Perhaps I'm farther off with my interpretation of this song. I feel as if she's talking about getting rid of an addiction such as drinking. She talks about washing it down the sink and running for you mother, father, sisters, and brothers which, to me, means to not turn back and to hold onto those important things in your life because the "dog days are over". The only way to overcome an addiction is to have love and support. That is her driving force and what's keeping her running and leaving all the negative (addiction) behind her.