Milkcow Blues
Eric Clapton Lyrics


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Tell me, milkcow, what on earth is wrong with you?
Ooh, milkcow, what on earth is wrong with you?
Now, you have a little calf, hoo hoo, and your milk is turnin' blue

Oh, your calf is hungry, I believe he needs a suck
Now, your calf is hungry, I believe he needs a suck
But your milk is turnin' blue, hoo hoo, I believe he's outta luck
Now, I feel like milkin' and my cow won't come
I feel like churnin' it and my milk won't turn
I'm cryin', please, please, don't do me wrong
If you see my milk cow, baby, now how, please, drive her home

But my milkcow been ramblin', hoo hee, for miles around
But my milkcow been ramblin', hoo hoo, for miles around




Well, now how can you suck on some other man's bull cow?
Hoo hoo, in this strange man's town

Overall Meaning

The song "Milkcow's Calf Blues," originally performed by Robert Johnson and later covered by Eric Clapton, describes the plight of a milk cow whose milk has turned blue (or sour) and whose calf is hungry. This situation raises a number of questions about the cow's welfare and the reasons why the milk has turned sour. Some interpret the song as a metaphor for the human experience of feeling lost, abandoned, and out of place.


The lyrics suggest that there is something wrong with the cow, which is not producing milk that is fit for consumption. This may be due to a dietary deficiency, illness, or mistreatment by the farmer. The cow's calf is unable to get the nourishment it needs from the blue milk, leading to a sense of desperation and hopelessness. According to some interpretations, the cow and calf represent the marginalized members of society who are struggling to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.


The song's chorus suggests that the singer is also struggling to find a way forward in difficult circumstances. He is unable to milk his own cow and his milk won't turn, leaving him feeling frustrated and helpless. The final verse seems to suggest that the singer's troubles are part of a broader pattern of displacement and dislocation. His milk cow has been rambling for miles around, suggesting a sense of rootlessness and displacement. The line about sucking on another man's bull cow may be a reference to the idea of being forced to accept whatever one can get in an unfamiliar environment.


Overall, "Milkcow's Calf Blues" is a powerful meditation on the human condition, highlighting the struggles we all face in our search for meaning and purpose. The song's simple yet evocative lyrics and timeless blues melodies have made it a beloved classic among music lovers around the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me, milkcow, what on earth is wrong with you?
Asking the milkcow what is troubling it.


Ooh, milkcow, what on earth is wrong with you?
Repeating the question to emphasize on the cow's plight.


Now, you have a little calf, hoo hoo, and your milk is turnin' blue
The cow's milk is turning blue because it has been contaminated and it has a little calf that needs to be fed.


Oh, your calf is hungry, I believe he needs a suck
The calf needs milk to eat.


Now, your calf is hungry, I believe he needs a suck
Emphasizing the urgency of the calf's need for milk.


But your milk is turnin' blue, hoo hoo, I believe he's outta luck
Since the milk is contaminated, it is no longer fit for the calf to drink.


Now, I feel like milkin' and my cow won't come
The singer wants to milk their own cow but it is nowhere to be found.


I feel like churnin' it and my milk won't turn
Even if the milk were available, it wouldn't be possible to use it for making butter because it would not turn into butter.


I'm cryin', please, please, don't do me wrong
The artist is pleading for help.


If you see my milk cow, baby, now how, please, drive her home
If someone sees the artist's cow, they are asked to bring it back to them.


But my milkcow been ramblin', hoo hee, for miles around
The singer's cow has wandered off a long way from the farm.


But my milkcow been ramblin', hoo hoo, for miles around
Emphasizing how far the cow has wandered.


Well, now how can you suck on some other man's bull cow?
Asking how someone could feed their baby from someone else's cow.


Hoo hoo, in this strange man's town
It is a strange town with unfamiliar cows, making it harder to find milk for the calf.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

drumdad54 sdl

The blues don't get much better when you combine a classic Robert Johnson tune and EC. Epic. I hear shades of Foghat doing Terraplane Blues..another great tune.

EazyG

The entrance of the drums is one of the most powerful things I've ever heard in a song.

Anthony Tonni

What a rendition!
Bass and drums are locking up perfectly in deep driving rhythm!
Everyone played just right.❤❤❤

Ian McKinnon

Great music

Joe Stephan

Real Blues Power!!!

The Thinking Ape

Eric Clapton is King of the Blues!!

Joe Stephan

In the closing pages of his incredible biography "E.C." you can read how Muddy Waters formally passed the torch to Clapton. This came about when Muddy, in his later years, was signed as the opening act for Eric's upcoming world tour. When Clapton found out he hit the ceiling, telling his agent and the promoters he would not go on that way, that Muddy was king of the Blues, not him. It was Muddy who went to Eric and told him that his own time had now passed, and that Eric was now the one. Clapton said it took him along time to accept that but only because it was for Muddy.

Claudio Casemiro

Esse CD todo é show!!!

Douglas Smith

Eric Clapton does everything well...

Hermine Juritsch

Very nice

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