Album: Up To HereAvg rating:
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Length: 4:13
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Bourbon blues on the street, loose and complete
Under skies all smoky blue green
I can't forsake a dixie dead shake
So we danced the sidewalk clean
My memory is muddy, what's this river that I'm in?
New Orleans is sinking, man, and I don't want to swim
Colonel Tom, what's wrong? What's going on?
You can't tie yourself up for a deal
He said, Hey, north, you're south, shut your big mouth
You gotta do what you feel is real
Ain't got no picture postcards, ain't got no souvenirs
My baby she don't know me when I'm thinking bout those years
Pale as a light bulb hanging on a wire
Sucking up to someone just to stoke the fire
Picking out the highlights of the scenery
Saw a little cloud that looked a little like me
I had my hands in the river, my feet back up on the banks
Looked up to the lord above and said, Hey, man, thanks
Sometimes I feel so good I got to scream
She said, Gordie, baby, I know exactly what you mean
She said, she said, I swear to god she said
My memory is muddy, what's this river that I'm in?
New Orleans is sinking, man, and I don't want to swim
Swim
This is the best track on one of the best sophomore RnR albums of all time. It was also one of the best live performances you could ever want from a band. This song in concert always teetered on the brink of complete chaos in a way that absolutely moved an entire crowd and seemed to be drawn from the deepest wells of Rock music.
My baby she don't know me when I'm thinking 'bout those years
RIP Gord
Two great rockin' New Orleans themed tunes!
Zeppelin the the Hip..
The young Fist Nations boy who tried to escape his Residential school- a plague cast upon so many First Nations youth (similar in the US) - was named Chaney Wenjack. In 1966 he attempted to wall back home, in winter from his Residential school, which was hundreds of miles from his village. He went pretty far along the train tracks but ended up dying needlessly, from hunger and exposure, freezing to death.
First Nations youth were abused emotionally, sexually and physically by the religious orders, particularly Catholic priests, who ran these schools. They were beaten if they spoke their native language, their hair was cut and they were doused with anti-lousing powders and liquids when they first arrived. Their clothing was thrown away and they wore school uniforms, often made in sweat shops attended by other First Nations youth. The abuse continued for as long as they were at the schools, sometimes for years without seeing their families. Many went home and could no longer speak their home languages, and felt like foreigners in their own villages.
The abuse has been the basis for so much dysfunction in First Nations peoples in Canada, it was an appalling colonial oppression.
There are attempts at reconciliation now, but there will need to be a lot of healing.
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip single handedly raised great awareness of these sins.
Fantastic post.
So good - So sad about Gord Downie's fatal brain cancer - What a song - What a band - ...and only 74.4 miles from where I live, The Tragically Hip, from Kingston Ontario, were ignored, by me, for most of their years, only because of my prejudices about their name.
When I saw the nationally broadcasted concert [now on YouTube] and saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give Gord Downie a big hug just before going on stage, for one lase time, I understood that I had been ignoring a great band and great bandleader.
I came to understand the work Gord was doing to help the healing of Canada's aboriginal nightmares and the death of a little boy who died following railroad tracks thru the cold northern Ontario bush, as he tried to go back home, running away from the dreaded residential school, where he had been placed.
Gord made a musical video [it's on YouTube now] about the young boy who died trying to go home- Gord was welcomed into and honored by the aboriginal community where that boy was from, as he himself was dying, afflicted by cancer of the brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrain. rain. rain. rain. rain...
Long Live
The Tragically Hip
Very sincerely.
Lame Buffalo, Metis
Ottawa/Carleton Place Ontario
74.7 miles from Kingston Ontario
In Gord we trust (also from Carleton Place Ontario)
I agree with the Tragic part
Why are you such a dick?
Big thank you.
So good - So sad about Gord Downie's fatal brain cancer - What a song - What a band - ...and only 74.4 miles from where I live, The Tragically Hip, from Kingston Ontario, were ignored, by me, for most of their years, only because of my prejudices about their name.
