The Tragically Hip: Quintessentially Canadian
/What is ‘Canadian music’? There are many ways we could define it, but it’s almost a guarantee that The Tragically Hip fits every definition. The Hip is uniquely and utterly Canadian. Every song and every lyric seep Canadiana.
Canadian poetry
The tragically hip at the 2005 juno awards. Photo: Juno Awards
“He’s our Shakespeare,” Ron MacLean said of late Hip frontman Gord Downie. Downie was famous for his lyricism. He captured Canadian-isms in a way no one else did. In, “Fireworks,” he sings, “you said you didn’t give a fuck about hockey / and I never saw someone say that before.” Hockey is so entrenched in Canadian culture; it’s such a simple line, yet it could only have been written by a Canadian.
One of the band’s hits is entitled, “Bobcaygeon,” the name of a small town in Ontario. Downie mentions Algonquin Park in, “The Bear,” polar bears in, “Thompson Girl,” an Ontario prison in, “38 Years Old.” The Hip’s body of work references niche Canadian-isms that a foreigner couldn’t truly appreciate.
Darker Canadian history
The Tragically Hip was never afraid to tackle heavier Canadian stories either. “Fifty-Mission Cap” references the mysterious disappearance of Toronto Maple Leaf’s player Bill Barilko. Barilko went missing on a fishing trip in Northern Ontario. His body was found over a decade later. The case of his death has never been solved. Downie refers to the suspicious circumstances as he sings, “Bill Barilko disappeared that summer / He was on a fishing trip / The last goal he ever scored won the Leafs the Cup / They didn’t win another ‘til 1962 / The year he was discovered.”
The story of David Milgaard, a man falsely accused of rape and imprisoned for 23 years, is told in, “Wheat Kings.” The song mentions the breaking news of Milgaard’s 1992 release on CBC. Downie said:
“[It’s] about David Milgaard and his faith in himself. And about his mother, Joyce, and her absolute faith in her son’s innocence. And about our big country and its faith in man’s fallibility. And about Gail Miller, all those mornings ago, just lying there, all her faith bleeding out into that Saskatoon snowbank.”
It’s a powerful image and a powerful story. Downie’s choice to reflect on what it means to our country is so Tragically Hip and so Canadian.
Solo work
Separate from the band, Gord Downie’s project, “Secret Path,” confronted the tragic history of the Canadian residential school system. It combines Downie’s solo album and Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel into an animated film. It tells the story of Chanie Wenjack, a boy who died while trying to escape a residential school. He was so far from home, but he tried his best to get back. Downie says, “His story is Canada’s story… … We are all accountable….” All proceeds from this project went to the Gord Downie Secret Path Fund for Truth and Reconciliation. Downie’s work encapsulates all that Canada is – the good and the ugly.
Informing the Canadian identity
The Tragically Hip’s quintessentially Canadian identity is so powerful that it’s even educational. Lindsay Pereira, a writer and immigrant to Canada, said the band helped shape her understanding of our country’s culture. She had never heard of the band before immigrating to Canada and was confused as to how they could be so idolized here. The local names and places mentioned throughout the band’s discography painted a picture for her. The Hip’s casual lifestyle and rejection of celebrity captured the essence of the Canadian rockstar. The adoration of Hip fans showed her a unity and spirit that is uniquely Canadian.
Impact on Canadian music
Arkells in Kingston 2024 Photo: @nathannash_ via @arkellsmusic
Many Canadian artists credit The Tragically Hip as an inspiration. Dallas Green of City and Colour said, “If you’re a musician and you’re born in Canada, it’s in your DNA to like the Tragically Hip.” Leah Fay of July Talk said her first Hip concert was singular and transformational. Canadian rapper K-os said the band played a key role in him pursuing music.
Feist, a Nova Scotia-born indie artist, has covered the band’s tune, “Flamenco.” Hamilton-based group Arkells have covered many Hip songs and regularly perform them at concerts. Even Justin Bieber did a mini cover of, “Wheat Kings,” at a 2012 show. The Hip has shaped what Canadian music is today.
Legacy
The Tragically Hip left a lyrical imprint on Canada that will last forever. Gord Downie’s investment in Canadian identity is what cemented him as an icon. In 2017, Downie sadly passed away from terminal brain cancer. The band performed their final show a year prior. Over 11.7 million Canadians tuned in to watch – 11.7 million people, united in sadness, support and pure adoration for the band and the man. That is the legacy of the Tragically Hip.
The Tragically Hip perform, “Ahead by a Century,” at their final show. Video: The Tragically Hip
Anna Farinaccio is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Anna’s parents raised her on a wide range of music. They taught her about the significant role music plays in society and culture. She grew up pursuing many creative passions, such as dance and theatre. These passions led her to a career in writing. Musicians and their influence inspire Anna everyday. A long-time punk fan, the first song she added to her childhood MP3 player was The Clash’s, “Train in Vain.”
