A Camp is a solo side project of Swedish musician Nina Persson (vocalist fo… Read Full Bio ↴A Camp is a solo side project of Swedish musician Nina Persson (vocalist for the Swedish indie-pop band The Cardigans). A Camp recorded and released two albums, in 2001 and 2009, after which the project has been inactive.

It began in 2001 as a collaborative effort between Nina Persson (of The Cardigans) and Swedish singer, guitarist and songwriter Niclas Frisk (of Atomic Swing). The self-titled debut album A Camp was released later that year.

Persson and Frisk had recorded a collection of songs in 1998, but the project was suspended while they attended to other matters, including Persson's move to New York City with future-husband and fellow rocker Nathan Larson, an american film composer who had known some modest success in the 90s with his band Shudder To Think.

A second batch of recordings for the first A Camp record took place in Woodstock, New York, at the now-dufunct Bearsville studio. Work took place in a barn. Larson played bass. Kevin March (Dambuilders/ Shudder To Think/Guided By Voices) played drums.

The resultant album was released in 2001 in Europe, where it was a considerable success, and a significant hit in Scandinavia. The band toured extensively on the strength of the single I Can Buy You: the touring band included members of Soundtrack Of Our Lives as well as the above mentioned studio players. The album was awarded four Swedish Grammies.

In late 2007, NYC recording sessions included Joan Wasser, Nikolai Dunger, James Iha. The second album, Colonia, was released in January 2009.

A three-track EP named Covers, featuring interpretations of Pink Floyd's "Us And Them", David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" and Grace Jones' "I've Done it Again", was released digitally in the United States on 9 June 2009 and in Europe on 16 June 2009.

Persson has continued to record and perform as a solo artist, and reunite with The Cardigans for occasional tours. There are not known to be any plans for further A Camp recordings.

Walking the Cow
A Camp Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Try to remember
But my feelings
Can't know for sure
Tryin' to reach out
But it's gone

Lucky stars
In your eyes

I'm walking the cow

I really don't know
How I came here
I really don't know
Why I'm staying here
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I am walking (walking)
The cow

Try to point my finger
But the wind
Keeps blowing
Me around in circles
In circles

Lucky stars
In your eyes
I'm walking the cow

I really don't know
What I have to fear
I really don't know
What I have to care for
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I am walking
The cow

Lucky stars
In your eyes

Overall Meaning

Walking the Cow by A Camp is a cover of an avant-garde folk song written by Daniel Johnston. Although, it can sound like complete nonsense, the song is full of depth and meaning. The lyrics express the feeling of being lost and trying to make sense of one's emotions. The opening lines "Try to remember, but my feelings can't know for sure" could be interpreted as an attempt to recall past emotions, but one cannot be certain of how they felt at that time. The phrase "Walking the Cow" used throughout the song could be seen as a metaphor for the journey of life, where the individual is trying to navigate this journey, but it's tough, and they are doing the best they can.

The chorus consists of the phrase "Lucky stars in your eyes, I'm walking the cow" repeating twice. The phrase "Lucky stars in your eyes" could be interpreted as a positive aspect amidst the chaos of life. Perhaps, there is someone who is a guiding light or a source of support in this difficult journey of life. There's a sense of vulnerability and openness in confessing that "I really don't know how I came here. I really don't know why I'm staying here." Life is unpredictable, and it's not always easy to understand our choices and decisions.

The second verse says, "Try to point my finger, but the wind keeps blowing me around in circles." This is imagery of a struggle to control the direction of one's life. The wind, being beyond one's control, represents the uncertainty of life. The song's simplicity is what makes it stand out. The lyrics' ambiguity makes it open to various interpretations and allows the listener to connect with the song at a personal level.

Line by Line Meaning

Try to remember
Attempting to recall past events

But my feelings
Emotions are interfering with the memory

Can't know for sure
Uncertainty about the accuracy of the memory

Tryin' to reach out
Attempting to connect with someone

But it's gone
The connection has been lost

Lucky stars
Fortunate circumstances

In your eyes
Visible in your expression

I'm walking the cow
Metaphoric journey with uncertain destination

I really don't know
Admission of uncertainty

How I came here
Uncertainty about arrival at current stage

Why I'm staying here
Uncertainty about motivation for remaining