When I saw the nationally broadcasted concert [now on YouTube] and saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give Gord Downie a big hug just before going on stage, for one lase time, I understood that I had been ignoring a great band and great bandleader.
I came to understand the work Gord was doing to help the healing of Canada's aboriginal nightmares and the death of a little boy who died following railroad tracks thru the cold northern Ontario bush, as he tried to go back home, running away from the dreaded residential school, where he had been placed.
Gord made a musical video [it's on YouTube now] about the young boy who died trying to go home- Gord was welcomed into and honored by the aboriginal community where that boy was from, as he himself was dying, afflicted by cancer of the brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrain. rain. rain. rain. rain...
Long Live
The Tragically Hip
Very sincerely.
Lame Buffalo, Metis
Ottawa/Carleton Place Ontario
74.7 miles from Kingston Ontario
Beautifully said. And what kind of dick votes your comment down. Unbelievable.
That's funny.
Ha! That's SCOTS one of my favorites. Hi Jelani!!
Going back to N.O. next month for the 12th time? IDK. Can't wait.
And a great band I know thx to RP. RIP Gord.
just not my cup of tea.
We'll alert the news media . </sarcasm>
Great album, but how about some more Hip?
First Nations youth were abused emotionally, sexually and physically by the religious orders, particularly Catholic priests, who ran these schools. They were beaten if they spoke their native language, their hair was cut and they were doused with anti-lousing powders and liquids when they first arrived. Their clothing was thrown away and they wore school uniforms, often made in sweat shops attended by other First Nations youth. The abuse continued for as long as they were at the schools, sometimes for years without seeing their families. Many went home and could no longer speak their home languages, and felt like foreigners in their own villages.
The abuse has been the basis for so much dysfunction in First Nations peoples in Canada, it was an appalling colonial oppression.
There are attempts at reconciliation now, but there will need to be a lot of healing.
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip single handedly raised great awareness of these sins.
So good - So sad about Gord Downie's fatal brain cancer - What a song - What a band - ...and only 74.4 miles from where I live, The Tragically Hip, from Kingston Ontario, were ignored, by me, for most of their years, only because of my prejudices about their name.
When I saw the nationally broadcasted concert [now on YouTube] and saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give Gord Downie a big hug just before going on stage, for one lase time, I understood that I had been ignoring a great band and great bandleader.
I came to understand the work Gord was doing to help the healing of Canada's aboriginal nightmares and the death of a little boy who died following railroad tracks thru the cold northern Ontario bush, as he tried to go back home, running away from the dreaded residential school, where he had been placed.
Gord made a musical video [it's on YouTube now] about the young boy who died trying to go home- Gord was welcomed into and honored by the aboriginal community where that boy was from, as he himself was dying, afflicted by cancer of the brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrain. rain. rain. rain. rain...
Long Live
The Tragically Hip
Very sincerely.
Lame Buffalo, Metis
Ottawa/Carleton Place Ontario
74.7 miles from Kingston Ontario
<hug>
"Little Debbie, Little Debbie!
I'm a'comin on home, baby, 'cause you make me wanna walk
Like a camel"
Oh, wait, that's a different one...
That's funny.
I'm a'comin on home, baby, 'cause you make me wanna walk
Like a camel"
Oh, wait, that's a different one...
Gord is gold here, but I also love that unrelenting, insistent left channel guitar.
Exactly! Neil Y has dibs on the right channel. Both awesome at high volume....the way it's supposed to be played.
This was the first band I saw in a small club back in the early 90s.
It was the .. uh oh .. my old brain is processing slowly .. I think it was the 23 East Cabaret on Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore, PA.
Great show .. great band.
As a fellow Canadian, I've been inclined to be somewhat dismissive of the Hip on occasion, but this particular track is just so dang good. And yes, I double-dog-dare Bill to play Bob & Doug McKenzie's 12 Days of Christmas :)
Hose Off, Eh. Huge Bob and Doug fan here from Chicago. Memories of staying up way too late as a kid just to (hopefully) see the GWN skit on SCTV.
