The original line-up consisted of lead singer Shannon Selberg, who later took up the bugle, guitarist Thor Eisentrager, bass guitarist Kevin Rutmanis, and drummer Sandris Rutmanis (soon to be replaced by Norm Rogers). The band had a hardcore sound characterized by blurred guitars, however the Cows took the formula a step further, creating a unique and unconventional style.
Stripping away anything that remotely resembled pop - including melody and catchy hooks and riffs - the Cows offered punk rock in its crudest form. John Dougan in All Music Guide described the group's distorted sound as "a feral racket that sounded as is if the guitars were being played with metal files". Lyrically, their songs dealt with just about anything, from losers in life to sex and bodily fluids. And Selberg's shrieking vocal style and general lunacy on stage provided the Cows with a bizarre, yet often engaging focus.
In 1987, the Cows released their debut album, Taint Pluribus, Taint Unum, landing a record deal with Amphetamine Reptile for the release of their second LP, Daddy Has A Tail. And by the time Cunning Stunts arrived in 1992, critics began to cite improvements.
However, while the Cows exhibited a more solid playing technique and greater songwriting focus, they stayed true to their punk roots and anti-commercial stance. "We play music that we like", said Eisentrager once. "We know how the world works. We're not trying to make music for mass consumption. Sometimes you get frustrated, but it's all about music. Episodically you get pissed off, but we've had a fair shake with the band, and we've had good tours. Basically we wish more people could get their hands on the records, but we know what we're doing and like what we do. It's not like somebody is trying ... to ignore us. It's just the nature of the beast".
After the release of Orphan's Tragedy in 1994, Roger decided to leave the Cows, fuelling rumors of a breakup. The rumors were silenced, however, with the release of Whorn in 1996. The album featured a new drummer, Freddy Votel.
In the wake of Whorn, talk of a band breakup emerged a second time when Selberg relocated from Minneapolis to New York City. But a new album again served as notice that the Cows were a healthy unit. Released in 1998, the eclectic Sorry In Pig Minor also saw the Cows, for the first time, exploring new ground. Although evidence of the old Cows remained, Sorry In Pig Minor was more varied in scope and texture. The opener, Cabin Man, was vintage Cows, yet tunes like the Latin-flavored El Shiksa and the jazzy Felon Of Troy proved that the group could handle more than punk.
After more than a decade of noise rock, the Cows disbanded in 1998.
They have a star on Minneapolis' First Avenue. Their singer, Shannon Selberg, has gone on with music, fronting the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.
I'm Both
Cows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They poke, they prod, they're picking on me
I've got noise upstairs, I can't participate
I'm gonna call the pigs on my own party
Am I a schizoid or a schizophrenic?
When I ask my beam
I'm both
I've got whistles, bells
I've got a stock car race going
What I thought's a stick is an automatic
When they gave out brains
Yeah, I got screwed
There's two kinds of fool
I'm Both
My right brain shaves, my left wears a dress
I'm a cop, a snitch, a dick, and asshole
But the girl's approve, my friends all think it's great
You see, I'm not nuts, I'm complicated
I shit outside
I sleep in stores
I'm between floors
I'm both
My heads an empty lot
It's easy to find a spot
Any God damned thing can park there
It's twice the work
And half the fun
I'm formed, I'm done
I'm both
They paint the walls
And spray for bugs
But it's in my blood
I'm both
The doc says, "You! Who are you talking to? Hey!"
I said, "Can't you see that I'm busy?"
He shakes his head, and then he checks his watch again
He yawns and writes out my prescription
I take three of these
And six of those
But when I run low
I'm both
In the song "I'm Both" by Cows, the lyrics describe a person who is struggling with their own mind. The person's head is like a parliament with different voices and opinions battling it out. The person feels like they are being poked and prodded by these thoughts, and they can't participate in life because of the noise upstairs. The person decides to call the police on their own thoughts to try and quiet them down. The person questions whether they are schizoid or schizophrenic, and the answer they receive is that they are both. The person's mind is like a stock car race with whistles and bells, and what they think is a stick turns out to be an automatic weapon. The person feels like they got screwed when brains were handed out because there are two kinds of fools, and they are both. The person's left brain wears a dress while their right brain shaves, and they identify as a cop, a snitch, a dick, and an asshole. Despite all of this, the person's friends think they are great, and the person is not crazy, they are just complicated. The person sleeps in stores, shits outside, and is stuck between floors because they are both. The person feels like their head is an empty lot where anything and everything can park, and it's twice the work and half the fun because they are formed and done, they are both.
