The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I am a working man
But I ain't worked for a while
Like some old tin can
From the bottom of the pile
From the bottom of the pile
I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement
My words are like a rope
That's wrapped around my throat
Wash my mouth with soap
For words unfit to quote
I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
And now I'm free to go
But time cannot remove
The only life I've known
Now only time will prove
Yes, only time will prove
If I have lost my way
'Cause I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
Yeah, I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
But I ain't worked for a while
Like some old tin can
From the bottom of the pile
From the bottom of the pile
I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement
My words are like a rope
That's wrapped around my throat
Wash my mouth with soap
For words unfit to quote
I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
And now I'm free to go
But time cannot remove
The only life I've known
Now only time will prove
Yes, only time will prove
If I have lost my way
'Cause I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
Yeah, I have lost my way
But I hear tell
About heaven in Alberta
Where they got all hell for a basement
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I just found out from wikipedia that "all hell for a basement" is a quote from Rudyard Kipling referring to the vast underground oil reserves under Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Oh, and this is a great song. Big Sugar rocks!
thank goodness for pk_boomer! lol.
i first heard this song last year, and it caught my ear because i'm an albertan. it wasn't until months later, i caught the line 'all hell for a basement' on a commercial about the history of alberta. of course i didn't catch what was mentioned. i originally thought this song was about coal miners or something.
i love anything that mentions alberta/canada, so now i rec this song to anyone who wants to hear something good!
little_arsonist, you must like Four Strong Winds by Neil Young too then! Myself, I'm partial to "Running Back to Saskatoon" (that's where I'm from).
And yes I know Ian Tyson wrote and performed that song first. But the Neil Young version is the only one you will hear on the radio these days :( Plus that's another reason for you to like it, Ian Tyson is a rancher in Alberta!
I heard an interview with Gordie Johnson where he said this song is about a guy leaving Newfoundland becasue he couldn' find work, and traveling to Alberta where there is more work than people. Regarding the reference to Kipling, I'm pretty sure that oil hadn't been discovered at the time he was around and Medicine Hat sits on vast natural gas reserves, not oil. I don't think Kipling mad the trek to 'the Hat' as he was in India most of the time. So there.
You're right wetcoaster, he was referring to natural gas reserves, not oil. But I'm still pretty sure Kipling made the comment about Medicine Hat, whether he was ever there or not. I believe everything I read in Wikipedia!
So there! :P
You're right wetcoaster, he was referring to natural gas reserves, not oil. But I'm still pretty sure Kipling made the comment about Medicine Hat, whether he was ever there or not. I believe everything I read in Wikipedia!
So there! :P
And about Kipling never leaving India:
"From 1897 until his death, Kipling made England his base, although he continued to travel extensively. In particular, he spent his winters until 1909 in South Africa, toured Egypt, made trips to Europe before and after the Great War, and visited Canada twice."
There is also a town in Saskatchewan called Kipling, that is purportedly named for Rudyard Kipling to honor his travels through Canada.
So there
The wikipedia article has it more or less correct. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_Hat%2C_Alberta The line, used as BS's title, has been attributed to Rudyard Kipling.
I grew up there.
I remember September 1981 when, there was a new dude in the Crescent Heights High School band, playing a wicked bass. This guy was Gordie Johnson, just in from the Golden Horseshoe as I recall, two years older than me and set to graduate and disappear within a year.
Although he only spent a year or so there as I know, it must have had some impact on him. The last time I saw him wasat that school's music instructor's retirement ceremony/concert in 2003.
BTW
1) I've been playing in bands ever since.
2) Terri Clark went through that music program as well. Started when I was in Gr 12. I used to jam with her a lot. Gordie too.
The guy Kipling rode through Medicine Hat on a train and said although this place is quite pleasant it seems to have all hell for a basement. He was referring to the flares of flames shooting up from the natural gas reserves.
Can't believe this band broke up. This song has to go down as one of the best rock songs in Canadian history.