My Music At Work

I have always thought that this song has two meanings. One- Gord's music influencing and/or making us think about things we wouldn't without it, as well as his words being in our thoughts as we go through our work-a-day lives. Two- Music is the band's work, and this could also be a recipe of sorts for how they develop their songs, "avoiding trends and cliches", like so much pop culture, and making music that inspires, makes us think, or simply leaves us wondering the deeper meanings.

Gord Downie - the wise - stole the title from a radio station's tag line - then used it brilliantly to provide so many deeper meanings - each more complex than the previous, only GD himslef knows them for sure

I haven't interpreted all of this yet. But he seems to be speaking of writing music, and how his songs are useful to others.. as well as the fact that writing songs is his job. The first verse, referring to people who turn to one of his songs to get them through a rough patch. The second verse being about the act of songwriting.. and the "sunlight" hitting the olive oil, seems to be a metaphor for inspiration, and that you have to act on that immediately, no matter what time it is, or what other things you're doing.

The third verse seems to be referring to a cloud trying not to be a cloud, it doesn't work. Songwriting is something he has to do, and answering the call of inspiration, he has no choice. Olga can't wait, and neither can Gord :)

etc etc... i think it all refers to the main them in some way. My favorite verse is the Olga Waits verse.. "The cloud that entertains the dim possibility of showing some restraint." Haha, what a great phrase, and well placed rhythmically in the tune.

I love trying to figure out what Gord is trying to say in all the hip's songs. its a bit of a challenge. I think you hit the nail right on the head CanadianJAY.

it's about being alone, either at work working overtime or whatever, music is your only friend, getting you through the tough times. "outside the darkness lurks" is a great line.

I feel that it means, that the music he listens to work is so much different than the music he would listen to at home. He's stuck at work and is forced to listen to something he normally would not, so he puts up with it, and sings along to it.

This song is about the process of recording in the studio, late at night (in the rain) and the lonely feeling of trying to create something meaningful while feeling rather small. It is work1

I think it is about what Gord thinks the purpose of his music is. It seems to be about a guy working the night shift and his only companion is his music, specifically The Hip's music. It seems like a kind of janitorial job. "You're all alone and dummies might be right." The person is thinking about his life decisions and maybe not taking some advice throughout his life. "The anatomy of a stain"."In a sink full of ganges, I'd remain". The latter is basically saying sink full of crap (The Ganges river in India is notoriously pollluted). The person is basically day dreaming about all sorts of think, the rain failling outside, the "star beyond the chart" etc.

I have listened to this song so many times since I was captivated by it in concert. As others have said, it does deeply express the amount of thought, effort, struggle, and uncertainty with the making of a hit. I find the " sink full of Ganges " part very captivating, as getting toward the end of the song he is saying that he will still remain no matter what you have heard. Symbols to near or far or an anatomy of a stain show that he can appeal to a wide audience. Symbols can be domestic or global, and can even describe the creation or explanation of things not so pleasant like stains in a " societal " sense. This can even mean he is talking about all of their songs and how they are created, at this point in the band's history.