Line by Line Meaning
My head's a parliament, I've got a whole debate going
My mind is a political arena, constant arguing and deliberation among various thoughts and ideas.
They poke, they prod, they're picking on me
Those thoughts are intrusive and bothersome, causing distress.
I've got noise upstairs, I can't participate
The mental noise is so loud, it's difficult to focus or interact with others.
I'm gonna call the pigs on my own party
I feel like I need to intervene with my own thoughts and possibly seek professional help.
Am I a schizoid or a schizophrenic?
I'm uncertain about my mental state and seeking a diagnosis.
When I ask my beam
When I talk to myself/split personality.
I'm both
I have both conditions.
I've got whistles, bells
Experiencing auditory hallucinations.
I've got a stock car race going
Experiencing racing thoughts.
What I thought's a stick is an automatic
Experiencing a delusion or confusion about an object.
When they gave out brains, Yeah, I got screwed
I feel like I'm at a disadvantage mentally.
There's two kinds of fool, I'm Both
I'm foolish for having both conditions, but also foolish for believing I have them.
My right brain shaves, my left wears a dress
Experiencing a loss of control over different parts of the body, or feeling like there are distinct personalities.
I'm a cop, a snitch, a dick, and asshole
Experiencing a fragmented identity and personality.
But the girl's approve, my friends all think it's great
Despite my mental struggles, some people still find me charming, interesting, or attractive.
You see, I'm not nuts, I'm complicated
I don't want to be dismissed as crazy or mentally ill. I feel that my experiences are complex and worthy of understanding.
I shit outside, I sleep in stores
Exhibiting odd or unconventional behavior.
I'm between floors
Feeling like I'm in between worlds, or not fully grounded or stable.
My heads an empty lot, It's easy to find a spot
My mind is a barren wasteland, and it's easy for unwanted thoughts or behaviors to take root.
Any God damned thing can park there
Anything can trigger or worsen my mental state and struggles.
It's twice the work, And half the fun
Having both conditions is challenging and requires more effort, but it doesn't necessarily bring more joy or fulfillment.
I'm formed, I'm done, I'm both
I've accepted that I have both conditions and have come to terms with them.
They paint the walls, And spray for bugs
Seeking psychiatric help and possibly taking medication to alleviate symptoms.
But it's in my blood, I'm both
My conditions are deeply ingrained and part of who I am.
The doc says, "You! Who are you talking to? Hey!"
The doctor is noting my strange behavior or speech.
I said, "Can't you see that I'm busy?"
I'm defensive and annoyed at the doctor's questioning.
He shakes his head, and then he checks his watch again
The doctor is frustrated and/or dismissive of my behavior.
He yawns and writes out my prescription
The doctor is uninterested and medicates me as a quick fix.
I take three of these, And six of those
I'm frequently taking medication for my conditions.
But when I run low, I'm both
When I don't have access to medication or run out, my conditions resurface and are present again.
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MysticalEye
I thought that a man fighting a cow that knows karate was just a dream. But after searching for this clip, I realized it wasn’t a dream. It was a childhood memory
👻South Texas trainfan🎃
Same
Maruchan de fresas.
Same
Ahmad munif LELOUCH
Same i watched this clip back at 2020
Aktari Jahan
@Maruchan de fresas. b8
Dr. Bright
Your mind suppressed the memory
Ustaani
The moment he did the matrix bullet dodge, I already lost it. 🤣 Still cracks me up until this day. Nostalgia hits hard!
Kohinur Begum
😅😅😊😊
Kohinur Begum
😅😅😅😮পেলো😅
Sunny khan Horticulturist
My childhood memories. Love this clip