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Released in 1998

Cow

Written by Paul McCartneyLinda Eastman / McCartneyCarla Lane

Last updated on November 5, 2016


Album This song officially appears on the Wide Prairie Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1998

Master album

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

Related articles

From Wide Prairie liner notes:

Another collaboration between Linda, Carla Lane, and myself, which in this case deals with the last days of a cow under sentence of death. The sweet innocence of the song made many of our friends decide to “go veggie”. Linda probably has done more than anyone else to bring vegetarianism into the dietary mainstream of our society, and made thousands of people ponder to wisdom of our cruel treatment of animals generally.


Lyrics

Placid creature

Standing in your June field

Placid creature

Standing in your June field

With one more day of grazing

Before the slaughter truck

And when it comes you will go

With quiet dignity

Across the yard

Up the ramp

Into the truck, Oh

Trusting creature

Going to meet the final man

With nothing on your face

Except for that familiar beauty

And he will eat you

Because he didn't look

Because he didn't look

He didn't look

Placid creature

Standing in your June field

With one more day of grazing

Before the slaughter truck

Placid creature

Standing in your June field

With one more day of grazing

Before the slaughter truck

Placid creature

Standing in your June field

With one more day of grazing

Before the slaughter truck

And he will eat you

Because he didn't look

Because he didn't look

He didn't look

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Cow

Videos

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.


Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012

This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.

The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.

Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

Buy on Amazon

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[…] spouse of Sir Paul McCartney– worked together with tv author Carla Lane on the tune “Cow,” which “handle the last days of a cow under sentence of death.” The innocent […]


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