The band has always sought to play a variety of music, both songs and instrumentals and with a large variety of guest musicians and sometimes some unusual instruments.
The current lineup features percussionist Marc Anderson, Todd Menton on vocals, guitar, mandolin and whistle, Dean Magraw on guitar, Drew Miller bassist and dulcimer player and David Stenshoel on fiddle and saxophone.
Boiled in Lead has been referenced by Mercedes Lackey in her Diane Tregarde novel, Children of the Night published in 1990 and by Emma Bull in her 1989 novel, War for the Oaks.
Hook 'Em Cow
Boiled in Lead Lyrics
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She's a looker, so we took her to the big pow-wow.
Come along and see her, say how-de-do and take a bow
Very glad to meet you she's the Hook 'Em Cow.
Hook 'Em Cow, hear the song a-rattling
Hook 'Em Cow, we're a-coming now
Hook 'Em Cow, shooting like a Gatling
Clear the street, you're going to meet the Hook 'Em Cow.
All the kegs were fried, no-ones got enough.
Someone said "a burger," and though I thought it murder
We were lookin' to be cookin' up the Hook 'Em Cow.
(chorus)
Hook 'Em Cow was lookin for a place to run
She's a ramblin' rovin' bovine with a Gatling gun.
But Old MacDonald shot her, Mr. Rogers joined the slaughter
They were loppin' and a choppin' up the Hook 'Em Cow.
(chorus)
The lyrics of Hook 'Em Cow by Boiled in Lead tell the story of an infamous cow named Hook 'Em Cow in Dakota County. The singer introduces her as a beautiful and impressive cow, that catches the attention of everyone present at the big pow-wow. They invite the audience to have a look at her, greet her, and appreciate her. However, soon the tone of the song shifts as we hear about the violence in the pow-wow. Apparently, due to excessive drinking, people weren't satiated with regular food anymore, and they wanted to eat the cow. The singer is against the idea, but everyone else seems to be on board. The song ends on a morbid note, with the news that the cow didn't find a place to run, and was slaughtered by Old MacDonald and Mr. Rogers.
At first glance, the song might seem like a mindless country tune about a cow, but a closer examination reveals that it touches upon a variety of themes. The cow is treated as an object of entertainment and is fetishized for its looks. The pow-wow, which is supposed to be a celebration of Native American culture, turns into a chaotic and violent event due to excessive drinking. The meat industry and factory farming are also alluded to as we hear about the cow's journey to the slaughterhouse.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in Dakota County lives the Hook 'Em Cow
In the region's Dakota County, there is a cow called Hook 'Em Cow.
She's a looker, so we took her to the big pow-wow.
Because we found her attractive, we took her to the large pow-wow event.
Come along and see her, say how-de-do and take a bow
You should come and see Hook 'Em Cow, say hello, and give a nod of respect.
Very glad to meet you she's the Hook 'Em Cow.
Hook 'Em Cow is excited to meet you as well.
Hook 'Em Cow, hear the song a-rattling
Listen to the sound of the Hook 'Em Cow's movements.
Hook 'Em Cow, we're a-coming now
We are approaching with the Hook 'Em Cow.
Hook 'Em Cow, shooting like a Gatling
It feels like shots are being fired rapidly, like a Gatling gun.
Clear the street, you're going to meet the Hook 'Em Cow.
Get out of the way or else you'll cross paths with the Hook 'Em Cow.
Now over at the pow-wow things were getting rough
The pow-wow was becoming chaotic and belligerent.
All the kegs were fried, no-ones got enough.
All the kegs were empty and no one had enough to drink.
Someone said "a burger," and though I thought it murder
Someone suggested making a burger out of Hook 'Em Cow, which I thought was a terrible idea.
We were lookin' to be cookin' up the Hook 'Em Cow.
We were considering preparing and cooking Hook 'Em Cow.
(chorus)
Repeats the previous verse.
Hook 'Em Cow was lookin for a place to run
Hook 'Em Cow was searching for a safe place to flee.
She's a ramblin' rovin' bovine with a Gatling gun.
Hook 'Em Cow moves about freely, armed with a powerful weapon.
But Old MacDonald shot her, Mr. Rogers joined the slaughter
Hooks 'Em Cow was killed by Old MacDonald and Mr. Rogers, who both participated in the act of slaughtering her.
They were loppin' and a choppin' up the Hook 'Em Cow.
They were dismembering Hook 'Em Cow's body in preparation for cooking and eating.
(chorus)
Repeats the previous verse.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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