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Whatever Happened To? Lyrics
Whatever happened to - twin sets
Whatever happened to - hi-fi
Whatever happened to - TV sex
Whatever happened to - you and I
Your passion is a product
(of) highlight and detail
That come hither look
Bonus offer retail
Whatever happened to - pick-up trucks
Whatever happened to - yellow pages
Whatever happened to - burning books
Whatever happened to - new ages
Your emotions are cheap
Cut price cash and carry
Your heart on your sleeve
For any Tom, Dick or Harry
Your love is a cashed-in cheque
Oh oh that's the way of all flesh
Whatever happened to - Chairman Mao
Whatever happened to - God above
Whatever happened to - the cow
Whatever happened to - plug-in love
Your pasteurised life so fit for consumption
Ooooo those undressing eyes so strictly commercial
Your love is a cashed-in cheque
Oh oh that's the way of all flesh
All flesh
All flesh
Whatever happened to - hi-fi
Whatever happened to - TV sex
Whatever happened to - you and I
(of) highlight and detail
That come hither look
Bonus offer retail
Whatever happened to - yellow pages
Whatever happened to - burning books
Whatever happened to - new ages
Cut price cash and carry
Your heart on your sleeve
For any Tom, Dick or Harry
Oh oh that's the way of all flesh
Whatever happened to - God above
Whatever happened to - the cow
Whatever happened to - plug-in love
Ooooo those undressing eyes so strictly commercial
Oh oh that's the way of all flesh
All flesh
All flesh
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Wow, there's hardly any comments on Buzzcocks songs! Anyway. This is a good song.
I interpret it as being a criticism of (and comment on) commercialisation, particularly that of emotions, sex, relationships etc.
I don't understand the 'cow' bit though. Maybe it's just a rhyme for 'Mao'.
I used to think 'the cow' was a sly reference to Henry Cow and his ever changing line ups often referred to as 'the Cows' as his brand of avant-garde was very important touchstone for that generation of English art rockers (Mark E. Smith of the Fall particularly adored him) almost akin to what Frank Zappa did in America. All those Manchester art kids loved those early (great) Henry Cow records.
I used to think 'the cow' was a sly reference to Henry Cow and his ever changing line ups often referred to as 'the Cows' as his brand of avant-garde was very important touchstone for that generation of English art rockers (Mark E. Smith of the Fall particularly adored him) almost akin to what Frank Zappa did in America. All those Manchester art kids loved those early (great) Henry Cow records.
But now I understand that that whole verse is about religions/ideologies. You have actual religion ('God above'), marxism ('Chairman Mao'), new age/technology ('plug-in love'), making 'the Cow' an obvious...
But now I understand that that whole verse is about religions/ideologies. You have actual religion ('God above'), marxism ('Chairman Mao'), new age/technology ('plug-in love'), making 'the Cow' an obvious reference then to Hinduism/Eastern religion. In the Hindu practice, the Cow is seen as virtually the most respected and venerated of all animals as seen in the Hindu saying, "The cow is my mother".
Hope this helps. Yeah, the overall song is about a critique of losing what's real/ aspiring for transcendence for what's fake, cheap, and easy. One of my personal favorites from the great Buzzcocks.
I used to think 'the cow' was a sly reference to Henry Cow and his ever changing line ups often referred to as 'the Cows' as his brand of avant-garde was very important touchstone for that generation of English art rockers (Mark E. Smith of the Fall particularly adored him) almost akin to what Frank Zappa did in America. All those Manchester art kids loved those early (great) Henry Cow records.
I used to think 'the cow' was a sly reference to Henry Cow and his ever changing line ups often referred to as 'the Cows' as his brand of avant-garde was very important touchstone for that generation of English art rockers (Mark E. Smith of the Fall particularly adored him) almost akin to what Frank Zappa did in America. All those Manchester art kids loved those early (great) Henry Cow records.
But now I understand that that whole verse is about religions/ideologies. You have actual religion ('God above'), marxism ('Chairman Mao'), new age/technology ('plug-in love'), making 'the Cow' an obvious...
But now I understand that that whole verse is about religions/ideologies. You have actual religion ('God above'), marxism ('Chairman Mao'), new age/technology ('plug-in love'), making 'the Cow' an obvious reference then to Hinduism/Eastern religion. In the Hindu practice, the Cow is seen as virtually the most respected and venerated of all animals as seen in the Hindu saying, "The cow is my mother".
Hope this helps. Yeah, the overall song is about a critique of losing what's real/ aspiring for transcendence for what's fake, cheap, and easy. One of my personal favorites from the great Buzzcocks.
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Oh, and adding "... the cow" is just sort of blunt and funny sounding next to all the religious stuff. I think the Buzzcocks intended that humor too.
@yewbarrow Perhaps a bit of overthinking in the other replies. "Cow" is a term for a woman who's not very bright. It fits with the superficiality that is criticised in other parts of the song.
@yewbarrow Perhaps a bit of overthinking in the other replies. "Cow" is a term for a woman who's not very bright. It fits with the superficiality that is criticised in other parts of the song.
@yewbarrow Perhaps a bit of overthinking in the other replies. "Cow" is a term for a woman who's not very bright. It fits with the superficiality that is criticised in other parts of the song.
@yewbarrow Perhaps a bit of overthinking in the other replies. "Cow" is a term for a woman who's not very bright. It fits with the superficiality that is criticised in other parts of the song.
Also Henry Cow is a band, not a person, like Pink Floyd.
Also Henry Cow is a band, not a person, like Pink Floyd.
The Cow is bound to be the name of a pub. Cmoplaining about how a place you had loads of memories of turning into a family friendly pub with swings / Harvester / Gastro Pub with a pretentious name (delete as appropriate) is one of the mores of modern life in the UK
@piersy (Yes I'm replying 5.5 years later!)
@piersy (Yes I'm replying 5.5 years later!)
Cows are revered in India (hence the phrase, "sacred cow"). Mao was revered by many communists, God revered by monotheists. It may also have a second wink meaning, but considering the entire song is about the sacred vs. crass commercialism, I would guess "the cow" is another example in the list of revered beings.
Cows are revered in India (hence the phrase, "sacred cow"). Mao was revered by many communists, God revered by monotheists. It may also have a second wink meaning, but considering the entire song is about the sacred vs. crass commercialism, I would guess "the cow" is another example in the list of revered beings.