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.
Walks Alone
Cows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the park
Until after dark
He sits there rocking back and forth
He rocks alone
While he talks
Talk's to himself
He's got a story that he likes to tell alone
He might stink a little
But he stinks alone
He's got a right
Cuz he walks alone
It's hard now
Then he stands
He does a dance
A little jig
He's spinning all around
He spins alone
While he shakes
Takes a swig
He stares into the sun
He stares alone
Don't wanna fight
Don't wanna kiss
Cuz what he has to do
He has to do alone
Cuz he's mad
He's pissed
He walks alone
It's a hard row he hoes
He comes from the north
Up in the woods
It's understood
He rode a bottle to city
Rode alone
Blank trip, bad shit
Some passing car is wondering
How he got alone
Was it the law?
Was it a chick?
The answers sitting up inside his head alone
Up in his dome
Bone globe
He walks alone
Red socks, plaid pants, stripped shirt
The cops don't like his little dance
"Are you alone?"
"Where do you live?"
"What did you drink?"
"We're gonna throw you in the clink, Walks Alone"
Then Walks pukes
They grab his arms
But he's quicker with his dukes
He stands alone
Cuz he's the chief
He's a king
He walks alone
Then he stands
He does a dance
A little jig
He's spinning all around
He spins alone
While he shakes
Takes a swig
He stares into the sun
He stares alone
Don't wanna fight
Don't wanna kiss
Cuz what he has to do
He has to do alone
Cuz he's mad
He's pissed
He walks alone
It's a hard row he hoes
The lyrics to Cows' song Walks Alone describe a man who is a loner, living and going about his days completely by himself. He sits in a park rocking back and forth, talking to himself and telling a story that only he seems to find important. He drinks, despite perhaps stinking a little, and does everything on his own terms because he walks alone. The man then stands up and does a dance all by himself, spins, and takes a swig of his drink. He's angry and frustrated with the world, and he doesn't want anyone else to be involved in what he's going through or what he has to do. He's been through some tough times, having come from the woods and ridden a bottle to the city, and now he's alone, trying to deal with his issues.
The song touches on the theme of isolation and the loneliness that can come with feeling like an outsider or someone who doesn't quite fit in. The character, Walks Alone, seems to be struggling with mental illness, alienation, and addiction. His erratic behavior, drinking, and the way he talks to himself and dances alone all point to a person who is disconnected from the society around him. The lyrics suggest that while he may be alone, he is also strong and determined to survive on his own terms.
Overall, Walks Alone is a powerful song that paints a vivid and disturbing picture of a man who has been pushed to the edges of society, finding solace in his own company and his own peculiar ways of dealing with life.
Line by Line Meaning
He sits alone
He is by himself
In the park
He is located in a public outdoor area with greenery and benches
Until after dark
He remains in the park until nighttime
He sits there rocking back and forth
He moves himself in a repetitive motion while remaining seated
He rocks alone
He engages in the rocking motion without company
While he talks
As he speaks
Talk's to himself
He converses with himself
He's got a story that he likes to tell alone
He possesses a narrative that he wants to express solo
While he drinks, gets warm
As he imbibes liquid and feels cozy
He might stink a little
He possibly emits an unpleasant odor
But he stinks alone
He produces the unpleasant aroma without anyone else nearby
He's got a right
He possesses a justifiable claim to something
Cuz he walks alone
Because he prefers to traverse without companionship
It's hard now
He is currently facing a difficult situation
Then he stands
He elevates his body from a seated position to a vertical one
He does a dance
He engages in choreographed movement in time with music or without
A little jig
A brief dance
He's spinning all around
He rotates his body many times
While he shakes
As he moves with quick, repeated motions
Takes a swig
He drinks some of his beverage
He stares into the sun
He looks directly at the star at the center of the solar system
Don't wanna fight
He does not desire conflict
Don't wanna kiss
He has no interest in giving or receiving a romantic gesture
Cuz what he has to do
Due to the task he must complete
He has to do alone
He must complete this task without company
Cuz he's mad
Because he is agitated
He's pissed
He is angry
It's a hard row he hoes
He is faced with a challenging situation
He comes from the north
He originates from the direction of the North Pole
Up in the woods
He lived in a forested area
It's understood
This is generally known or agreed upon
He rode a bottle to city
He used a bottle as transportation to an urban location
Rode alone
He journeyed without companionship
Blank trip, bad shit
He had a trip with no memories and some negative baggage
Some passing car is wondering
A moving vehicle's occupants are curious
How he got alone
How he traveled without company
Was it the law?
Did law enforcement do something about it?
Was it a chick?
Did he meet up with a woman?
The answers sitting up inside his head alone
The solutions are in his mind, and he alone can access them
Up in his dome
In his psyche
Bone globe
His brain
Red socks, plaid pants, stripped shirt
His outfit consists of red hosiery, checkered trousers, and a shirt with stripes
The cops don't like his little dance
Police officers disapprove of his brief choreographed movements
Are you alone?
Are you not accompanied by anybody?
Where do you live?
What is your place of residency?
What did you drink?
What liquid did you consume?
We're gonna throw you in the clink, Walks Alone
We intend to incarcerate you, Walks Alone
Then Walks pukes
Next, he vomits
They grab his arms
They seize his limbs
But he's quicker with his dukes
But he's fast with his fists
Cuz he's the chief
Because he is the leader
He's a king
He is royalty
Contributed by Grace G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.