[Mr. Lahey]

If any other well known band made this it would be dominating the airwaves and hailed as one of the most epic songs to grace our radio stations ever blah blah. But because it's the Hip and it doesn't sound like Little Bones mixed with 38 Years Old - it's a letdown.

That's just not true. Rarely if ever are you going to see ANY 9 minute song dominating any airwaves. But the song is supremely awesome, especially the last movement. Ah the whole thing's great. :music

Oh I know, there are some here and there. Just making a point, a bitter bitter point. I want Depression Suite to be hailed. HAILED lol

[saganfan]

I love Part III (and the whole thing's great).

To me, part III is about a worker (and I think of the workers in each part as different people) moving to the tar sands for his "little slice of heaven" but his lover doesn't want to go and "get lost in the barrens." But doesn't she want to see how it ends, when the door is just starting to open?

That interpretation works particularly well when one realizes the alternative title to Mowat's "Lost in the Barrens" is "Two Against the North."

Cheers,
John

[Plymouthshallowgrave]

To me, part III is about a worker (and I think of the workers in each part as different people) moving to the tar sands for his "little slice of heaven" but his lover doesn't want to go and "get lost in the barrens." But doesn't she want to see how it ends, when the door is just starting to open?

I like your interpretation. I agree that it is 3 different workers in each "movement". However, I see it as kind of an internal dialogue with a worker who has told himself/herself that he/she is just going for the quick money to buy a "little slice of heaven" and trying to avoid being sucked into the Boomtown mentality. Maybe that's an Atlantic Canadian interpretation, though.

I was just thinking the other night while listening to TDS that if another band (Coldplay, U2, The Killers, et al.) made this song, it would be hailed as an instant classic on par with the great rock operas/extended suites.

[mrsardo]

Yes! a classic! lets all get the word out

[thebends]

Great to read the different interpretations, and as with many of the Hip's arrangements I find there is duplicity, triplicity, x_plicity in word and phrase. While the Suite could speak to a couple's trying partnership, it could also be extended to the relationship we have with the living earth.

One relationship affected by the Athabasca Tar Sands:

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[JT_Stone]

The suite finally satisfies my desire to hear a 8+ min. Tragically Hip masterpiece.. I loved this tune from the Sec. George walked into the room during "One Night Only" been listening to it at least twice a day since!!!

Rush & Neil Young have mastered this type of tune along time ago it's great to hear TTH finally get into lengthy storytelling...

Classic from Day #1 Spread The Word!!

[hipnosis]

HAILED!

[JT_Stone]

After listening to the tours opening night in Kitchener, I am not pleased with the way this song was preformed..
Maybe it's just me or the fact it's still fresh for the band but I think they can play this epic song much better than they did.. I hope by the time they hit Kingston & Ottawa they have cleaned it up!!

[sherpa]

I think this is probably the best song the band has ever written

[NegPhil]

To me, part III is about a worker (and I think of the workers in each part as different people) moving to the tar sands for his "little slice of heaven" but his lover doesn't want to go and "get lost in the barrens." But doesn't she want to see how it ends, when the door is just starting to open?

I like your interpretation. I agree that it is 3 different workers in each "movement". However, I see it as kind of an internal dialogue with a worker who has told himself/herself that he/she is just going for the quick money to buy a "little slice of heaven" and trying to avoid being sucked into the Boomtown mentality. Maybe that's an Atlantic Canadian interpretation, though.

I was just thinking the other night while listening to TDS that if another band (Coldplay, U2, The Killers, et al.) made this song, it would be hailed as an instant classic on par with the great rock operas/extended suites.

Interpreted and shrunk it is! I'm starting to lean towards the multiple worker theory but in my gut I still feel it's one person. The multiple number of jobs is a statistically accurate representation of the modern "working man". Particularly so during these difficult economic times.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.careersintransitionllc.com">http://www.careersintransitionllc.com</a><!-- m -->
"Studies show that the average working American will have three to five careers and between 10 to 12 jobs during his or her lifetime."

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.working.com">http://www.working.com</a><!-- m -->
"A massive number of managers and executives, members of the Baby Boom generation, will retire in the next five years. This promises to leave a huge vacuum in leadership, particularly for companies without succession plans. Generation Xers are poised to take their place. A key question for senior executives to consider is whether the leadership style and values of Generation Xers are the same as those of the Baby Boomers.

Baby Boomers, born between 1945 and l960, grew up watching the Ed Sullivan show, ate TV dinners and gave the peace sign. The Baby Boom generation has dominated the economy, our lifestyles and leadership styles. Leadership for them has been characterized by workaholic tendencies and materialism. Baby Boomers have had a minimum number of careers or a single career path, are impressed by authority, are optimistic and are driven to achieve.

Generation X, born between l960 and l980, grew up with pet rocks, platform shoes and watched The Simpsons. They question authority, seek bigger meaning in life and work, are technologically savvy, live in the present, are skeptical, see career as a key to happiness, are open to multi-careers, consider challenge and variety as being more important than job security and constantly aim to achieve work-life balance."

[tragicallysteve]

I think this is probably the best song the band has ever written

That's a bold statement.

[sherpa]

I think this is probably the best song the band has ever written

That's a bold statement.

Not really - I could list at least 10 songs which are all the best one they've ever written

[The Horrible Esthete]

It's minus 11
Inside my kettle

Does anyone know what "kettle" refers to here?

I'm assuming it's a geological term, i.e., "kettle depression"? Is that correct?

Or is it some slang term for a tin shack or something?

[laliber]

It's minus 11
Inside my kettle

Does anyone know what "kettle" refers to here?

I'm assuming it's a geological term, i.e., "kettle depression"? Is that correct?

Or is it some slang term for a tin shack or something?

I thought it might be a metaphor for depression -- something going on in his head and its not so good
- or perhaps it is a line in Mowat's Lost in the Barrens?

[Gusthepolarbear12]

I think this is probably the best song the band has ever written

That's a bold statement.

Not really - I could list at least 10 songs which are all the best one they've ever written

hahahahahahahah