La vache qui pleure

La vache qui pleure is a 2003 album by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. It is the sisters' second full album of French language songs, following 1980's Entre Lajeunesse et la sagesse. (Many of the sisters' other albums include one or two French songs as well.)

The album does include one English song "Sunflower" which is a setting of William Blake's poem "Ah! Sunflower". The same song is performed with French lyrics ("Ah tournesol") that are a straight translation of the original. Blake's poem is not acknowledged in the credits for either song.

The album title, which means "The Cow That Cries", is a pun on La vache qui rit, the name of a brand of French cheese.

Guest musicians on the album include Joel Zifkin, Lily Lanken (Anna's daughter), and Martha Wainwright (Kate's daughter).

Track listing

All songs by Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Philippe Tatartcheff, except where noted.

1. "Petite annonce amoureuse" – 3:58
2. "Ah tournesol" – 2:58
3. "Le bambocheur" (Kate) – 2:22
4. "Hurle le vent" – 3:22
5. "La Vache qui pleure" – 4:08
6. "Rose blanche" (Kate/Tatartcheff/Bruant) – 4:52
7. "Tant le monde" – 3:35
8. "Dans le silence" – 3:32
9. "Ce matin" – 4:43
10. "Petites boites" (translation of "Little Boxes" by Graeme Allwright/Malvina Reynolds) – 3:36
11. "Sunflower" (Kate/Anna) – 3:25