I hope this isn't descriptive of what's actually happening in the wake of Ida this morning.
Not sure about that, but I pulled this one out a lot after Katrina.
As a Canadian I'm so used to hearing the Hip on a regular basis, it took me a moment to recognize it was being played from California. Good on you Bill for sharing one of our national treasures. Dare you to play Bob and Doug's 12 days of xmas.
As a fellow Canadian, I've been inclined to be somewhat dismissive of the Hip on occasion, but this particular track is just so dang good. And yes, I double-dog-dare Bill to play Bob & Doug McKenzie's 12 Days of Christmas :)
Killer Whale Tank
I've never been to prison, but I've been to Pembroke
need to play the Killer Whale Tank version, the best
Shamoo and Bartholomew....
Anybody else hearing Danzig here?
Who?
So good - So sad about Gord Downie's fatal brain cancer - What a song - What a band - ...and only 74.4 miles from where I live, The Tragically Hip, from Kingston Ontario, were ignored, by me, for most of their years, only because of my prejudices about their name.
When I saw the nationally broadcasted concert [now on YouTube] and saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give Gord Downie a big hug just before going on stage, for one lase time, I understood that I had been ignoring a great band and great bandleader.
I came to understand the work Gord was doing to help the healing of Canada's aboriginal nightmares and the death of a little boy who died following railroad tracks thru the cold northern Ontario bush, as he tried to go back home, running away from the dreaded residential school, where he had been placed.
Gord made a musical video [it's on YouTube now] about the young boy who died trying to go home- Gord was welcomed into and honored by the aboriginal community where that boy was from, as he himself was dying, afflicted by cancer of the brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrain. rain. rain. rain. rain...
Long Live
The Tragically Hip
Very sincerely.
Lame Buffalo, Metis
Ottawa/Carleton Place Ontario
74.7 miles from Kingston Ontario
tatonka
I'm hearing some Rainmakers in there somewhere
R.I.P. Gord.
Love The Hip.
gecko
Anybody else hearing Danzig here?
I hope this isn't descriptive of what's actually happening in the wake of Ida this morning.
Preceeded by When The Levee Breaks...
No shortage on RadioParadise. How cool.
Ugh! Boring dragging on for waaay too long; boring predictable and well boring.
C,'mon man..
Sold out all venues in Detroit Michigan
Probably mostly Canadians crossing the border. :)
Underated band globally yet used to sell out arena's in Canada.
The first 4 albums are gold until Gord lost his vocal power after that.
Check out his voice on the awesome campfire tune, Wheat Kings
Or "Pidgeon Camera," which is played regularly on RP. What a loss, and the loving send-off and national emotion at their last concert was shattering yet beautiful... and I'm an American.
Love The Hip.
The first 4 albums are gold until Gord lost his vocal power after that.
Check out his voice on the awesome campfire tune, Wheat Kings
Sold out all venues in Detroit Michigan
The first 4 albums are gold until Gord lost his vocal power after that.
Check out his voice on the awesome campfire tune, Wheat Kings
Canada grown up? That's funny. We are a pretty young country - currently with a Drama Teacher whos plays dress up as our "Leader".
Either way This song ROCKS!
Old 'Hip was SO good.
freddyfender wrote:
Peace
Lol, I often joke that Bob & Doug McKenzie's 12 Days of Christmas is the one Christmas song I'll never get tired of!
Love to play with these guys.
Geeze, I need a musical education!
This made me laugh ...
Geeze, I need a musical education!
Canada grown up? That's funny. We are a pretty young country - currently with a Drama Teacher whos plays dress up as our "Leader".
Either way This song ROCKS!
Old 'Hip was SO good.
freddyfender wrote:
Peace
That is because you are white. Try being a black man living in the good ole U.S.A!
I guess all those from Canada aren't cool
Hahahahahahahaha
Brings me back to the late 80s/early 90s... hanging out at The Ile des Chenes Bar (Dusty's). Server thought I looked like Gord, so I played along... alluding that I was just someone who wanted to have a few beer in a small town place in the middle of nowhere, where nobody would recognize me. She started a rumour around the bar that I was actually him. Then every country boy started walking up to our table; gawking at me. Scrutinizing me...
