Their debut album, The Dust of Retreat came out in 2006. At this time, the band was signed to Artemis Records and had 8 members. In 2008 the band signed to Epic Records and (on 7 October) released two new albums, Animal! and Not Animal. The band originally planned to just release "Animal!". However, Epic disagreed on their song choice, and compiled a different list, which would later become "Not Animal". Eventually, after dispute over which version would be released, it was decided to release both at the same time.
In August 2009, 5 of the band's members left. They are all involved in other projects, most notably Pravada.
While the band, and Richard specifically have given many explanations to the band's name; this is all in fun. As the name was created as an anti-name; not meant to have any real meaning, just to make fun of other ridiculous names. The name "Margot" comes from Gweneth Paltrow's character in Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums".
The band's sound, categorized as "chamber pop", has been compared to the indie rock groups Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and The Shins, while incorporating elements of singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst.
Current Members are:
Richard Edwards - lead vocals, guitar, bells, melodica, banjo
Ronnie Kwasman - lead guitar
Tyler Watkins - bass guitar
Brian Deck - drums
Eric Kang - guitar
Cameron McGill
Former Members include:
Emily Watkins - keys, backup vocals
Andy Fry - guitar, bass, lap steel, percussion
Jesse Lee - cello
Casey Tennis - percussion
Chris Fry - drums, percussion
holy cow
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're starting to freak me out
And comb your hair
If I'm to take you anywhere
I've got it made
While my woman is away
Off taming goats with compassion, I suppose
You've gotta believe me, believe me
Holy cow!
I want you to get out
And tell all your friends
That I'm not myself again
But I can't talk
'Cause I do the same to you
No, I can't talk
'Cause I'd up and wig out too
You've gotta believe me, believe me, believe me
You've gotta believe me, believe me
Jen sings about being born in Montana
Where everything was great
And the people knew her name
I sang about lying on some floor
And how your mother used to cry
When she found us in the hallway
You've gotta believe me, believe me, believe me
You've gotta believe me, believe me...
The song Holy Cow! by Margot & the Nuclear So and So's seems to be about two people who are in a stressful relationship that has caused anxiety and possibly even hallucinations. The first verse suggests that one of the two is acting erratically, and the other is beginning to feel uneasy about it. The line "Off taming goats with compassion, I suppose" might be referring to the other person trying to escape and gain a sense of control in an unusual way. The chorus then shifts into a plea for the other person to understand and believe them, as they both struggle with their own mental states.
The second verse seems to suggest that the two have a history of these kinds of issues, as they both admit to not being able to talk about their problems without potentially losing control. The sudden exclamation of "Holy cow!" in the chorus could represent a breaking point where one of them can no longer handle the situation and needs the other person to leave. The final lines of the song are two separate stories, with one person singing about their happy childhood memories and the other recalling a time of emotional turmoil with their mother.
Overall, Holy Cow! is a song about the complexities of relationships and the difficulties of navigating mental health issues while trying to maintain a connection with someone. It touches on themes of vulnerability, anxiety, and the importance of communication and understanding in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Settle down
Please calm down and relax
You're starting to freak me out
Your current behavior is making me uncomfortable and worried
And comb your hair
Please put yourself together and look presentable
If I'm to take you anywhere
If we are going to spend time together and go out, you need to improve your appearance
I've got it made
I'm in a good place in life right now
While my woman is away
While my significant other is not with me
Off taming goats with compassion, I suppose
She is probably doing good and compassionate work, such as caring for animals
You've gotta believe me, believe me, believe me
I am telling you the truth and you need to trust me
Holy cow!
An expression of shock or surprise
I want you to get out
Please leave my presence or go away from me
And tell all your friends
Inform your acquaintances about this situation
That I'm not myself again
I'm not acting how I usually do
But I can't talk
I cannot communicate my thoughts or feelings
'Cause I do the same to you
Because you also make me feel like I cannot express myself
No, I can't talk
I am still unable to verbalize my emotions
'Cause I'd up and wig out too
Because I also have the potential to lose control like you are right now
Jen sings about being born in Montana
Another character in the song is talking about their personal history
Where everything was great
They are describing a time and place in their life where they were content and happy
And the people knew her name
The community was familiar with and recognized her
I sang about lying on some floor
I personally am singing about a different experience
And how your mother used to cry
I am recalling when your mother would become emotional in response to our actions
When she found us in the hallway
We were discovered in a shared space
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.