1983 Rock Song, Written by the ‘Best Songwriter on Earth,’ Was Reimagined by Pearl Jam 11 Years Later

Daniel Johnston might never have achieved household name status, but he was certainly a major influence on some of the biggest names in music history. The late singer-songwriter’s devoted fanbase includes iconic artists from Tom Waits to Beck to Wilco; Kurt Cobain once called him “the best songwriter on earth” and even wore one of Johnston’s t-shirts to the 1992 MTV Awards, per the BBC. Two years later, in 1994, Pearl Jam famously gave a second life to a song Johnston released over a decade earlier, “Walking the Cow.”

Originally released on Johnston’s 1983 album Hi, How Are You, the title of “Walking the Cow” was inspired by an ice cream wrapper with an illustration of a girl trying to lead a cow by its reins, according to the 2006 book Hi, How Are You?: The Life, Art & Music of Daniel Johnston.

As is the case with many of Johnston’s songs, “Walking the Cow” is sort of like a cross between an innocent nursery rhyme and a heartbreakingly real confessional:

“Lucky stars in your eyes / I am walking the cow / I really don’t know how I came here / I really don’t know why I’m staying here / Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh / I am walking the cow.”

Thanks in large part to Cobain’s t-shirt, Johnston’s music enjoyed a belated surge of attention in the early ’90s. Several bands released covers of “Walking the Cow,” most notably Pearl Jam, who performed the song at Neil Young‘s 1994 Bridge School Benefit concert.

The recording was later made available on the bootleg album In Rock We Trust, with Pearl Jam performing the song live two more times. Eddie Vedder also opened every night of his 2008 solo tour with the song.

Tragically, despite the respect and admiration Johnston earned from fellow musicians, his career was hampered by bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In 2005, the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston gave viewers an intimate look at his struggles while introducing his work to new fans.

“It sure was embarrassing,” Johnston told the Austin Chronicle, referring to the documentary. “Every terrible dilemma, every fabled mistake. Nothing I can do about it now, though. I wish they’d added a laugh track to it, because it sure is funny.”

On September 11, 2019, Johnston was found dead of a suspected heart attack in his Texas home at the age of 58. His brother Dick Johnston told NPR that his family had been working with director Jason Nodler on a biographical film about Daniel’s life, adding, “It’s so sad that he won’t get to see it.”

“Daniel was a singer, songwriter, an artist, and a friend to all,” he family said in a statement shared with Rolling Stone.

“Although he struggled with mental health issues for much of his adult life, Daniel triumphed over his illness through his prolific output of art and songs. He inspired countless fans, artists, and songwriters with his message that no matter how dark the day, ‘the sun shines down on me’ and ‘true love will find you in the end.’”

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