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October 18 ! (was September 17).
[youtube]35mJvcY104M[/youtube]

"Fiddler's Green" (A dedication to the kids)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35mJvcY104M

October eighteen
For a girl I know it's Father's Day
Her dad has gone alee
And that's where he will stay
The wind on the weathervane
Tearing blue eyes sailor mean
As Falstaff sings a sorrowful refrain
For a dad in Fiddler's Green

His tiny knotted brain
Well, I guess it never worked too good
The timber tore apart
And the water gorged the wood
You can hear her whispered prayer
For men at masts that always lean
The same wind that moves her hair
Moves her Dad through Fiddler's Green

Nothing's changed anyway
Nothing's changed anyway
Any time today

He doesn't know a soul
There's nowhere that he's really been
But he won't travel long alone
No, not in Fiddler's Green
Balloons all filled with rain
As children's eyes turn sleepy mean
And Falstaff sings a sorrowful refrain
For a Dad in Fiddler's Green

#TragicLoss

So sad. Same cancer that my father passed away from.

As a kid who grew up in Buffalo, I feel so fortunate to have been introduced to this band via Canadian radio.

My condolences to his family, friends, and the band

"those melodies come back to me...at times beyond our heartbeat."

You never know what the morning brings.

Sadly, today marks the beginning of a new era. Last summer I wrote of our nation in transition with an unfortunate destination on the horizon. For a long while now, culturally, we have been carried on the back of a man whose art exemplified what it meant to be Canadian. I will never really be able to articulate just what that means but most people reading this will know the exact feeling.

This morning as we learn the news of the loss of Gord Downie we arrive at that horizon. We are a nation no longer in transition. We all have our moments with this man and going forward we must reflect on how he warmed us with melody, words and actions. Celebrate what he has shared with us and let it inspire you.

Today an icon passed from living to legend. Remember the man, emulate the legacy.

RIP Gord Downie

Such a sad day, but I'll try and celebrate the music and memories. The Hip have been a consistent, and the band that I have seen the most over three decades of touring. Many great memories of shows. One of my favorites will be a chance encounter with Gord at breakfast after the Kingston show on the Fully Completely tour. Gracious, funny and self-deprecating all in a 30 second conversation.

Rest in peace Gord, thank you for sharing your music with us...you are a legend, Canada didn't deserve you but we are so thankful to have had you...you were far more unifying than you know...

surferguy Wrote:You never know what the morning brings.

:thumb:

Brain Cancer is an Impossibilium.

In the history of music, when the lead singer gets diagnosed with terminal cancer, the band respectfully cancels the tour and future tours. #sadnews
Gord, after his diagnosis, put a rush order on a new tour, "So he could get it in". #hardcore #TotalPro
Thank you Gord et. al.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcK1P491lmk&t=124s

"Grace, Too"

He said, "I'm fabulously rich, come on just let's go"
She kind of bit her lip, "Jeez, I don't know"
But I can guarantee, there'll be no knock on the door
I'm total pro, that's what I'm here for

I come from downtown, born ready for you
Armed with will and determination, and grace, too

The secret rules of engagement are hard to endorse
When the appearance of conflict meets the appearance of force
But I can guarantee, there'll be no knock on the door
I'm total pro here, that's what I'm here for

I come from downtown, born ready for you
Armed with skill and it's frustration, and grace, too

Thank you Gord. RIP

They just played this on Q and I've been sharing with friends this morning. My favourite performance of anything, ever. I have always loved how he misses the "but i can guarantee" and you can hear the crowd sing it in the proper place. Johnny pulls it all back together and they rock on.

LandscapesEmerg Wrote:

surferguy Wrote:You never know what the morning brings.

:thumb:

Brain Cancer is an Impossibilium.

In the history of music, when the lead singer gets diagnosed with terminal cancer, the band respectfully cancels the tour and future tours. #sadnews
Gord, after his diagnosis, put a rush order on a new tour, "So he could get it in". #hardcore #TotalPro
Thank you Gord et. al.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcK1P491lmk&t=124s

"Grace, Too"

He said, "I'm fabulously rich, come on just let's go"
She kind of bit her lip, "Jeez, I don't know"
But I can guarantee, there'll be no knock on the door
I'm total pro, that's what I'm here for

I come from downtown, born ready for you
Armed with will and determination, and grace, too

The secret rules of engagement are hard to endorse
When the appearance of conflict meets the appearance of force
But I can guarantee, there'll be no knock on the door
I'm total pro here, that's what I'm here for

I come from downtown, born ready for you
Armed with skill and it's frustration, and grace, too

This is just shit.

Can we all, can you all, just stay here for a bit, while I, while we, collect ourselves. There's too much to say, too much to write, too much to think, too much to feel. We passed through paroxysms of grief last year, heights of elation last year, introspection last year, gratitude, anticipation. We knew but didn't know what was coming. I can't process it fast enough and I don't want this place, this thread to ebb with some quick words that cannot express it enough. So please, let's just stay here for a bit. This place is only here. The whole of Canada and honourary Canadians that they, that he, made will celebrate him deeply and feel sorrow deeply, but this place is not that place. This place is the inner sanctum of that place. It's at the kernel of it, where whole songs are shorthands, all songs are one song and that song is don't forget.

I'm doing OK despite the news.
Gord prepared me.

Long time US fan here from New Hampshire. Haven't posted much here over the years but love to read and share in the passion that is The Tragically Hip. I first saw the Hip in Boston after Phantom Power came out. I had been a fan before that but had never seen them live. A live changing music event for me and I never missed them again. One of my frustrations as always been that I could never get most of my friends on the Hip band wagon. Many of Gord's lyrics are the soundtrack of my life and I am grateful for them. Chagrin > Escape > Emperor is as good as it gets in rock music! Sending condolences to all of the Canadians feeling this loss and to let you know we feel it down here as well. RIP Gord - Your music speaks to me...

I was okay , or thought i was

Then my daughter called and it all crashed down upon me

...and I can't seem to reel it back in

I last saw Gord at the first Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds show at Massey Hall in May. He looked good; he looked strong. He was sitting a few rows behind us, and I kept turning my attention from the stage to Gord. Anyone who's seen Nick Cave knows he's a commanding performer, so if someone else can take your attention away from him...well, that's something.

Towards the end of the show I looked back again, and Gord was gone.