PunBB
Help with "Blow" question - Printable Version

+- PunBB (https://punbb.in)
+-- Forum: General Discussion - Hipbase.com (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Tragically Hip Discussion (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Help with "Blow" question (/showthread.php?tid=6708)


Help with "Blow" question - Stephen Dame - 08-11-2005

I've got an e-mail from somebody looking for an explanation of: "Blow At High Dough." I haven't found much direct info from the band on the song, so I just added what I could and then recommended she stop by here. Please feel free to add anything to the accumulated rumours I've got below... or even better, perhaps somebody has old interviews from the horses mouth:

"On my website, I've only got the literal reference to Elvis listed, since it's the only sure thing. But for years, the feeling I've heard on "Blow" has been this: The song deals with the way a woman can hold a certain sway over a man. There's the phallic imagery "get it out, stretch that thing," "the further it's gonna go" and the "blow" itself, but there's also the fact that the taxi driver is "thrown off" by passion. Some feel the "blow at high dough" to mean once a man is tempted (a woman presenting herself, or a boat load of money) all his reason goes out the door.

Elvis himself was said to truly love Anne Margaret (Gord often adds her name to the song live) and was believed to always harbour regret that he didn't marry her when he had the chance. What he did do however, was marry a very young Priscilla: "How'd she move so fast, move so fast, into that wedding ring." The fact that the preceding lyric is the somewhat cruder: "Whoever fits her usually gets her, it was the strangest thing" suggests that perhaps the song was inspired by an... easygoing... girlfriend who once wronged Gord, hence inspiring the "femme fatale" view of women in the song.

The Elvis stuff may have worked it's way into Gords thinking as the band wrote and recorded "Up To Here" in Memphis in 1988. It's also interesting to note that in the case of Elvis (marrying at the drop of a hat) and the "Taxi Driver," (Deniro's "Travis Bickle" -Gord was a film student remember) both were willing to do (or inspired others to do) irrational things for women."

- chives - 08-11-2005

I've heard Blow was a reference from Gord's (or some other band member's) relative (perhaps mother) about the whole "rock star lifestyle", how one day your up, the next your down. Maybe the fact the guys were starting to make some money, and don't let it get to their heads...I guess its a prelude to the whole "Bling, bling" quote. Is any of this making sense??

- Tthip - 08-11-2005

I do not remember the facts - but an interview from way back with Gord Downie - he stated that "blow at high dough" is something his grandmother used to say.
I'll have to look for the interview.

- hip - 08-11-2005

I also believed it to be a quote from a family member, I thought his mother!

- Gangrel - 08-11-2005

I remember reading it was his grandmother too. She would warn him not to "blow at high dough", I think in reference to rising bread that raises to fast blows?

- laskosean - 08-11-2005

"Blowing High Dough" refers to moving too fast for your own good.

Directly from the lips of Mr. Gordon Downie.

- laskosean - 08-11-2005

sorry, not "Blowing High Dough, it's "Blowing at High Dough".

Cheers.

- Chris Tanz - 08-11-2005

blowing at high dough is like trying to run before you've learned to walk ... from what I remember of the "gord's grandmother" reference.

ct

Re: Help with "Blow" question - scottitude - 08-12-2005

Stephen Dame Wrote:..."Whoever fits her usually gets her, it was the strangest thing" suggests that perhaps the song was inspired by an... easygoing... girlfriend who once wronged Gord, hence inspiring the "femme fatale" view of women in the song.

Oh god, I hope this doesn't bring she-whose-name-we-shall-not-speak out of lurker-dom.