It's always hard to pin down what Doughty is saying, but at the very least, this seems to be a song about not walking away from a good thing -- a "cash cow." Don't shout that the cow's lame when it's not; don't mock the cow and the gifts it can bring you. Be generous of spirit, and welcome the cow into your pavilion. Stick close to it through good times and bad, over the long haul. You'll be glad you did. It's a silly image, but in the best Doughty tradition, also kind of sneakily profound.
It's always hard to pin down what Doughty is saying, but at the very least, this seems to be a song about not walking away from a good thing -- a "cash cow." Don't shout that the cow's lame when it's not; don't mock the cow and the gifts it can bring you. Be generous of spirit, and welcome the cow into your pavilion. Stick close to it through good times and bad, over the long haul. You'll be glad you did. It's a silly image, but in the best Doughty tradition, also kind of sneakily profound.