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Predation, disaster, and the contrastingly safe harbours of friends and family are Gord's master themes IMHO. The first lends itself to animal imagery (Gus, Sharks, The Bear, the 'dorsal fin' part of Melt, etc.), which is why there's so much of that; the second to water imagery (Daredevil, Nautical Disaster, etc.), which is why that's everywhere. The last theme is explored in tunes like Good Life, Are We Family, etc.
Emperor Penguin is an interesting lyric in Gord's repetoire because he takes animals---which are usually figures of predation in his songs---and makes them stand as symbols of familial devotion. So amidst the parade of sharks, bears, barracuda, and murderers, marches the mighty Emperor Penguin with his devotion to the egg. I find that neat :thumb:
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Brilliantly stated...thanks for that! :thumb:
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Killer Whale Tank's analysis (which was fantastic) made me thing immediately of Chancellor on CMG, which accomplishes the same feat--namely, creating a safe familial haven in the midst of the turmoil of the rest of the world.
So the Chancellor (or I guess the would-be Chancellor) and the Emperor Penguin occupy the same lyrical space.
"crazy daisies and wooden stars
the threat of oxygen on mars
marching armies in the night
smiling strangers riding by on bikes
children smoking, sloganeers on mics
just a few things most vampires don't like"
Cool.
CT
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Thanks for the nice words! That's a good insight about Chancellor, but what about the very ambiguous chorus: 'I coulda been chancellor without you on my mind?'
Doesn't that suggest an element of regret? Like 'I could have been something if I hadn't been so obsessed with you?' Or am I missing something---?
I LOVE that song, BTW. One of the very best moments in Downie's career. :thumb:
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I thought about the notion of "regret" at not being Chancellor, but maybe the idea is, who wants to be Chancellor anyway? What do Chancellors do anyway? Rule Germany and look after the budget in England. So, "I coulda made Chancellor" ... big deal, I had better things on my mind, more important things, like taming vampires and keeping smiling strangers at bay.
I don't know. The song is the best on CMG and Emperor Penguin is pretty close to the best on PP, and that's enough for me.
CT
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This song is so good.
Wow.
Gord, Gord, Paul, Rob, and Johnny.
Thank you for this. I can't express my gratitude.
Epic, boys, damn epic.
2004-12-03 - Saint John/2005-09-03 - Moncton/2006-06-30 - Charlottetown/2006-11-09/10 - Montreal/2007-09-11 - Fredericton/2007-09-13 - Halifax/2007-09-14 - Sydney/2007-09-15 - Charlottetown/2008-06-30 - Charlottetown/2009-05-01/02 - Montreal/2011-06-28 - Moncton/2011-06-30 - Charlottetown/2012-06-30 - Niagara-on-the-Lake/2013-02-01 - Moncton/2013-02-02 - Halifax/2015-01-10 - Toronto/2015-02-20 - Montreal/2015-07-17 - Ottawa/2016-08-18 - Ottawa/2016-08-20 - Kingston
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those are amazing thoughts.i have listened too and tried too figure it out.
i hear this song and it is personally close too home ---very raw.
i think it means we bring children into the world and in doing so everything we do revloves around them --sometimes at the expence of the loving relationship we had as a couple..
these penguins will die just too get food and keep the eggs warm.
we all end up losing our own identity.
people or penguins cant bitch about the kids being disrespectful or not listening because they chose too have kids and have too stick together.
i have heard interveiws where G.D says that before world container he never spoke of love or situations close too him or that relate too anything personal he does but i dont really beleive that .
with the emotion involved in some songs it has too come from his heart or experiences.
now with that said-- it could be as simple as him being at a zoo and saw a penguin ........lol
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Love this song. Someone should come up with an annotated book of Hip lyrics. I have a book of annotated Dead Lyrics that is awesome.
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I love that song. I love the way it just feels like it keeps building. I'm also amazed that I got to see it performed in Cleveland this spring. Thankfully I was aware enough that it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
Wish it wasn't, though. They really ought to play it more.
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they definately should play the song more----an understated gem --a real stand out track, when i want to show people the depth of the hips' music,,this one is a perfect marriage of melody and groove--and what the fuck is he really talking about lyrics------It reminds me of any early R.E.M. track that was so listenable but completely indecipherable at the same time---then days later you find yourself singing---"conversation fear,,,converssaaation feeeeear"---for no apparent reason..
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One of my Deal Of The Day sites has this shirt for sale today, $10 free shipping
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://shirt.woot.com/">http://shirt.woot.com/</a><!-- m -->
EMPEROR PENGUIN
![[Image: Emperor_Penguin8coStandard.png]](http://sale.images.woot.com/Emperor_Penguin8coStandard.png)
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
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That shirt is all kinds of awesome, I'm gonna have to choose between it and the new Joel Plaskett B-sides preorder...
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mojo_mattv Wrote:That shirt is all kinds of awesome, I'm gonna have to choose between it and the new Joel Plaskett B-sides preorder...
The shirt is only $10 today with free shipping - then it goes to $15 still with free shipping
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
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The Emperor Penguin has always had a special place in my heart lyrically. As a business traveller for the better part of the last couple of decades, away from the house 2-4 days a week 40+ weeks a year I've always admired my wife for taking on the challenge of married life as a semi-single parent. To me this song is homage to such a woman, and a way to recognize the inherent frustrations of that family dynamic ("the kids are alright just unmanageable ~ they won't do a damn thing that you say"). To me the song acknowledges this burden through the reversal of roles Gord channels through the penguin's behaviour, where its the male that that slaves and holds the fort while the female assumes the role of the travelling stereotypical male ("don't sound so detached this is you and me ~ just give me your opinion before you turn to leave").
There is guilt in the traveling protagonist who keenly wants to recognize his remarkable partner’s efforts ("let's raise a glass of milk to the end of another day ~ and to the kiss that's still intangible") … ("but your crust is just incredible ... you’re a physical impossibility").
I suspect this interpretation is stereotypical and likely inaccurate of the penguin's behaviour, and more so of Gord's desired message but that's what the song means to me.
Although happily married for 22 years with 3 loving kids I've always had a layer of guilt for not having been at home through thick and thin, bliss and misery. I would imagine being on the road as a married (or "partnered") musician might conjure up similar feelings.
"we've only got three hundred feet to go ..."
