What’s it about? A cow that’s wandered off? Relenting to a Sisyphean chore that will never end? Anger at and mistrust of the powers that be, who have every opportunity to play fair, but still won’t? At one time I might’ve said that it depends on the weather, or the flight patterns of birds, or the price of eggs, but it’s too late for that now, the sun’s sinking, darkness is settling in. All I can say for sure is, she’s wandered off, that happened. Whether she comes back or not, that’s up to her.

Can you hear that black cow low?
Can you hear that black cow low?
She’s going oh-oh-oh
She’s going oh-oh-oh

Yes I dig that lump egg coal
Yes I dig that lump egg coal
Fill a barrow
That mule wont haul

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o

What they say and what they do
What they say and what they do
Ain’t a cross
‘twixt the two

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-o