Henry Cow was among the founding members of the movement dubbed Rock in Opposition (RIO).
A number of people passed through Henry Cow over the years:
* Georgie Born - Cello, Bass (1976-1978)
* Lindsay Cooper - Bassoon, Reeds (1974, 1975-1978)
* Chris Cutler - Drums, Percussion (1971-1978)
* Fred Frith - Guitar, Violin, Bass, Piano, Xylophone (1968-1978)
* John Greaves - Bass, Piano (1970-1976)
* Tim Hodgkinson - Keyboards, Reeds (1968 - 1978)
* Dagmar Krause - Vocals (1975 - 1978)
* Geoff Leigh - Flute, Reeds (1972 - 1973)
Henry Cow's repertoire included elaborately scored pieces (often with complex time signatures), tape manipulations, free improvisation and songs. It incorporated elements of jazz, rock, classical music and the avant-garde. Dagmar Krause's vocals added another dimension to their sound, giving it a dramatic, almost Brechtian flair.
Their music was often experimental, making classification all but impossible. However, the following styles (amongst others) are often associated with Henry Cow:
* rock (too general and therefore inadequate)
* progressive rock
* art rock
* avant-progressive rock
* avant-rock
* chamber rock
* experimental rock
* free improvisation
Some of these styles may come closer to describing their music than others, and often it contained elements of all of the above, but in reality, Henry Cow simply remains one of those unclassifiable groups.
Henry Cow's music was challenging, not only to the listener, but also to the band themselves. They often composed pieces to challenge their own capabilities. Some of their music was scored beyond the conventional ranges of their music instruments necessitating that they "reinvent their instruments", learn how to play them in completely new ways. And yet their music may not have been as good as it could have been. Henry Cow conducted their affairs as a committee, having regular, minuted meetings with no decisions being made unless approved by the group. This included their music. Band members brought their ideas to the table but often they ended up being watered down as a result of the collective process, rather than strengthened, and many of their best ideas may not have been fully realised. Who knows what Henry Cow might have produced had individual members been given more free reign.
While their music is a decided "acquired taste", there is much to recommend in it, for as it is often dissonant and challenging, it is also rich and exciting, and yields more insights upon repeated listening.
Henry Cow reunited in November 2014 to celebrate the music of the late Lindsay Cooper for shows in the UK and Italy.
Ottawa Song
Henry Cow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a mystic ship we'd sail
to where there were no more sad troubles,
we would be so happy and
no-one else would see.
You and I we could give up our jobs and go,
we could leave all our commitments here,
I think .... Well ....
I think we could.
I think we could...
Well, maybe...
You and I we cannot leave.
We are enthralled by things we own and
things we wish to own and
things we're told are right or wrong and
debts we owe and
if we go what use is that to us or
to the world we're in?
The Henry Cow's song "Ottawa Song" is a reflection on the idea of escape from routine and the desire for a better life in a faraway place where one can find true happiness, free from any attachment to material things or social norms. The song begins with the hypothetical scenario of a mystical journey to an unknown destination where there are no more troubles; it is the idea of a voyage representing not only a physical escape but also a mental one, as the imagined destination is a place where everything is peaceful and joyful, and there is no past or future to worry about, no one else to judge or condemn.
The second verse presents a more concrete proposal of escapism, where the possibility of quitting from the oppressive routine of everyday life is contemplated as a real option. The singer seems to suggest that it is possible to leave everything behind and start a new life somewhere else, free from all the artificial constraints of modern society. Yet, in the end, the idea of escape is a mere illusion. The last lines of the song reveal the impossibility of running away from oneself, from one's ambitions, obligations, and ego. No matter where we go or what we do, we will always carry with us our flaws, fears, and frustrations. Meanwhile, the world we leave will remain the same, or perhaps even worse, because our absence will make no difference.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I could sail away to distant lands.
We could leave everything behind and escape to an unknown place far from here. Away from all the problems that are troubling us.
In a mystic ship we'd sail
We imagine this journey on a magical ship that can take us wherever we want. It’s a fantasy journey that seems impossible in reality.
to where there were no more sad troubles,
This far away place will have no sadness, no problems or conflicts. We hope to find happiness and peace there.
we would be so happy and
In this utopian world, we would be happy and content. It's a dream that feels unattainable in the real world.
no-one else would see.
Our journey is a personal one, and we would like to keep it to ourselves. We don't want anyone else to be a part of it or witness it.
You and I we could give up our jobs and go,
We're considering leaving our jobs and responsibilities behind to pursue this idyllic adventure. We're willing to make a big change in our lives to achieve our dream.
we could leave all our commitments here,
We can abandon all the things we are responsible for in our current life to go on this journey. We don't want anything to hold us back.
if we wanted to.
It's a “what if” scenario - we're not sure if we truly have the desire to embark on such a journey.
I think .... Well ....
We're hesitating and unsure. We want to believe that this journey is possible, but we're not confident enough to say for sure.
I think we could.
Still doubtful about the journey, but we want to believe that it's achievable.
I think we could...
We keep replaying the idea in our minds, trying to convince ourselves that we could actually pull something like this off.
Well, maybe...
After much thought, we're still undecided. We're not sure if this fantasy journey is worth the risk and if it would bring us the happiness we hope for. We're wary of the unknown.
You and I we cannot leave.
Ultimately, we can't leave everything behind to pursue this dream journey. We're bound by the things we own, the things that society demands of us, and the debts we have to pay off.
We are enthralled by things we own and
We're trapped by our possessions, our materialistic desires, and the social expectations that hinder us from breaking free from the life we have created.
things we wish to own and
Our aspirations of owning more things and achieving more in life have blinded us from seeing that our current life is unfulfilling.
things we're told are right or wrong and
Society has dictated to us what's acceptable and what's not. We obey these rules and not question them, even if it means sacrificing our happiness.
debts we owe and
We're tied down by the debts that we owe, which keeps us from pursuing any desires or dreams that require us to take risks.
if we go what use is that to us or
If we were to go on this journey, what would be the point? What would we gain from it other than temporary happiness?
to the world we're in?
Furthermore, this world we live in would remain the same, and we would return to the same problems and obligations that we wanted to escape. What impact would our escape have on the world and people around us?
Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.