Milk Cow Blues
Ray Benson/Tim McGraw Lyrics

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Aw milk cow blues yeah
Aw Larry!
Ah Tim, c'mon tell 'em now!

I woke up this mornin'
Looked out my door
I can tell my milk cow
I can tell by the way she lows

If you see my milk cow
Please drive her on home
'Cause I ain't had no milk and butter
Since my milk cow's been gone

Well you gotta treat me right woman
Day by day
Get out your little prayer book
Get down on your knees and pray
You're gonna need, you're gonna need
My help one of these days
You're gonna be sorry
You treated me this way

I said well good evening
Don't that sun look good going down
I said well good evening
Don't that sun look good going down
And don't my home look lonesome
When my lover ain't around

Low
You know what low means

Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on
Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on
You're gonna keep right on sailing
Till you lose your happy home

Well I tried everything baby
To get along with you
Now tell me brother Tim
What are you going to do?

I'm gonna stop cryin'
Gonna leave you alone
If you don't think I'm leavin'
You can count the days I'm gone
You're gonna need me, baby
You're gonna need my love someday
You're gonna be sorry
You treated me this way
Ah milk cow blues

Ah milk cow
Come on home

Overall Meaning

"Milk Cow Blues" is a blues standard that dates back to the 1930s, it has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Willie Nelson, among others. The song has been interpreted in different ways, but at its core, it's a lament for a missing cow. The first verse describes waking up in the morning and noticing that the cow is missing, and the second verse is a plea for help in finding her. The reference to milk and butter highlights the importance of the cow's milk and cream to the singer's sustenance.

The third and fourth verses are directed towards a woman, who is being warned that she will need the singer's help someday and that she will be sorry for treating him poorly. The fifth verse features the repetition of the phrase "sail on," which signifies the singer's resignation to the relationship ending. As the song ends, the singer repeats the refrain, calling for the milk cow to return just one more time.

Overall, the song is a somber reflection on the singer's losses: the milk and cream from the cow and the affection and companionship of the woman. The use of the cow as a symbol of loss serves to emphasize the singer's poverty and loneliness, while the repetition of the refrain highlights the futility of hoping for a return to what has been lost.

Line by Line Meaning

Aw milk cow blues yeah
Expressing sadness and despair

I woke up this mornin' Looked out my door I can tell my milk cow I can tell by the way she lows If you see my milk cow Please drive her on home 'Cause I ain't had no milk and butter Since my milk cow's been gone
The singer woke up and realized his cow was gone, leaving him without any milk or butter.

Well you gotta treat me right woman Day by day Get out your little prayer book Get down on your knees and pray You're gonna need, you're gonna need My help one of these days You're gonna be sorry You treated me this way
The singer demands respect and threatens revenge if he is not treated well.

I said well good evening Don't that sun look good going down I said well good evening Don't that sun look good going down And don't my home look lonesome When my lover ain't around
The singer is feeling lonely and missing his lover as the sun sets.

Low You know what low means
The singer is explaining the meaning of the word 'low,' which refers to the sound a cow makes.

Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on Sail on, sail on, sail on little girl, sail on You're gonna keep right on sailing Till you lose your happy home
The singer is warning a woman to keep sailing away until she loses everything she loves, presumably as punishment for mistreating him.

Well I tried everything baby To get along with you Now tell me brother Tim What are you going to do?
The singer has tried everything to make a relationship work and is now turning to Tim for advice.

I'm gonna stop cryin' Gonna leave you alone If you don't think I'm leavin' You can count the days I'm gone You're gonna need me, baby You're gonna need my love someday You're gonna be sorry You treated me this way Ah milk cow blues Ah milk cow Come on home
The singer is determined to leave the relationship, warning that the other person will regret mistreating them. The song ends by calling for the milk cow to come home.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KOKOMO ARNOLD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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