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.
Two Little Pigs
Cows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's driving full of hate
He's got a gun, he wants to mate
Her thumb was up
He hits the gravel, pulls over and picks her up
The ride is on
They're both along for the ride
She's had some, she wants more
She's free but she's nobody's whore
She's got a knife, it's been used before
She was one the case
You should've seen the look on his face
The ride is on
They're both along for the ride
He drives her down to Crooked Lake
He moves in, it's getting late
"Slow down kid this ain't a race"
Then they collide
Two sacks of shit slapping in a mudslide
The ride is on
They're both along for the ride
A few minutes later and they're through
She's nervous, he's nervous too
It's time to do what they came to do
He goes for his gun
But she's too fast, it's over before it's begun
The ride is on
They were both along
for the ride
The lyrics of "Two Little Pigs" by Cows narrate a story of two strangers who start hitchhiking together, only to end up in a dark encounter. The male character in the song is portrayed as full of rage, carrying a gun with the intention of picking up a female stranger for sex. The woman, on the other hand, appears to be looking for excitement, carrying a knife that she has used before.
As they drive down to Crooked Lake, the tension builds up until they finally have sex. However, the encounter ends tragically as the woman, who had been nervous throughout the ordeal, overpowers the man and shoots him dead. The song ends on a dark note, with the refrain "The ride is on, they were both along for the ride."
The lyrics of "Two Little Pigs" are open to interpretation, but they seem to point to themes of sex, violence, and the consequences of recklessness. The song also highlights the issue of power dynamics, with both characters trying to assert their dominance over the other.
Line by Line Meaning
One night down on highway eight
This story takes place on a specific night on a particular highway.
He's driving full of hate
The driver is feeling very angry and resentful while he's driving.
He's got a gun, he wants to mate
The driver is carrying a weapon and is hoping to have sex with someone.
Her thumb was up
The woman was hitchhiking and signaled for a ride by sticking out her thumb.
He hits the gravel, pulls over and picks her up
The driver veers off the road and picks up the hitchhiking woman.
The ride is on
They both agree to continue traveling together.
She's had some, she wants more
The woman has already engaged in some sexual behavior and desires more.
She's free but she's nobody's whore
The woman is not a prostitute despite being sexually adventurous.
She's got a knife, it's been used before
The woman has brought a knife with her and has used it previously as a weapon.
She was one the case
The woman was vigilant and observant.
You should've seen the look on his face
The driver was surprised or frightened by something the woman did or said.
He drives her down to Crooked Lake
The driver takes the woman to a location called Crooked Lake.
He moves in, it's getting late
The driver attempts to initiate sexual activity as time passes.
"Slow down kid this ain't a race"
The woman reminds the driver to take things slow.
Then they collide
They both engage in sexual activity.
Two sacks of shit slapping in a mudslide
A crude metaphor for their sexual encounter.
A few minutes later and they're through
They finished having sex after a short period of time.
She's nervous, he's nervous too
Both parties experience anxiety about what happened.
It's time to do what they came to do
They need to finish their business or continue on with their original plan.
He goes for his gun
The driver tries to pull out his weapon.
But she's too fast, it's over before it's begun
The woman reacts quickly and disarms the driver before he can use his gun.
The ride is on
Although their plans changed, they continue traveling together as before.
They were both along for the ride
Both the driver and the hitchhiking woman were participating in this shared experience.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.