Cow
Sparklehorse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Queen of nails
Sparkling drum sets
Murders of crows
Metal teeth of
Carousels
Lighting cigars on
Electric chairs
Buildings are rooks
Nature's a vice
Rattle of diesels
Snakes eating their own tails
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
The lyrics of Sparklehorse's song Cow could be interpreted as a surreal depiction of the dark underbelly of American society. The opening lines of the song refer to the "saint of barges" and "queen of nails," which could be interpreted as references to working-class people who work on barges and construction sites or in factories where they handle nails. The "sparkling drum sets" could represent the distractions and illusions that society creates to keep people from seeing the true nature of things. The "murders of crows" further emphasize the bleakness and darkness of the world portrayed in the song.
The next lines of the song refer to "metal teeth of carousels" and "lighting cigars on electric chairs." These could be interpreted as metaphors for the way that life can be both beautiful and dangerous at the same time. The "buildings are rooks" line could be interpreted as a reference to the game of chess, where the rook is a powerful piece that is used to protect the king. Here, the buildings are being used to protect society's interests, which may not always align with the interests of the individual.
The following lines of the song refer to the "rattle of diesels" and "snakes eating their tails," both of which could be interpreted as symbols of the cycle of life and death. In the final lines of the song, the repeated phrase "pretty girl, milkin' a cow" could be seen as a comment on the way that even in the midst of all this darkness and chaos, life goes on and people continue to do their daily tasks.
Line by Line Meaning
Saint of barges
A person who has the power and authority over barges, possibly associated with the transportation of goods or people across water bodies.
Queen of nails
A person who is an expert in working with nails, possibly in a carpentry or construction context.
Sparkling drum sets
Musical instruments, specifically drums, that shine or glitter in the light, possibly indicating their value or importance to the musician playing them.
Murders of crows
A group of aggressive and/or noisy crows, possibly signifying danger or chaos.
Metal teeth of
The sharp and unyielding parts of a carousel that can cause injury or pain if someone were to come in contact with them.
Carousels
Amusement park rides featuring a rotating platform with seats or animals to ride on, often enjoyed by children and families.
Lighting cigars on
A dangerous and potentially deadly activity, possibly indicating a disregard for one's own safety or a desire for excitement.
Electric chairs
Devices used for capital punishment, specifically designed to electrocute a person to death.
Buildings are rooks
A comparison between buildings and the chess piece known as a rook, possibly indicating the strategic nature of constructing and using buildings.
Nature's a vice
A conflicting force in life, one that can be both harmful and beneficial, possibly indicating a struggle with the natural world.
Rattle of diesels
The loud and noticeable sound of diesel engines, possibly signifying the intrusion of technology into daily life.
Snakes eating their own tails
An ancient symbol of infinity, where the end is also the beginning, possibly representing the cyclical nature of life.
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
A seemingly idyllic scene of a girl milking a cow, with a tone of approval or admiration.
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
A continuation of the previous line, possibly to emphasize the point or create a sense of familiarity.
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Another repetition of the previous line, possibly to create a sense of rhythm or reinforce the image of the girl milking the cow.
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
A final repetition of the previous line, possibly to bring the song to a close or to create a lasting impression of the scene described.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK LINKOUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@victorsimoneau3573
Saint of barges
Queen of nails
Sparkling drum sets
Murders of crows
Metal teeth of
Carousels
Lighting cigars on
Electric chairs
Buildings are rooks
Nature's a vice
Rattle of diesels
Snakes eating their own tails
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
@diamondtie
I hung around the bar after a gig once hoping Mark would show. I was really drunk and went up to him when he appeared. He was very gracious. All I can remember now is the sense of omg I am shaking that hand, the hand that played all these songs. I sound like a dumb fan now but it was a moment.
@beemelonhead1
Sounds like when I met Mark Kozelek.. wish I got the chance to meet Linkous.
@bobbypeeple
I met him after a show at Fez Under Time in NYC in 2001. PJ Harvey sang Piano Fire with him. Transcendent show. I bumped into him in a hallway afterwards... just he and I. I said 'thank you for the music - that was an amazing show'. In his southern drawl he replied, "You thought so? I thought it was a trainwreck". I can't think of another musician I'd have rather met.
@mr.privately7125
I played bass on this song. Mark was one of my best friends.
@loucat2779
@bobbypeeple treasure that memory as I'm sure you do, thanks for sharing, man.
@loucat2779
@Mr. Privately Thank you for your service, my friend. Did you see it coming? Or no clue at all.
@Melchizedek25
"....lighting cigars on electric chairs...." What a humble, beautiful genius. RIP ML.
@donseitan
Just commenting to make this comment section more active and let people know how awesome Sparklehorse's music is.
@loucat2779
sadly, not for me anyways, just found the artist. Man does this speak to me. Truly is awesome. Mark had a lot to say if you just listen. Just my comment.
@JohnSmith81991
@@loucat2779 i recommend you to check out Elliott Smith as well, his music may not tend into as 'raw' tunes, tho his first two albums are pretty grim, but if you like this kind of impressionistic, multi-instrumental - as i would characterise Sparklehorse - you should check him out (especially his albums: 'Either/Or' and 'XO'), he's awesome imo and is one of the few artists, along with Mark as well, which music never gets boring to me