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.
Mr. Cancelled
Cows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a crime happening somewhere
I'm doing time and it ain't fair
Hope you're crying, but you don't care
You said I wasn't enough
So I went and called your bluff
Now I'm outside standing in line
Well that's okay, I'm alright
I'm just fine
I got prospects, I got pride
Don't need your sex
Of course I'd come back if I could
But I've been filed under "dead wood"
You said I promised the sky
But just ate and drank and got high
Well it weren't exactly a lie
But I fucked up and that's why I'm Mr. Cancelled
The lyrics to "Mr. Cancelled" by Cows tell the story of a man who has been rejected by someone he cared about deeply. He feels lost and alone, unable to move on from the hurt he's been caused. The opening lines of the song express his dismay at the fact that the person he loved is now out there, leaving him in the dark about their whereabouts while a crime is happening somewhere. He feels as though he's been incarcerated unfairly, and while he hopes that the person who rejected him is suffering as well, he knows deep down that they don't really care.
The singer of the song then goes on to reflect on the reasons why he was rejected, and how he feels about it now. He acknowledges that he was told he wasn't enough, and that he decided to call the other person's bluff. He's now stuck standing in line, unsure of what to do next. However, he's also determined to stay positive - he's got prospects and pride, and he doesn't need the other person's validation or physical affection. He would come back if he could, but he knows that he's been written off as "dead wood". Finally, the song reveals that the singer messed up by not living up to his promises, and as a result, he's now "Mr. Cancelled".
This song is a powerful exploration of rejection and the pain it brings, as well as the struggle to move on from someone who's hurt you deeply. It's a raw, emotional portrayal of human experience that will resonate with anyone who's ever been rejected in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel blind cause you're out there
I feel helpless because you are out of my reach, and I cannot control or change the situation.
There's a crime happening somewhere
There is something wrong or unjust happening in the world, and I am unable to stop it.
I'm doing time and it ain't fair
I am suffering the consequences of my mistakes, and it feels unfair.
Hope you're crying, but you don't care
I wish that you would feel guilty or remorseful for what you have done to me, but I know that you are indifferent to my pain.
You said I wasn't enough
You told me that I fell short of your expectations, and it hurt me deeply.
So I went and called your bluff
As a response, I decided to test your claims and see if you were telling the truth or not.
Now I'm outside standing in line
As a consequence of my actions, I find myself waiting outside, hoping to receive something or gain entry to a place.
Well that's okay, I'm alright
Despite my setbacks, I am still okay and doing fine.
I'm just fine
I am content with where I am in life and do not need to rely on anyone else for happiness.
I got prospects, I got pride
I have opportunities and self-respect, which gives me hope for the future.
Don't need your sex
I do not require your physical affection or validation to feel whole.
Of course I'd come back if I could
If given the opportunity, I would return to a past relationship or situation.
But I've been filed under "dead wood"
However, I recognize that I am not valued or useful in that capacity anymore.
You said I promised the sky
You accused me of making unrealistic or impossible commitments.
But just ate and drank and got high
I was too focused on temporary pleasures like food, drinks, or drugs instead of fulfilling my promises.
Well it weren't exactly a lie
Although it was not entirely true, there was still some validity to what I said or did.
But I fucked up and that's why I'm Mr. Cancelled
But ultimately, I messed up and failed to meet expectations, which led to my downfall or being cancelled out of someone's life.
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.