The album cover art work was by artist Ray Smith and was the first of three "paint socks" to adorn Henry Cow's albums.
In 1991 East Side Digital issued a remixed version (by Tim Hodgkinson, May/August 1990) of Legend on CD. It included a bonus track, "Bellycan", which was an outtake from Henry Cow's Greasy Truckers Live at Dingwalls Dance Hall recording session in November 1973. On the remix of "Amygdala", Lindsay Cooper, who was not yet a member of the group at the time of the LP recording, played bassoon (recorded August 1990) and replaced Geoff Leigh's saxophone, which Hodgkinson felt was "too jazzy".
In 1998 Recommended Records and East Side Digital reissued Legend on CD with the original mixing restored and the bonus track omitted. The original master tape having been lost, this CD edition was transferred from a mint condition Japanese vinyl copy.
Nirvana for Mice
Henry Cow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet mystery of life I will re...
Henry Cow’s song "Nirvana for Mice" is a surreal and enigmatic piece that defies easy interpretation. The lyrics are sparse and difficult to decipher, but there is one repeated phrase that stands out: “Sweet mystery of life I will remember.” This phrase seems to be the key to unlocking the song’s meaning. It’s a powerful declaration of the importance of mystery and wonder in life, a plea to cherish that which is elusive and unknown.
The rest of the lyrics are fragmented and hard to discern. They seem to describe a landscape that is both ominous and enchanting: “Strange land...sudden valley...misty mountains...secrets and whispers...hidden pathways...fear and darkness...golden sunlight...” The imagery is rich and evocative, but its significance remains obscure. However, the overall impression is one of awe and reverence, as though the singer is grappling with a sense of overwhelming beauty and terror.
Overall, "Nirvana for Mice" is a cryptic meditation on the elusive nature of life and the importance of embracing its mysteries. It’s a haunting and poetic piece of art that demands careful listening and interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet mystery of life I will remember
I will not forget the beautiful enigma that is life
All other things remain a blur
In comparison, everything else is indistinct and unimportant
Nirvana for mice
A state of blissful ignorance or simplicity
All the whiskey they can drink
Providing excess and indulgence for those who don't know any better
Stumbling from the sink to the cage
Mindless, cyclical existence, going from one mundane task to another
Nirvana for mice
Repeating the same simplistic routine over and over again
And all the cheese they can eat
More indulgence and excess to keep them complacent and content
Running on a wheel in the sky
Endlessly chasing an unattainable goal, like a hamster on its wheel
Nirvana for mice
Total submission to a meaningless existence, without question or desire for more
Contributed by Oliver K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.