Pawlos Has Questions
“Pawlos Has Questions” is what happens when you imagine the world from the point of view of a German Shepherd who takes absolutely nothing at face value. Every visitor needs to be inspected. Every squirrel is suspicious. Every rabbit is trespassing. Every new dog requires negotiations. And apparently, every microfiber towel left within reach has been officially donated to the yard.
The song follows Pawlos through a typical day of investigating everything that happens around his house. He checks the property, questions strangers, supervises family visits, monitors the baby, patrols the fence, investigates mysterious smells, and repeatedly tries to understand why humans refuse to recognize the obvious importance of squeaky toys.
“I got questions, lots of questions.”
Most of those questions are perfectly reasonable, at least from Pawlos’ perspective. Why does another dog get to drink from his water bowl? Why do squirrels ignore his warnings? Why are the humans eating burgers while he gets the same brown kibble again? And perhaps most confusing of all, if those little towels were not supposed to be outdoor toys, why were they left where he could reach them?
Underneath all the dog logic and chaos, though, the song is really about Pawlos’ place in the family. He investigates because he is curious. He patrols because he feels responsible. He stays close because those are his people. By the end, there may still be a thousand unanswered questions, but there is one thing Pawlos understands completely: this is his house, this is his family, and this is exactly where he belongs.
Pawlos Has Questions
Intro
Morning.
I’m awake.
You’re welcome.
I checked the house.
Still ours.
I checked the yard.
Also ours.
There was a squirrel.
We need to talk about that.
Verse 1
Door opens up, somebody walks in,
You say, “Pawlos, this is our friend.”
Our friend?
Interesting.
Never smelled him before.
Why’s he standing
Inside my door?
I sniff his shoes.
I sniff his jeans.
I check his hands
For suspicious things.
You say, “He’s fine.”
I heard you.
But I’ll decide that
When I’m through.
He scratches my head.
Okay.
He can stay.
Pre-Chorus
There’s a lot that happens
In this house of mine.
I investigate it all
One sniff at a time.
Chorus 1
I got questions!
Lots of questions!
What is that and who are you?
Why’d that bird land in my backyard?
Why’s that rabbit passing through?
Why’s my dinner in the same bowl
With the same food every night?
And if you didn’t want those towels outside…
Why’d you leave ’em where I could bite?
I got questions!
Pawlos has questions.
And I’m gonna figure this out.
Verse 2
Car pulls up.
Wait.
I know that smell!
Family’s here—
And they brought someone else.
Another dog?
Oh, this is big.
We circle twice.
We do the sniff.
You humans say,
“Be nice! Be good!”
We already handled it.
We’re understood.
Then everybody starts talking loud,
Dogs on the floor,
People in a crowd.
I bring my squeaky toy.
SQUEAK.
Nobody reacts.
SQUEAK.
I’ll try it again.
Chorus 2
I got questions!
Lots of questions!
Why won’t anybody throw this thing?
I’ve squeaked it fifteen hundred times—
You’d think somebody’d get the hint.
Why’s that dog drinking from my water?
Why’s he sleeping by my chair?
And more importantly—
Who invited him?
Oh.
Family?
Fine.
I’ll share.
Verse 3
Then one day
You bring home something new.
Tiny little person.
What does it do?
Everybody whispers.
Everybody stares.
I smell milk
And blankets everywhere.
I walk up slow.
I take one sniff.
Tiny little fingers.
What is this?
You say, “Gentle.”
I know that word.
So I lay down close
And stand my guard.
Now when that baby makes one sound,
My ears go up.
I look around.
Who did that?
What happened?
Is everybody okay?
…I better stay here anyway.
Bridge
Then somebody cuts the grass.
OH.
MY.
DOG.
Fresh green smells
From every spot.
I roll left.
I roll right.
I rub my face
With all my might.
You yell, “Pawlos!”
I hear my name!
Obviously
You like this game.
Then movement by the fence—
DEER!
Bird!
Rabbit!
THING WITH A TAIL!
Emergency!
I run the perimeter
At full German Shepherd speed…
Then forget why I’m running
And stop to smell a weed.
Verse 4
Afternoon.
Garage door’s up far.
You’re doing something
With that car.
I see the shelf.
I see the prize.
Little folded towels
Before my eyes.
Microfiber.
Soft.
Portable.
Clearly toys.
I grab one quick
Without making noise.
Run to the yard.
Drop it there.
Go back inside.
There’s plenty more.
Blue one.
Yellow one.
Gray one too.
You start counting.
I’m watching you.
“PAWLOS!”
Yes?
You called?
Ohhh…
You found my collection.
Pre-Chorus
You call it stealing.
That seems extreme.
I call it decorating
The property.
Chorus 3
I got questions!
Lots of questions!
Why are towels not outdoor toys?
Why do squirrels ignore my warnings?
Why do squeakers make that noise?
Why’s my dinner always kibble
When I smell what’s on your plate?
You got burgers.
I got brown things.
How exactly is that fair?
I got questions!
Pawlos has questions.
And I can wait right here.
…and stare.
Verse 5
Sun goes down.
The house gets still.
I’ve checked the fence.
I’ve checked the hill.
Baby is sleeping.
Visitors gone.
Rabbit escaped.
For now.
You sit on the couch.
I find my place.
Big furry head
Right in your space.
You move me over.
I move right back.
Personal boundaries?
Never learned that.
Squeaky toy tucked
Between my feet.
Same old food.
But life is sweet.
Final Chorus
I got questions!
Lots of questions!
There’s a whole big world to know.
Every car and friend and baby,
Every creature down below.
I’ll inspect it.
I’ll protect it.
I’ll make sure you’re all okay.
I’ll steal your towels
And chase your squirrels
And do it all again next day.
I got questions!
Pawlos has questions!
But there’s one thing
I know is true—
This yard is mine.
This house is mine.
And most of all…
I belong with you.
Outro
Wait.
Did you hear that?
Outside.
By the fence.
...
SQUIRREL.
I gotta go.