In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Milk Cow Blues
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aw Larry!
Ah Tim, c'mon tell 'em now!
I woke up this mornin'
Looked out my door
I can tell my milk cow
I can tell by the way she lows
Please drive her on home
'Cause I ain't had no milk and butter
Since my milk cow's been gone
Well you gotta treat me right woman
Day by day
Get out your little prayer book
Get down on your knees and pray
You're gonna need, you're gonna need
My help one of these days
You're gonna be sorry
You treated me this way
I said well good evening
Don't that sun look good going down
I said well good evening
Don't that sun look good going down
And don't my home look lonesome
When my lover ain't around
Low
You know what low means
Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on
Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on
You're gonna keep right on sailing
Till you lose your happy home
Well I tried everything baby
To get along with you
Now tell me brother Tim
What are you going to do?
I'm gonna stop cryin'
Gonna leave you alone
If you don't think I'm leavin'
You can count the days I'm gone
You're gonna need me, baby
You're gonna need my love someday
You're gonna be sorry
You treated me this way
Ah milk cow blues
Ah milk cow
Come on home
The lyrics to Asleep At The Wheel's "Milk Cow Blues" is a classic example of traditional blues style, with themes of heartbreak, loneliness and longing. The song is about the singer's milk cow, who has gone missing, and the profound effect her disappearance has had on the singer's life. He wakes up in the morning, looks out his door and realizes that he hasn't had milk or butter since she's been gone. The singer pleads with anyone who sees his cow to drive her home.
The lyrics also feature a verse where the singer pleads with his lover to treat him better, warning her that she will need his help someday. Then the song transitions into a classic blues progression, with the lyrics talking about sorrow, loss and loneliness. The final verse sees the singer telling his lover that he will leave if she doesn't treat him better, warning that she will need his love someday and she will be sorry for treating him poorly.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw milk cow blues yeah
Let's sing a blues song about a farmer's missing milk cow.
I woke up this mornin'
This is a typical blues song opening line.
Looked out my door
Checked outside to see if the milk cow is back.
I can tell my milk cow
The farmer knows his cow by the sound of her lowing.
I can tell by the way she lows
The cow's lowing reveals her identity to the farmer.
If you see my milk cow
Asking listeners to help find the missing cow.
Please drive her on home
Bring the cow back to the farm.
'Cause I ain't had no milk and butter
The farmer can't make dairy products without the cow's milk.
Since my milk cow's been gone
The cow has been missing for some time now.
Well you gotta treat me right woman
The farmer is addressing his lover who mistreated him.
Day by day
Every day, the lover must show him respect.
Get out your little prayer book
Pleading with her to pray for forgiveness.
Get down on your knees and pray
Literally begging her to pray for redemption.
You're gonna need, you're gonna need
A warning that she will need his help someday.
My help one of these days
He will only help her if she shows him respect.
You're gonna be sorry
She will regret mistreating him.
I said well good evening
Addressing listeners or other characters in the story.
Don't that sun look good going down
Appreciating the sunset, but mourning the loss of love.
And don't my home look lonesome
The absence of his lover has made his home feel empty.
When my lover ain't around
His lover has left him and his heart is broken.
Low
A sound effect indicating the cow's lowing.
You know what low means
Clarifying that the term was referring to the cow's lowing.
Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on
This is a common refrain in blues songs, but here it seems to suggest that his lover should move on.
You're gonna keep right on sailing
Encouraging his lover to move on despite his pain.
Till you lose your happy home
A warning that her actions will have consequences, such as losing her happy life.
Well I tried everything baby
The farmer has exhausted all his options to make things work with his lover.
To get along with you
He really wanted to find a way to make things work with her.
Now tell me brother Tim
Addressing one of the band members or another character in the story.
What are you going to do?
Asking Tim what he will do in a similar situation.
I'm gonna stop cryin'
Tim decides to quit crying and move on from a similar experience.
Gonna leave you alone
He will separate and move on.
If you don't think I'm leavin'
Tim is telling his lover that he is leaving, whether she wants him to or not.
You can count the days I'm gone
Tim is gone for good and won't return.
You're gonna need me, baby
The farmer warns his lover she will need his love someday.
You're gonna need my love someday
She will come to regret losing his love.
Ah milk cow blues
Repeating the song's title as a refrain.
Ah milk cow
Repeating the song's title as a refrain.
Come on home
An urgent plea to his missing milk cow to come back home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KOKOMO ARNOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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