the tragically Hip, “something on”
from: phantom power, 1998
My appreciation for this band and the abundant talents of the late Gord Downie has been growing steadily. Not that I have devoured all their records, but high among them is Phantom Power, which I learned is not an exaggerated idea of your personal strength, but DC electric power equally applied to both signal wires in balanced microphone cables! Ok. That said, I could have easily chosen 6 songs from this 12 song Juno award winning lp for your perusal. Mr. Downie touched a personal and national nerve in Canada and beyond. He will enfold you. Give a listen.
“Your imagination’s having puppies
It could be a video for new recruits
Just stare into the camera
And pretend that you got the flu
Or dream of impossible vacations
And get all teary from the wind
Look as though you’re standing at the station
Long after the train came in
And see how the space tautens
Like there’s something on
And you’re never more hot than
When you’ve got something on
Picture a century of water
Bury the pipeline guy right here
Kill the dream of possible vacations
With the sweep of a mapping pioneer
Outside there’s hectic action
The ice is covering the trees
And one of ‘em’s interconnecting
With my Chevrolet Caprice
Black out to phantom power
And like there’s nothing on
And hammering the tower
And now there’s nothing on
We’ll ride the monorail
Rocking gently home on the trail
You want to show me the moon
I know you’re standing at the station
I know there’s nothing on
I know that alienation
I know the train’s long gone
I can see how your face tautens
Like you’ve got something on
It makes me feel just rotten
”
““Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”