Purple Cow

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The purple cow initially became famous as a chimerical referent in a short humorous verse, but has since come to refer to a diverse range of other things, including sports teams, food, wine, and tobacco products, as well as marketing practices in general. Yet all these examples retain the common theme of a sense of something out of the ordinary.

Contents 1 In literature 2 In competition 3 In food and beverage 4 In tobacco 5 In wine 6 In Clothing 7 References

[edit] In literature

Purple Cow is the name of a well-known poem by Gelett Burgess, written in 1895:

I never saw a purple cow;
I never hope to see one;
but I can tell you anyhow;
I'd rather see than be one!^[1]

It was often quoted, and many of his contemporaries aped the poem. One such example, by Englishman Robert S. Kane, typically lacked quite the same bouncy panache:

The purple cow
I have unfortunately seen.
It is as you'd expect
crossed with an aubergine.

Standing in a field
or laid out on a plate
it is as you'd expect:
cross, and a mistake.^[2]

Famously, Burgess became somewhat exasperated with the success of his poem, of which he was constantly reminded. A few years later, he penned a riposte that became almost as well-known as the original. It was titled "Confession: and a Portrait Too, Upon a Background that I Rue" and appeared in The Lark, number 24 (April 1, 1897):

Ah, yes, I wrote the "Purple Cow"—
I'm Sorry, now, I wrote it;
But I can tell you Anyhow
I'll Kill you if you Quote it!^[1]

However, the original has, in its own small way, become a classic, and parodic versions are common,^[3] and are still being produced today:

I've never seen a purple cow.
My eyes with tears are full.
I've never seen a purple cow,
And I'm a purple bull.^[4]

I've never seen a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.
But from the milk we're getting now,
There certainly must be one!

and by Ogden Nash:

I've never seen an abominable snowman,
I'm hoping not to see one,
I'm also hoping, if I do,
That it will be a wee one.

In a different vein, by Tom Montgomery

Gelett Burgess's poem reminds me of the one I wrote as a youth:

I never was a vitamin;
I never hope to be one;
but I can tell you anyhow;
I'd rather C than B1!^[5]

[edit] In competition

The University of Montevallo holds College Night every year for homecoming, in which the Purple Team (Cows) competes against the Gold Team (Lions).

The Purple Cow is also the mascot for Williams College.

Purple Cow is also the mascot for one of the four classes at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. The four classes are split up into sister classes (Purple Cows and Golden Horseshoes, vs. Blue Angels and Red Devils). Every year the four classes compete against each other in Late February/Early March during Rally, a two week long competition in which the classes compete to raise the most money for charity. The winning teams' class year will then be added to the Cow Hide and they will have bragging rights until the following Rally. The class mascots rotate, so when a Senior Class of Purple Cows graduates, the following year, the freshmen class will take up that mascot. Cows and Shoes are always even years (Purple cows are Class of 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and will be 2014. Golden Horseshoes are Class of 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and will be 2016) while devils and Angels are always odd years (Red Devils are Class of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and will be 2015. Angels are classes of 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, and will be 2017). The purple cows also have their own class songs including:

Pump Up the Purple (Chant): Pump Up the Purple Pump Up the Purple Pump Up the Purple Moo Moo

Purple Power (Chant): It's on the Ground (clap clap) It's in the air (clap clap) Purple Power is everywhere

P-U-R-P-L-E (Chant): P-U-R P-L-E Purple Power, Yessiree!

There are also sister chants: 1) When we say 'purple' you say 'moo' PURPLE! Moo! Purple! Moo! When we say 'gold' you say 'shoe' Gold! Shoe! Gold! Shoe! Together: Gold shoe, purple moo. Purple Moo and Gold Shoe. Gold Shoe, Purple Moo. Sisters of the Red and Blue

2) Ave Hey! Hey! Ave Ho! Ho! Can anyone beat the purple and gold? HELL NO!

[edit] In food and beverage

Purple cow may also refer to an ice cream soda made with grape soda or grape juice. It may also refer to a mixed drink containing vodka and grape juice, much like a screwdriver, with grape juice substituted for orange juice.

Purple Cow ice cream or yogurt is black raspberry ice cream or yogurt with chocolate and white chocolate chips.^[6]

Purple Cow is also the name of the ice cream shop found inside many Meijer stores, although Purple Cows were more commonly found in Meijer stores in the 1980s. Founder Fred Meijer would commonly hand out cards for free ice cream at any Meijer Purple Cow to customers or as ice breakers and has reportedly given such cards to Jimmy Carter Generals Collin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.^[7]

Kraft Foods' best-selling brand of milk chocolate, Milka, also has used a purple cow as a well-known symbol in its print and TV advertisements for several decades. The "Milka Cow" is a lilac and white colored Swiss Simmental cow sporting a bell around her neck, usually shown in an Alpine meadow. The name Milka is derived from combining Milch and Kakao (the German terms for milk and cocoa, its primary ingredients). The chocolates are also distinctively packaged in purple wrapping paper, which is even protected by trademark in Europe.^{[citation needed]}

Purple Cow is also the name of a company in the Philippines that is known for its milkshakes. Its milkshakes come in chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream, cheese and mocha. The company sells in fairs, bazaars, children's parties and corporate events. It was founded by seven seniors of the Ateneo de Manila University as a business thesis.

An award winning restaurant chain in the southern United States, The Purple Cow has locations in several states and features burgers, shakes and other traditional "diner" foods. In the late 1960s, there was a grape-flavored taffy lollipop called Purple Cow. It was similar to a Sugar Daddy.

The Purple Cow is a restaurant in Frankfort, NY that serves Italian food and Pizza.

The Purple Cow is a cafe bar in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK that serves Breakfasts, Lunches and on selected evenings fantastic Tapas. [3]

[edit] In tobacco

Purple Cow is a pipe tobacco blend consisting of burley, bright Virginia ribbon, latakia and maduro cigar leaf. It is manufactured by Cornell and Diehl of Morganton, NC.^[8]

[edit] In wine

Purple Cow Vineyards is a small, boutique wine producer in Forest Grove, Oregon that produces premium Oregon Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Muscat, and Marechal Foch, among other wines. Purple Cow has a small case production of wine (600 cases per year), and has won several awards at local Oregon wine festivals. [4]

[edit] In Clothing

Purple Cow Clothing is a leading Fashion retailer in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

[edit] References