Songs of Protest: Stella Donnelly Gets Vocal About Australian Politics On “Beware of the Dogs”

On “Beware of the Dogs,” Stella Donnelly voices Australians’ anger at their government’s role in environmental destruction and economic discrimination.

Music is one of society’s best teachers. In Songs of Protest, writers analyze some of music’s greatest hits, using their findings to make sense of the world around them.

Written by C.S. Harper

Photo courtesy of Pooneh Ghana

Although Beware of the Dogs went under many music listeners’ radars, it was a quietly earth-shattering record. In her 2019 debut album, Australian indie rocker Stella Donnelly reflects on some of the biggest issues women face in the modern era, including sexism, rape culture, and reproductive rights. The title track deviates from Donnelly’s feminist themes, commenting instead on the state of Australia as a whole. In “Beware of the Dogs,” Stella Donnelly uses the contrast between her sweet, sing-song vocals and witty songwriting to express her anger toward her country’s political corruption.

In the first verse, Donnelly sings, “All the painted little gnomes / Smiling in a line, tryna get your votes.” With vivid imagery like this, Donnelly makes it clear that she is addressing corrupt politicians who put on a friendly façade to gain voters’ trust.

As Donnelly warbles in the chorus, this undeserved support has given politicians the power to destroy Australia’s environment: “There’s an architect setting fire to her house / All the plans were there, but they built it inside out.” Through this poignant metaphor, Donnelly reveals the realities behind politicians’ fake image. These politicians disregard what is best for Australia (the house), “setting fire” to the country.

Photo courtesy of Glenn Hunt

Here, it becomes clear that Donnelly is attacking Australian environmental policy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended the coal industry to maintain Australia’s position as the world’s largest coal exporter, even in the face of climate change. With the hook “No one will endure what the sign told them they would / Beware of the dogs,” Donnelly admits that though older Australians will not experience the effects of their politicians’ wrongdoings, Australia cannot reverse its environmental degradation.

Donnelly uses the phrase “beware of the dogs” as a mantra, repeating it as she expands on her grim narrative. In the final chorus, she exchanges her metaphorical language for frankness: “There’s no Parliament worthy of this country’s side.” Adding “All these pious f---s taking from the ‘99,” the singer calls out these insincere politicians for robbing the Australian middle class. The ambiguity of what these politicians are stealing makes for a powerful statement, as it can encompass everything Donnelly previously mentioned and more: constituents’ health, money, and environment.

Reflecting on these facets of corruption, Donnelly inverts her “beware of the dogs” metaphor: “Now we’ll all endure what the sign told us we would / Beware of the dogs.” Here, she laments the Australia that future generations will experience: the aftermath of their parents’ naïvety.

“Beware of the Dogs” came ahead of its time. Its shrewd commentary on Australian politics establishes Stella Donnelly as one of the most precocious singer-songwriters in indie rock. Although “Beware of the Dogs” is a year old, recent bushfires in Australia and the environmental policies of politicians like Morrison make the song more relevant now than ever. Australians have failed to “beware of the dogs,” and future generations will pay the price of climate change.