Cows were a noise rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1987 and… Read Full Bio ↴Cows were a noise rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1998, notorious for their raucous live performances.

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.

Ort
Cows Lyrics

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You long
You're longing for the past
First time went by too fast
Well you're wrong
You're wrong about those times

You always take what's left behind
You never seem to mind

You always take what's left behind
But you're never mine

Still got the clothes, still got the hair
Got the records
Could it all be for nothing
Couldn't be, no way

You're home
You're waiting on the line
You think you're made of time
Well he's gone
He's never coming back
Except to hit the sack

You always take what's left behind
You never seem to mind
You always take what's left behind
But you're never mine

He doesn't want her
He doesn't mean it
No, how could he?
After what he said last night
Couldn't be, no way

You're on
You're always on your guard
You always try too hard
I knock, you never let me in
I won't be back again

You always take what's left behind
You never seem to mind

You always take what's left behind
But you're never mine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cows' song Ort address themes of longing, regret, and unrequited love. The opening lines, "You long, you're longing for the past, first time went by too fast," suggest a longing for a past time, possibly referring to a failed relationship or a missed opportunity. However, the lyrics then suggest that the singer is mistaken in feeling nostalgic for this time as they sing, "Well you're wrong, you're wrong about those times."

The chorus, "You always take what's left behind, you never seem to mind, you always take what's left behind, but you're never mine," further emphasizes the singer's feelings of being left behind and unloved. The lines, "Still got the clothes, still got the hair, got the records, could it all be for nothing, couldn't be, no way," suggest a longing for the past, but also a fear that it may have all been in vain.

The second verse addresses a lost lover, singing, "You're home, you're waiting on the line, you think you're made of time, well he's gone, he's never coming back, except to hit the sack." This paints a picture of a woman waiting for a man who has moved on and only returns for physical intimacy. The lines, "He doesn't want her, he doesn't mean it, no, how could he? After what he said last night, couldn't be, no way," suggest that the singer believes the man is insincere in his intentions and is hurting the woman by leading her on.

Line by Line Meaning

You long
You feel strongly nostalgic

You're longing for the past
You're yearning for a time gone by

First time went by too fast
The first experience passed quickly

Well you're wrong
Your sentiment is mistaken

You're wrong about those times
You're mistaken about the past

You always take what's left behind
You frequently take what's left and do not complain

You never seem to mind
You don't appear to be bothered by it

But you're never mine
But you don't belong to me

Still got the clothes, still got the hair
You still keep the clothes and hairstyle from the past

Got the records
You still possess the music from earlier times

Could it all be for nothing
Is it possible that all these relics are valueless?