Posts: 3
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
0
Since Today is September 17th, I put on Fiddler's Green, and tried to explain the meaning of the song as I interpret it to my wife. Since I'm no Hip expert I thought I would find out what the actual story is from the band's biggest fans.
Thanks,
Vetteboy
Posts: 2,571
Threads: 145
Joined: May 2003
Reputation:
0
I think someone very close to Gord,a relative I believe died so it has tremendous personnal significance to him,to the point where they've never played it live. I may be off somewhere but I think thats the GST of it. :thumb:
I will not give up. My face is set,my gait is fast,my goal is heaven,my road is narrow,my way is rough,my companions are few,my guide is reliable,my mission is clear. I cannot be bought,compromised,detoured,lured away,turned back,diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,hesitate in the presence of adversity,negotiate at the table of the enemy,ponder at the pool of popularity,or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I will not give up,shut up or slow down....Blessed Be!
Posts: 2
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2003
Reputation:
0
Actually, this raises some questions that I have about references made in Downie's lyrics. I feel I am a novice Tragically Hip fan (although I have seen them several times) compared to some (most?) of the folks on this site. I can understand that some of the references are more than likely quite personal and maybe no one (other than Downie himself, or possibly the band members) really might understand them.
These are just a few off of the top of my head:
(1) Who is 'Susan' from 'Nautical Disaster'? Just a fictional character for the song, or does anyone know if this is a reference to someone he knows?
(2) Who is 'Neil' from 'An Inch an Hour'? Fictional? Real?
(3) In "Born in the Water', when Gord refers to 'Smart as trees in Sault Ste. Marie/I can speak my mother tongue', is he referring to the move by this city to declare itself unilingual (ie. English only) a number of years ago?
I'm sure there are others. I'll post them as I come across them.
Posts: 2,571
Threads: 145
Joined: May 2003
Reputation:
0
If that was true that they played Fiddler's, and its not, that would likely be the most sought after bootleg and I woulda heard something,we all woulda heard something,sorry don't mean to sound catty,not tryin to be.who told ya tey played Fiddler's at the Amp?
cratch:
I will not give up. My face is set,my gait is fast,my goal is heaven,my road is narrow,my way is rough,my companions are few,my guide is reliable,my mission is clear. I cannot be bought,compromised,detoured,lured away,turned back,diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,hesitate in the presence of adversity,negotiate at the table of the enemy,ponder at the pool of popularity,or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I will not give up,shut up or slow down....Blessed Be!
Posts: 969
Threads: 16
Joined: Apr 2003
Reputation:
0
The song has been requested before but I don't think the Hip have actually ever played it live before.
Posts: 980
Threads: 86
Joined: Nov 2002
Reputation:
0
Correct.. to my knowledge they have NEVER played it live. I believe a post was done about fiddlers green not too long ago and someone quoted downie as saying that he wished that song would of never of been recorded!
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.thehip.com/MyConcertStats.html?LinkID=12360571443252482_733834_744">http://www.thehip.com/MyConcertStats.ht ... 733834_744</a><!-- m -->
Posts: 2,367
Threads: 143
Joined: Jul 2002
Reputation:
0
What?? Man, I wonder why he'd say that? It's a wonderful song...if it was something personal and painful (I don't know ifit's true, but people have been saying that) mayeb he's just sick of having to hear it, and wishes it had never been put out there for that reason...surely he can't hate the song itself!
Professor: I once heard (not sure about the authenticity) that Neil from that song was an American poet, a guy who drank himself to death. I can't remember his supposed last name, or why Gord would mention him.
Posts: 980
Threads: 86
Joined: Nov 2002
Reputation:
0
Im not sure if he said that for sure, it was not a direct quote.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.thehip.com/MyConcertStats.html?LinkID=12360571443252482_733834_744">http://www.thehip.com/MyConcertStats.ht ... 733834_744</a><!-- m -->
Posts: 903
Threads: 39
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
Here is a direct qoute from Gord , from the 2000-06-17 show in Vermont , when asked by an audience member if they could play Fiddlers Green . " The only reason we don't play that one , uh , uh , because it's a , it's one of those songs written for a , with deep personal signifigance , so it should probably should have never been written , ah , but at the same time , ah , I don't know , yeah , I sort of cling to it as something that a , anyway what are we gonna play ?"
Posts: 1
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
0
I've got a buddy who knows Gord, not well but well enough, who recently spoke to him at a wedding, not about this topic but we've discussed it in the past. Summiteer seems to have the right idea, although I'm sure I've got a boot of them playing it.
Peace,
the_Mutt
Posts: 12
Threads: 1
Joined: Jul 2003
Reputation:
0
I stand corrected...
Memories of the concert at the amphitheatre are pretty fuzzy, it was long time running that i mixed it up with.
Posts: 207
Threads: 22
Joined: Jul 2002
Reputation:
0
i cant remember where but i seem to recall something about that song being written about Gord's nephew and would have to agree that it has never been played live
Posts: 3
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
0
I've done a little more research and it seems that Fiddler's Green is on a bootleg of a Denver Co. Concert dated Sept 30/95. I could see it being a sensitive issue with his sister etc. if it is about his nephew or something, but in the long run I'm sure she would see that it's about the most beautiful tribute to anyone's life that you could get.
Posts: 791
Threads: 140
Joined: Jul 2002
Reputation:
0
Fiddler's Green is the venue for that bootleg, they didn't play the song... and have never...
Rory
