submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Mean Streak Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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Two things. Firstly, the "stranger" line against the TV reference makes me think this song is about someone real and influential appearing on the news (like a politician) and suddenly saying something that makes them seem like an entirely differently, entirely worse person than you thought. "We never seen a stranger 'round here", we never thought we'd be betrayed by someone who said they had the same morality as we did. The last part about haywagon's might be a sly dig at the current US government as mock-cowboys. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Leave Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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Maybe it is about poverty, about finding the strength to pull yourself up from a miserable, repititious day-to-day life. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – As Makeshift As We Are Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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This song strikes me as being about war, particularly the idea of sharing the experience with other people.
"You do the combat math, I’m the war artist" suggests two people in the same situation, with differing roles. "Lead never leaves your system no matter who you are"; a frank way of saying that every man who puts on a uniform to fight is on the same level as his fellow soldiers, class, race, etc. doesn't matter when you're in a deadly combat zone. I think it's about a lot of things, but that's a current I see running through. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Grace, Too Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I've always seen this as one of the most direct songs the Hip has ever written; a simple story about a wealthy guy trying to convince a prostitute to come to a hotel with him. The "rules of engagement" bit may be suggesting the hint of danger in the outcome. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – The Drop-Off Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I *think* this song deals with people who refuse to listen to those in society, particularly the young, who feel they are depressed or that they are being treated unfairly. "The summer is young and nobody in a crisis", it can be hard to express sad thoughts if everyone else around you is happy, and telling you to be happy without useful advice. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Fire In The Hole Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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This song is about a neo-Nazi movement that sprung up around the time of the album; "triumphed over will" is quite likely a reference to the famous documentary produced by the party, Trimuph of the Will. Gord often calls this "the song of hate" during live shows. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Gift Shop Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I read many years ago in an interview with one Rob or Paul (can't remember exactly) where it was said that this song is essentially about Niagra Falls. Another Hip song, Daredevil, deals with it specifically. The story goes that Gord was sent letters from an elementary school class that was asked to interpret the lyrics to Daredevil, and Gift Shop was born out of that correspondance. I don't know if it's true or not but I've lived with the interpretation ever since.
I don't know what to believe,
sometimes I even forget
and if it's a lie,
terrorists made me say it
Seems to me to touch on the divide between Canada and US that the Falls partially represent. In Canada we have a habit of structuring certain social ideologies in contrast to the US, to the point where if one were to consider themselves happy with American ideology and yet live in Canada (a possibility considering the geography), one would be perpetually confused as to what to believe. |
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