Courage (For Hugh Maclennan)

The reference to Hugh MacLennan leads to what the song is all about.

The third stanza is lifted almost directly from MacLennan's novel, The Watch that Ends the Night: "But that night as I drove back to Montreal I at least discovered this: that there's no simple explanation for anything important any of us do, and that the human tragedy, or the human irony, consists in the necessity of living with the consequences of actions performed under the pressure of compulsions so obscure we do not and cannot understand them."

The novel deals with a man who marries his childhood sweetheart (who is in poor health) after her husband is reported killed in the war. The husband's return precipitates a crisis.

The song more or less expresses what the novel is all about. Courage couldn't come at a worse time, but also, it didn't come when it was needed. It isn't about living with the consequences of doing something terrible so much as it's about living with the consequences of the ordinary decisions we make, and equally, regretting what we fail to do.

Thought you'd like to know.....Sarah Polley, the Canadian actress, does a beautiful version of this song, in thr film, "The Sweet Hereafter" In fact, the whole soundtrack to the film is gorgeous. Check it out...

Makes the hair on your neck stand on your end, and a shiver down your spine.

well, to me personally, it kind of sums up something of a problem of mine, that is that whenever i should do something... i can't i get nervous over analyze and freeze, but it doesn't really matter, life goes on (Courage, my word, it didn't come, it doesn't matterr) But when, in hindsight, i never should have reacted i have all the courage in the world... (Courage, it couldn't come at a worse time). hah this is a problem of mine that has almost ruined my life on many occasions - it's eerie to see it summed up in a song

Courage, like wonderdog said is in fact about living with the consequences of our ordinary decisions. Not what we have done, but what we are presently doing. Living with the future instead of the mistakes in our passed. Learning how to deal with failure. Courage can not be summoned or depended on, so you have to deal with your bad choices and act upon them. However, Gord is a poet. And poetry was made so people could take it and turn it into something they can relate to. Thus creating endless possibilities to poetry. So, do the hip have endless possibilities to many of there songs? Of course they do. The meaning solely depends on how we as individuals decode them.

For me, the lyrics intertwine Gord Downie’s personal reflections with MacLennan’s existential themes. It becomes a song that is as much about overcoming the immediate challenges of performance as it is about the lifelong struggle to find meaning and courage in the face of fear and doubt. It's this duality that makes the song timeless and so profoundly relatable.

The first verse describes the pressure young bands are under to play only covers.

"Watch the band through a bunch of dancers / Quickly, follow the unknown with something more familiar"
The opening lines evoke the band’s early days playing in bars, where the audience’s focus was more on having fun than truly listening to the music. The demand for "something more familiar" reflects the pressure to play cover songs to keep patrons engaged. I think it was Gord Sinclair that said the band would try to pass off original songs as covers of obscure songs by famous groups, such as the Doors or the Rolling Stones.

In the second verse, Gord expresses a sense of alienation while out on the road.

"Sleepwalk, so fast asleep / In a motel that has the lay of home"
This is the disconnection and fatigue of life on the road. I have to think that after a while of being constantly on the road, the never-changing layout of motel rooms would start to feel like home.

"Piss on all of your background / And piss on all your surroundings"
I have two minds on this. The first is that it's a reference to frustrations being amplified on the road - and getting to the point of giving the world a big FU. But on the other hand, maybe this is about possession, and laying claim to everything.

The Chorus is about the experience of facing stage fright and pushing through.

"Courage, my word / It didn't come, it doesn't matter"
The fear peaks before the show, but "it doesn't matter" because the band still performs. This line underscores resilience—the act of stepping on stage and delivering despite the fear.

"Courage, it couldn't come at a worse time"
What a line. It reflects the anticipatory nature of stage fright, which strikes at the worst possible moment — just before a performance. But once the show begins, fear can be transformed and replaced by the flow and energy of performing. The act of playing becomes its own form of courage. So courage does come, but not when it's needed most - when the fear is felt.

The next section paraphrases a portion of Hugh MacLennan's novel, "The Watch That Ends the Night." And it alludes to a lot of the themes of the novel, weaving in Hugh's exploration of existential struggles, moral responsibility, and living with the consequences of one's actions.

"The Watch That Ends the Night" explores existential questions, moral responsibility, and the weight of choices. In the song, Gord weaves this into the broader themes of perseverance and resilience.

The beauty of "Courage" lies in its ability to resonate on multiple levels. Leaving out MacLennan’s influence, the song is a deeply personal reflection on the struggles of a young band - with unique pressures, anxiety, and a disorienting life of touring. With the literary layer added, the song also takes on a philosophical depth, connecting personal struggles to universal truths about resilience and the human condition.

Courage, It couldn't come at a worst time! It never comes at the right times. Gordie writes amazing songs, and tells everything how it is. The Hip rules!

I agree with the drinking fighter. It is a scary tune after one reads the lyrics. It's about a man doing something so severe he could never live it down. Can anyone say doing time?

Wonderdog is a smart doggie. Excellent job tying the song, the novel and Gordie's insights together.

that explanes why on the live album version of this song, Gordie talks about "good old montreal". great song, as usual from the Hip. all their live stuff rocks!