[Stephen Dame]

Dec 6, 1989. It still brings poor old Montreal down a notch, and for good reason. A friend just e-mailed me about the black arm bands and the candle light parade planned for tomorrow... they haven't forgotten.

And neither should we:

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...note the ages.

[Kim]

Wow I'd never heard about this before - so sad.
I assume the killer has been left to pine away in a Canadian jail somewhere..?
Thanks for posting.

[prz]

Wow I'd never heard about this before - so sad.
I assume the killer has been left to pine away in a Canadian jail somewhere..?
Thanks for posting.

If my memory serves me correctly, the killer turned the gun on himself after.

Thanks for posting SD. It is indeed a sad day.

[Stephen Dame]

Yep, hence Gord's lyric, "a coward won't die alone." The coward turned the gun on himself after making his "statement." He felt feminists and women in general were responsible for his lot in life.

What's often forgotten, is that a number of men who were in the building and ordered to leave: "Don't you know? I'm killing women here tonight..." committed suicide after the fact due to guilt. It's arguably the biggest tragedy in Montreal's long history.

For those of you newbies, download "Montreal" by the boys and listen as Gord describes the pain of a mother determined to make her daughter look good in her casket. (IIRC, based on the true story Gord read in the Gazette or Devoir)

The lyrics are angry, describing a young woman who was passive and loving (The 12/07/00 version even contains the line "She didn't care for... sending men to electric chairs") and then Gord seems to demand an explanation from her killer, before realizing, 'ya know what, I don't even want to hear it.' ("Just explain away.")

It's IMO, the most beautiful and angst filled song they've ever written. Even the guitar chords are sad.

[direwolf74]

Yep, hence Gord's lyric, "a coward won't die alone." The coward turned the gun on himself after making his "statement." He felt feminists and women in general were responsible for his lot in life.

What's often forgotten, is that a number of men who were in the building and ordered to leave: "Don't you know? I'm killing women here tonight..." committed suicide after the fact due to guilt. It's arguably the biggest tragedy in Montreal's long history.

For those of you newbies, download "Montreal" by the boys and listen as Gord describes the pain of a mother determined to make her daughter look good in her casket. (IIRC, based on the true story Gord read in the Gazette or Devoir)

The lyrics are angry, describing a young woman who was passive and loving (The 12/07/00 version even contains the line "She didn't care for... sending men to electric chairs") and then Gord seems to demand an explanation from her killer, before realizing, 'ya know what, I don't even want to hear it.' ("Just explain away.")

It's IMO, the most beautiful and angst filled song they've ever written. Even the guitar chords are sad.

Definitely. That song is incredibly powerful, and you can't help but be reminded of the tragedy every time you hear it. From what I heard, that song wasn't even close to being in the cards for that particular show, but sombody (a fan? One of the survivors??) convinced them to pull it out for the encore. I remember hearing that they had to jump on the Net backstage to download a bootlegged version so they could remember how to play it.

[VioletlightHeron]

On a related note, Chris and Kate have a song memoralizing the Montreal tragedy and performed it with their old band Bourbon Tabernacle Choir. The song is titled They Are Falling...an excellent mournful song.

[chris]

Here's "Montreal" in MP3 from the concert in Montreal on December 7, 2000.

Save this link.

This link will only be active until December 10, 2004.

[Stephen Dame]

Thank You Chris.

I bow to your tech-spertise.

[Stephen Dame]

.

Definitely. That song is incredibly powerful, and you can't help but be reminded of the tragedy every time you hear it. From what I heard, that song wasn't even close to being in the cards for that particular show, but sombody (a fan? One of the survivors??) convinced them to pull it out for the encore. I remember hearing that they had to jump on the Net backstage to download a bootlegged version so they could remember how to play it.

Yep, here's the very site Gord visited: (The guy still has the story about it on the top of the page)

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I've often wondered how Chris and Kate kept up... I think you can hear her backing vocals on the 12/07 version. Just winged it I guess?

[emperor penguin]

thanks alot chris i really appreciate it what a moving song