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Post by BiteUrLip on Jun 6, 2020 0:13:34 GMT
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin
Keyboards and vocals: Elton John
Guitars: Davey Johnstone
Synthesizer: Fred Mandel
Drums: Charlie Morgan
Bass: David Paton
Backing Vocals: Dee Murray, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson
Tambourine, maracas and timbales: Ray Cooper
There's another one due in three month's time
She'll have to paint the spare room blue
She'll work a little overtime
And hope it all works out for Frank and her
If she can keep him home nights
Away from those factory girls
And the gas bills come and the money burns
And Frank just keeps complaining
How little they both earn
And mother drops by Mondays
Just to nag about the world
Then she stays to nag at Dallas
`Cause she hates those Texas girls
Poor cow
You'll get your dumb man
You'll see your whole life coming at you
In the back of his hand
Poor cow
It's a monkey see town
You'll walk down the aisle
In the hand me down gown
Of some poor cow
Oh them rich bitch girls
Ain't like our lass
Got no spine for labour
Like us working class
Us gamey lot
Still got our pride
We got our health
It's just the truth that's died
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Post by BiteUrLip on Jun 6, 2020 0:15:23 GMT
Never liked it, and although it isn't that bad that I wouldn't be able to listen to it through, it is still a weak song. Weakest from RSB and on all-time bottom 20 from Elton.
2 stars.
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Post by dougs on Jun 6, 2020 1:20:59 GMT
"Poor Cow" from REG STRIKES BACK:
Elton returned in 1988 with an important record with a re-focus on his music and hopefully less bad press coverage. REG STRIKES BACK was also Elton's first album since his throat surgery the year before. Chris Thomas was brought back in to do the production. The album was mostly upbeat as is "Poor Cow." The album and the song blend in a bit of an electronic feel which would underline Elton's next two studio albums as well. "Poor Cow" is an up-tempo pop song about a woman who gets married only to live a life of abuse, money struggles, and an apparent continued bleak future. Elton's vocals on "Poor Cow" show no ill-effects of the throat surgery. Author Elizabeth Rosenthal refers to Elton's vocals on "Poor Cow" by stating "His chameleon vocals, a trademark throughout his career, had never before been this changeable." Either way, not my favourite Bernie lyric. Maybe he could have found a way to be more empathetic. Elton, musically, keeps that left hand pumping the keyboard nicely driving the song's tempo throughout.
Incidentally, Dee Murray, Elton's long-time bassist from previous band line-ups and Elton's early days, returns here to do backing vocals with Nigel Olsson. Both Dee & Nigel were dropped (for the 2nd time) from the band after BREAKING HEARTS and the lengthy 1984 world tour which followed. As backing vocalist, these, sadly, would be Dee's last-ever performances on an Elton record. Dee passed away from cancer in early 1992.
"Poor Cow" feels musically energetic but the song seems to fall into the category of half-decent but mostly forgotten about 80s albums tracks. Elton, over the years, played 6 tracks live from REG STRIKES BACK but "Poor Cow" was not one of the songs.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Doug
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Post by nix on Jun 6, 2020 14:55:07 GMT
4.5 very catchy, one of the most favorite from RSB and even his 80's songs.
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Post by newloneranger on Jun 6, 2020 19:51:44 GMT
I like the song, catchy, Calling the girl a poor cow is a little tacky though.
4 stars
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Post by rocketman on Jun 9, 2020 0:49:03 GMT
4.5 stars...One of Bernie's more controversial lyrics, but so cleverly written and glossed by the music that I hardly find anything to object to. Elton always seemed to have a way of making even the most strident Taupin lyrics a little (or a lot) easier to digest, and this is no exception. Wilson & Alroy, who wrote extensive reviews of Elton's albums before in recent years finally seeming to lose interest in doing so, found this song to be blatantly offensive (they also shriek in horror at Japanese Hands) but I think that there's always a redeemingly cheeky quality in such songs as Poor Cow, Dirty Little Girl, Angeline, Island Girl, and the like (yes, some people actually find Island Girl to be offensive).
In any case, one of my favorites from an album that was exactly what the doctor (literally, almost) ordered for Elton's then- flagging career. Reg Strikes Back was, in my view, much more than Elton simply auctioning off clothes and swearing off a decade (Goodbye Marlon Brando). It was his loosest album since Rock Of The Westies and Caribou.
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Post by Commodore Orpington on Jun 21, 2020 3:59:07 GMT
I like the song, catchy, Calling the girl a poor cow is a little tacky though. 4 stars He's writing in character.
One of the good ones from RSB. Great wordplay and pop tune writing.
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