5090 by FAWM: "Cowbell (A Love Song)"

Cowbell (A Love Song)

8 weeks ago by @odilongreen

Cowbell (A Love Song)

odilongreen

00:00

Liner Notes

I am sorely disappointed by how few people have posted songs for @darcistrutt’s #cowcore challenge (https://fiftyninety.fawm.org/forums/2605) to date. This cannot stand!

So here’s my entry. I hope my spouse doesn’t get jealous from the heat and passion in my voice here!

This is my second #dulcimer song of 50/90; I'm still a beginner, but I'm excited to be using it more. This track includes the live-played stick dulcimer, programmed drums, keyboard-played bass. And, of course, #cowbell. No AI or synthesized vocals were used in the making of this track (and @billwhite51 has claimed he prefers my own voice, which was nice of him to say).

Fun fact: as you may know, I routinely include an AI image with my songs, inspired by the topic at hand. However, it appears that the none of the several AI image services I just tried have any real understanding of what a cowbell looks like, so I’ve given up.

Lyrics

Six strings are six too many
Don’t have the lungs to blow a horn
My fingers are too slow for flute
Have been since I was born

Won’t bother with a drum kit
My wild arms just flail
But there is just one instrument
That even I can’t fail

I love my cowbell
I love the way it plays
Once I get one in my hand
I’ll play for days and days
I love my cowbell
I love the way it sounds
And once I get to bangin’ it
My happiness abounds

A violin — forget it
Accordions are hard to squeeze
Bass strings hurt my fingertips
A piano too many keys

But when I’m feeling lonely
And by fate’s ill winds been hurled
There’s just one way I’ve found to make
Some music in this world

I love my cowbell
I love the way it rings
Of every instrument I’ve heard
It’s the only one that sings
I love my cowbell
I love the way it roars
And once I get into the groove
I’ll go forevermore

So if you hear a clanging
That echoes in the night
There’s no need to run away
Or hide yourself in fright
It’s me that you are hearing
And my beloved cowbell
If you don’t like the way it sounds
Well you can go to

CHORUS 1

CHORUS 2

Comments

@headfirstonlyMod 2w

This is an almost paradigmatic celebration of #cowcore. That verse "So if you hear a clanging" is an absolute delight. I wasn't familiar with the stick dulcimer at all, but after hearing its tone on this, I want one.

@fatboyjamz 2w

Love that cowbell and your lyrics. Is that you on vocals? Good stuff...

@funnypunkband 7w

This is so joyful! I love the image of a bearded man playing his cowbell with all his heart. In a studio, in a field, in bed before sleep. So much fun! Really cool chords too. Gives it sort of an important-in-an-REM way kinda feel.

Edited to include my own AI image inspired by this song. Just as you found, the dang thing couldn’t draw a cowbell though!

@yewnorker 7w

This is great! I love the way you've integrated the bell into the song!

@fuzzy 7w

You've hit upon the key that will save humanity; in the future when evil robots look like humans we can track them down by asking them to draw a cowbell. The humans could do it, but the robots' heads will start to smoke and then explode.

@jerrypettit 7w

Oh, Lord--this just gave me a memory I haven't had in, like, 40+ years. I used to be in a cover band back in the day--played keyboards--but there were occasional songs where we didn't have a part for me to play and I'd occasionally head over to our conga drums, or stay seated and play tambourine or...cowbell. Can't remember what song that might have been for--"Incense & Peppermint"?

Anyway--thanks for provoking one of my increasing fading memories...and for writing a great song! ❤️

@freshspotlessyouth 8w

Okay, this made me laugh out loud. Six strings ARE too many, and why is the guitar neck so damned long? Once again, you write a song that's somehow silly and tender. I really believe that you do love that cowbell. Clever lyric, too...but of course it is

@gwynjones 8w

Ever since I heard the intro to Honky Tonk Women by the Stones, I've also loved the sound of a cowbell and knowing now that I'm not alone, is a great comfort to me...😀
Plus it's a top tune!

@deleted 8w

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@deleted 8w

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@atitlan 8w

Great cowbell song. The chorus is a brilliant hook for the song and your lyrics about not getting on with other instruments were great.

@beacon 8w

This is a really great incorporation of the cowbell. The layers really work here, and it's so fun!

@mandolinda 8w

Smiling and tapping my toes along with your cowbell song.

@musicsongwriter 8w

Haha! Love your sense of humour. Very cool take on the challenge. Very entertaining and so lovely. Sorry, I don't have this instrument so I can't really take part in this challenge.

@ttg105 8w

Man, that's a catchy chorus! Dulcimer sounds great, and, of course, so does the cowbell. Clever lyrics, particularly "Well you can go to ,,, " Now I'm singing "I love my cowbell." I think I'll use one on my next song.