s no prize for getting there Number seven, take your time You’re already somewhere rare