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One Great City! Lyrics
Late afternoon, another day is nearly done. A darker gray is breaking through a lighter one. A thousand sharpened elbows in the underground. That hollow hurried sound of feet on polished floor, and in the Dollar Store the clerk is closing up, and counting Loonies, trying not to say, "I hate Winnipeg." The driver checks the mirror, seven minutes late. The crowded riders' restlessness enunciates that the Guess Who suck, the Jets were lousy anyway. The same route every day. And in the turning lane, someone's stalled again. He's talking to himself, and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase: "I hate Winnipeg." And up above us all, leaning into sky, our Golden Business Boy will watch the North End die, and sing "I love this town," then let his arcing wrecking ball proclaim, "I hate Winnipeg."
Song Info
Submitted by
lakeoffire23 On Apr 09, 2004
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Im in love with a boy who is close friends with these guys and I found out exactly what the song is about, not that its hard to figure out. Basically on the subject of this song they have this to say "it's about every town"
Every town is someones Winnipeg.
@criminaleyes Hello, I am a high school student and I am doing a project on this song. Could you please tell me more about the deeper meaning of this song and how the writer thinks of it? Thank you, this would be truly helpful.
@criminaleyes Hello, I am a high school student and I am doing a project on this song. Could you please tell me more about the deeper meaning of this song and how the writer thinks of it? Thank you, this would be truly helpful.
Oddly enough, this song makes me want to move to Winnepeg. I enjoy that melancholy love-hate feeling; it's one that can only be temporarily cured by falling asleep next to the fireplace. It's inspiring to me.
The line "1000 sharpened elbows in the underground" is a reference to the underground mall in Winnipeg called Winnipeg Square, but nicknamed "the underground". This mall is directly underneath Winnipeg's downtown and major office buildings. The vast majority of people who go to the underground are uptight business people (hence 1000 sharpened elbows).
Obviously this song is about Winnipeg and the people in it, but I also think it's about being in a place, like mental state, and not being able to leave. You hate being there, and it's always the same things over and over while you're there, but you're stuck.
Completely agree. At face value the song is demonstrating his frustration and dislike for the city of Winnipeg. However, on a deeper level, I would agree with you that his opinion of Winnipeg acts as a metaphor for a 'mental rut' so to speak. A state of mind where the emotions you're feeling leave you feeling stuck, depressed and frustrated
Completely agree. At face value the song is demonstrating his frustration and dislike for the city of Winnipeg. However, on a deeper level, I would agree with you that his opinion of Winnipeg acts as a metaphor for a 'mental rut' so to speak. A state of mind where the emotions you're feeling leave you feeling stuck, depressed and frustrated
I think that this song hits living in Winnipeg right on the head. Most Winnipeggers have a love/hate feeling about their city. So much to rundown about it but people stay and if they move away, they move back. Fave line is, 'darker gray is breaking through a lighter one'
I'm not sure if this is specifically even about Winnipeg; Winnipeg is just a sort of microcosm of any city in the world (or maybe just Canada). We all have a sort of love-hate relationships with our hometown, and this song kind of plays off on that idea.
It is an absolutely beautiful song, though.
This song needs to be in a film. It's perfect for the screen.
I live in Winnipeg and can definately relate....
Yes! Winnipeg! Definitely a love/hate relaionship with the city. Most people I know do. Winnipeg is boring, most of the time. And cold. And just...Winnipeg.
hehe i live in winnipeg and that song is so true. some days it's just so awesome living here but other days it feels so repetitive and blargh. and for those of you who don't know -- north end is the rougher part of winnipeg, and the golden boy is this golden (duh..) statue on the legislature roof.. so you kinda get the contrast.
however i think my love-hate relationship with winnipeg right now is more on the "love" side.. so many good bands are coming to play here lately.. motley crue, metallica, aerosmith, rod stewart, cher and village people (ok.. not so good), and green day + my chemical romance!!