RIP Gord Downie

[Koogie]

RIP to whom many consider one of the greatest living Canadians.


Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie dies at 53
Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie dies at 53 | Entertainment & Showbiz from CTV News


People outside the country are often surprised to find out how huge of a band The Tragically Hip are in Canada. Their farewell concert was a genuine cross country event.

As you can tell by my signature, I've been a bit of a fan.

RIP Gord.

[Music Lover]

RIP Gord. They were one of my favourite bands.

[Nemo2]

Been lots of publicity hereabouts (home 'area' boy....and DW's from Kingston), since he was first diagnosed.

(Possible 'six degrees of separation'.....DW, who's 12 years older than Gord...went to school in Amherstview and was 'best friends' with someone with the same last name, who may have been a cousin.)

[Koogie]

Headline news in every paper and on every tv. We've produced very few like him in this country.

I know he was 53 and not 38 when he died but here are the lyrics to one of their very best songs. They wrote about Canada and small towns when no one else really did (and made it very cool at the same time).

p.s. I grew up not all that very far from Millhaven Pen.



"38 Years Old"

Twelve men broke loose in seventy three
From Millhaven Maximum Security
Twelve pictures lined up across the front page
Seems the Mounties had a summertime war to wage

Well, the chief told the people they had nothing to fear
Said, "The last thing they want to do is hang around here"
They mostly came from towns with long French names
But one of the dozen was a hometown shame

Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
Been one seat empty eighteen years in all
Freezing slow time, away from the world
He's thirty eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty eight years old, never kissed a girl

We were sitting round the table, heard the telephone ring
Father said he tell them if he saw anything
Heard the tap on my window in the middle of the night
Held back the curtain for my older brother Mike

See my sister got raped so a man got killed
Local boy went to prison, man's buried on the hill
Folks went back to normal when they closed the case
They still stare at their shoes when they pass our place

My mother cried, "The horror has finally ceased"
He whispered, "Yeah, for the time being at least"
And over her shoulder on the squad car megaphone
They said, "Let's go, Michael, son, we're taking you home"

Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
Been one seat empty eighteen years in all
Freezing slow time, away from the world
He's thirty eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty eight years old, never kissed a girl

[6miths]

Lived an amazing life, fought the good fight and did not go gentle into that good night.

RIP.

[kcowan]

Yes he was especially admired for his farewell tour. Gave us all one last chance to admire the guy. I would say he spent the last 2 years wisely.

Reported story about his attempts to break into the US only to find Canucks travelling to hear him in the US! He was truly loved!

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo2 (Possible 'six degrees of separation'.....DW, who's 12 years older than Gord...went to school in Amherstview and was 'best friends' with someone with the same last name, who may have been a cousin.)

Neil Young went to my public school and high school. I learned of this because the author of Young Neil sought me out to join their FB groups to inquire about others who knew him.

[Music Lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan Reported story about his attempts to break into the US only to find Canucks travelling to hear him in the US! He was truly loved!

I go to a golf tournament in Minnesota every year and one of the Americans I hang with used to live near the Canadian border. He is a huge fan of The Tragically Hip, as well as several other Canadian bands that you folks never get to hear.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan Neil Young went to my public school and high school. I learned of this because the author of Young Neil sought me out to join their FB groups to inquire about others who knew him.

Alrighty then.....I almost ran over Dan Hill on Queen St/E in The Beach one night when he darted across the road in front of me.....(he was/is a runner).

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo2 Alrighty then.....I almost ran over Dan Hill on Queen St/E in The Beach one night when he darted across the road in front of me.....(he was/is a runner).

I was invited to Ronnie Hawkins house after we saw him playing at Le Coq d'Or. I was 14 but tall for my age (6'). Since then I have filled out quite a bit.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan I was invited to Ronnie Hawkins house after we saw him playing at Le Coq d'Or. I was 14 but tall for my age (6'). Since then I have filled out quite a bit.

Spent a fair bit of time at Le Coq d'Or......Linda, arguably the best Go-Go Dancer in T.O., used to share a place with a girl that one of the guys I knew went on to marry.

Among others, went there to see Bo Diddley.