Then later the same server said she wanted to sleep with me.
Well, it was time to leave!
I consider myself fortunate to have seen them play live in New Orleans not once but twice, and this song got played both times but with a caveat. Gord mentioned that while touring with the Stones, they specifically asked them not to play the song as they didn't want to offend New Orleanians (sp?). Which was a good segue to introducing If New Orleans Is Beat.
I was fortunate to have seen them live seven times, but nothing was as bittersweet as seeing them in New Orleans along with only 200 other fans. No better way to see them but also sad that they never saw commercial success in the US. As a now-US resident, trust me, it's the USA's loss.
I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating - they were a Chicago favorite.
I consider myself fortunate to have seen them play live in New Orleans not once but twice, and this song got played both times but with a caveat. Gord mentioned that while touring with the Stones, they specifically asked them not to play the song as they didn't want to offend New Orleanians (sp?). Which was a good segue to introducing If New Orleans Is Beat.
I was fortunate to have seen them live seven times, but nothing was as bittersweet as seeing them in New Orleans along with only 200 other fans. No better way to see them but also sad that they never saw commercial success in the US. As a now-US resident, trust me, it's the USA's loss.
I believe this was one of their few songs to make any kind of a splash south of the 49th //. A shame, really, because their catalog has much groovy, janglin' rock to offer. The Fully Completely album is one my 5 for a desert island, maybe with some REM.
Do your 'mercun!! compatriots, and others around the RP universe, a favour (yes, that's the correct spelling) and roll out more of the Hip.
When I saw the nationally broadcasted concert [now on YouTube] and saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give Gord Downie a big hug just before going on stage, for one lase time, I understood that I had been ignoring a great band and great bandleader.
I came to understand the work Gord was doing to help the healing of Canada's aboriginal nightmares and the death of a little boy who died following railroad tracks thru the cold northern Ontario bush, as he tried to go back home, running away from the dreaded residential school, where he had been placed.
Gord made a musical video [it's on YouTube now] about the young boy who died trying to go home- Gord was welcomed into and honored by the aboriginal community where that boy was from, as he himself was dying, afflicted by cancer of the brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrain. rain. rain. rain. rain...
Long Live
The Tragically Hip
Very sincerely.
Lame Buffalo, Metis
Ottawa/Carleton Place Ontario
74.7 miles from Kingston Ontario
jp33442 wrote:
Canada grown up? That's funny. We are a pretty young country - currently with a Drama Teacher whos plays dress up as our "Leader".
Either way This song ROCKS!
Old 'Hip was SO good.
freddyfender wrote:
Peace
Peace
16, actually.
I'm thinking Q107 Toronto.
So wrong. This was released in 1989. Katrina was in 2005. Trust me - I listed to this almost ad nauseam while growing up in Canada, and was in New Orleans during Katrina.
+1 for Gord. I really regret I didn't know of this band earlier.
Hmmm, someone is looking for a reaction. You might not care for it, but one thing this song isn't, is boring.
So good - So sad about Gord Downie's fatal brain cancer - What a song - What a band - ...and only 74.4 miles from where I live, The Tragically Hip, from Kingston Ontario, were ignored, by me, for most of their years, only because of my prejudices about their name.
When I saw the nationally broadcasted concert [now on YouTube] and saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give Gord Downie a big hug just before going on stage, for one lase time, I understood that I had been ignoring a great band and great bandleader.
I hear you. I lived in Toronto from 1988 to 2001, and despite being a big music fan (mainly of the "alternative" type), I never once went to see the Hip. Like you, the name somehow put me off and took them off my radar, much to my loss, as I now realize. It was only after Gord Downie died that I started buying their CDs and though late to the party, am at least very much enjoying them now, many years later. I've been living in the Czech Republic for the past almost 25 years, so it's also a way of reconnecting with my Canadian identity :-)