Today was Marie Prevost day.  She died of alcoholism on January 21, 1937. Her dog wouldn't stop barking...for two days...so the neighbors called the police. They found her in her apartment on the 23rd. Nick Lowe changed her last name to Provost , maybe to protect the innocent. He also changed the facts. January 23 became July 29. The two days between her demise and discovery became two or three weeks.  The alcoholism that killed her - the police found several empty bottles in the apartment - became a pill overdose or something. Most importantly, especially for the chorus, the scratches that her dog made - it seems while trying to revive her - became a tale wherein doggie feasted on her corpse.  Maybe Nick thought using her real name would be in bad taste.

Or, if you like,  British (and Aussie) Skinny Tie, 1975-82 : guitar-driven power pop, late pub rock, proto and post-punk.  In some cases, the guitars are crunchier than the American variant, the lyrics dour. There is likely more keyboard or quirkier music. It's great for a drive, and at 8 hours, this one will take you 500 miles while the roads are still open, gas is cheap, and the BnB rooms still empty and discounted. Don't like a song? Wait two and a half minutes for the next.