Doughty's sound is that of muted acoustic guitar rhythms and nasally vocals with impeccable melodies. His lyrics are unique, and he can be described as a master wordsmith. He turned to a new direction for his 2008 album, Golden Delicious. Instead of an acoustic gritty sound, he began using things like electric guitars, stronger vocal backgrounds and even a cello.
Doughty's album, Yes and Also Yes, was released in August 2011. In January 2012, The Book of Drugs, Doughty's memoir about his "ugly, drug-doing years", was published by Da Capo Press. In 2012 Doughty recorded a version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" for a fund-raising cd titled "Super Hits Of The Seventies" for radio station WFMU. Doughty's album, The Question Jar Show, was released in late January 2012. It is a two disc set containing highlights from his Question Jar tour.
Discography:
Skittish LP (recorded 1996; released 2000)
Smofe + Smang: Live in Minneapolis LP (2002)
Rockity Roll EP (2003)
Skittish / Rockity Roll double LP (2004): A two disc re-release which includes the out-of-print Skittish, the Rockity Roll EP, and five bonus tracks.
Haughty Melodic LP (2005): Doughty's first full-band album, released on May 3, 2005.
The Gambler EP (2005): Six song EP. Title track is a cover of the Kenny Rogers hit.
Golden Delicious (2008)
Sad Man Happy Man (2009)
Yes and Also Yes (2011)
The Question Jar Show (2012)
The Lo-Fi Lodge (2012)
The Flip Is Another Honey (2012)
Official website: www.mikedoughty.com
cash cow
Mike Doughty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To warm the slots in the till
Infernal wheel
That churns the ocean of milk
That long wire is frayed
Don't shout out proudly that the cash cow's lame
That proud call is wrong
Don't scoot by trumpeting the cash cow's gone
The quantize knob
That drains the beat of all soul
You hapless slob
Go back to sink in your hole
This thing's going down
Don't gift-horse gawk it at the cash cow now
Disdainful clown
Don't go 'round mocking on the cash cow now
And I will offer you a place
In my pavilion
And I must stick close to the grace
Of fifty billion
Smoke in the mouth
Stick in a candy apple
So luminous
Skinned, but the face is awful
Some cloud unknown
This pinkness creeping as the sun comes low
That long haul, wow,
Don't go 'round mocking on the cash cow now
The song "Cash Cow" by Mike Doughty is a critique of the music industry, specifically the way it exploits artists for financial gain. The lyrics describe the "infernal wheel" of the industry, which generates money by "refreshing bills" and "warming the slots in the till." However, this system is ultimately destructive, represented by the "long wire" that is "frayed." Despite this, many in the industry continue to cling to the idea of the "cash cow," the artist who will make them rich, and they will defend that idea even as it falls apart.
Doughty also takes aim at the mechanical nature of much modern music, with the "quantize knob that drains the beat of all soul." He chides those who would "gift-horse gawk" at the industry's decline, mocking it with a "disdainful clown" attitude. The song ends on an eerie, cryptic note, with references to strange clouds and luminescent candy apples.
Overall, "Cash Cow" is a bitter, disillusioned song about an industry that claims to value art but often exploits and mistreats the very artists it relies on.
Line by Line Meaning
Refreshing bills
Putting fresh bills in the cash register
To warm the slots in the till
To fill up the compartments of the cash register
Infernal wheel
The continuous turning of the cash register wheel
That churns the ocean of milk
The constant flow of money in the cash register
That long wire is frayed
The wire used in the cash register is old and worn out
Don't shout out proudly that the cash cow's lame
Do not boast about the decline of the cash cow
That proud call is wrong
It is not right to feel happy about the loss of income
Don't scoot by trumpeting the cash cow's gone
Do not celebrate when the cash cow is no more
The quantize knob
A knob that adjusts the beats or rhythm
That drains the beat of all soul
Adjusting the rhythm too much can take away its soul or essence
You hapless slob
Addressing someone in a derogatory manner
Go back to sink in your hole
Go back to your mundane existence
This thing's going down
The situation is getting worse
Don't gift-horse gawk it at the cash cow now
Do not suddenly pay attention to the cash cow only when things go wrong
Disdainful clown
Addressing someone in a derogatory manner
Don't go 'round mocking on the cash cow now
Do not make fun of the cash cow during its difficult times
And I will offer you a place
The artist is willing to provide help
In my pavilion
In a comfortable and safe place
And I must stick close to the grace
The singer needs to stay near a higher power for guidance
Of fifty billion
Referring to a large sum of money
Smoke in the mouth
Someone smoking a cigarette
Stick in a candy apple
A stick used to hold a candied fruit treat
So luminous
Shining brightly
Skinned, but the face is awful
Despite the pleasing appearance, there is something terrible underneath
Some cloud unknown
A mysterious and unknown possibility
This pinkness creeping as the sun comes low
The atmosphere changing into one of danger and foreboding
That long haul, wow,
Expressing amazement at a long journey
Don't go 'round mocking on the cash cow now
Do not make fun of the cash cow during its difficult times
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKE DOUGHTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind