Q&A: Greg O'Connor on "Good Boy," Grief, and the Dog Who Taught Him to Trust His Gut
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
GREG O’CONNOR HAS WRITTEN A LOT OF SONGS - but none quite like this one. "Good Boy," his new summer single, is a tribute to Andy: his dog of 17.5 years who passed away this past January. It began the way the best songs often do: with a feeling so clear and immediate that there was nothing to do but follow it. The title came right away. So did the sound. And somewhere in between the Beach Boys harmonies and the ELO-inspired shimmer, O'Connor and co-writer Michael Haddad found the words to say goodbye to someone who couldn't hear them spoken out loud.
Andy was, by all accounts, extraordinary. Not just loyal and loving, though he was both, but genuinely perceptive in a way that left an impression on everyone around him. O'Connor describes a dog who could anticipate his owner's next move before it was made, a quality that taught O'Connor something lasting about instinct, intuition and getting out of your own head. That depth is woven into every corner of the song, even as the production keeps things buoyant and warm.
The track closes with something no studio could manufacture: actual recordings of Andy running across the property in a burst of pure energy, and begging shamelessly for a muffin crumb on his morning walk. It is, in the best possible way, the most Andy thing imaginable. We sat down with O'Connor to talk about grief, celebration and what it means to leave space for something greater when you sit down to write.
LUNA: Andy was with you for 17.5 years — what was the moment you knew you wanted to honor him with a song rather than just grieve privately?
O'CONNOR: Andy was and is a family member, like a brother or a son. Right after he transitioned, I had the title of the song. We always said to him "Good Boy" — whether he was running, rubbing his face on the rug, begging for a cookie or a croissant, or just being his cute self. The lyric concept of the song is pure and innocent and raw, but it is also deep and spiritual. I think sharing grief is a way to heal and help others with their own losses and hardships.
LUNA: The dog sounds at the end of the track are real recordings of Andy. When did you capture those, and did you always know they'd end up in a song someday?
O'CONNOR: I did not know I would be using these sounds in a song when I initially recorded these home videos. The one sound of Andy at the end is him running around our property during one of his energy spurts — he loved running with sticks or being chased around the house. The other sound is him begging for a muffin crumb at a local coffee shop while we were on his daily morning walk. I wanted his fun spirit to be memorialized in the recording.
LUNA: The Jeff Lynne / Traveling Wilburys / Beach Boys sonic world is such a specific and warm vibe to bring in. What pulled you toward that sound for this particular tribute?
O'CONNOR: Right at the moment when I came up with the title of the song, I knew exactly the sound I wanted. The Beach Boys, ELO, John Lennon and George Harrison are all artists that capture innocence and pure human connection, yet they are able to deliver a deeper message said in a pedestrian way using simple imagery. I also wanted this song to have a summer vibe. Andy loved the beach and nature, and I feel this style and sound captures the essence of his energy.
LUNA: What's your favorite line from the track?
O'CONNOR: My good friend Michael Haddad helped me write the lyrics and he was able to capture exactly what I was going for. My favorite line is "run wild, run free, across the sky and over the sea." This says a lot without saying it literally — it suggests crossing over the rainbow bridge and eternal life without being too on the nose about it. Using the beach imagery is in keeping with what Andy loved and connects with the fun summer style of the song.
LUNA: Grief and joy are both living inside this song. How did you navigate writing something that feels celebratory without losing the weight of the loss?
O'CONNOR: We were very careful to focus on the celebration of life. The grief is there because we already know Andy has transitioned. The lyrics "I'll be ok 'cause you'll be around" and "Your spirit shines and remains, it's my soul that it saves" puts a positive spin on the idea of crossing over or transitioning to the afterlife.
LUNA: For people who never met him — who was Andy? What made him him?
O'CONNOR: Andy was a sweet, kind soul. He loved all people and all animals, and everyone loved him. He was a joy to be around. He was also very smart and knew what he wanted. He understood me very well — he had the ability to anticipate my next move, even before I knew I was going to make that move. Because of this psychic connection, I learned a lot about myself, about intuition and trusting my gut. Animals act purely on instinct and they are not so much in their heads about things.
LUNA: You mention knowing he had an amazing life. What does a great life for a dog look like, in your experience?
O'CONNOR: A great life for a dog is one that encompasses loyalty, connection, consistency, family, adventure, and nurturing. Andy gave all of those things to me, and I would like to think I gave that back.
LUNA: What do you hope someone who has also lost a pet takes away from hearing "Good Boy"?
O'CONNOR: Anyone who is thinking about adopting or fostering a dog, please consider all I have shared about my experience with Andy. The bond that is created between a dog and his best friend is something that comes from a higher place. Creating a unique, one-of-a-kind bond with a dog is one of the best decisions you will ever make — the tradeoff for that amazing experience is that you will most likely outlive them. The grief and loss is real. I needed to turn that experience into a song for healing. I believe one must leave space for God in the room when writing a song. I believe all art is channeled and artists are merely the messengers.
