I found this article, an interview with Randy Bachman. According to Bachman, Burton Cummings got the idea for the song from the following:
"He had a party one night that went all night long and he didn't get any sleep. He went to a radio station the next morning for an interview and was a little bit [out of] form before going on. He could hardly see straight. They said to him, 'When the flashing light comes on, that means you're on the air.' The thing flashed 'Alert Flasher,' and he thought it was 'Albert Flasher' and he said 'What is this thing that says 'Albert Flasher?' over the air!"
@GreenElfin -- Yep; Cummings told that same story when he appeared at the Taste of Colorado a couple years ago. He also explained that it's bizarre song that isn't intended to make a lot of sense.
@GreenElfin -- Yep; Cummings told that same story when he appeared at the Taste of Colorado a couple years ago. He also explained that it's bizarre song that isn't intended to make a lot of sense.
I found this article, an interview with Randy Bachman. According to Bachman, Burton Cummings got the idea for the song from the following:
"He had a party one night that went all night long and he didn't get any sleep. He went to a radio station the next morning for an interview and was a little bit [out of] form before going on. He could hardly see straight. They said to him, 'When the flashing light comes on, that means you're on the air.' The thing flashed 'Alert Flasher,' and he thought it was 'Albert Flasher' and he said 'What is this thing that says 'Albert Flasher?' over the air!"
http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/2003/March/19/arts_and_entertainment1.htm
It doesn't explain the rest of the song, though!
@GreenElfin -- Yep; Cummings told that same story when he appeared at the Taste of Colorado a couple years ago. He also explained that it's bizarre song that isn't intended to make a lot of sense.
@GreenElfin -- Yep; Cummings told that same story when he appeared at the Taste of Colorado a couple years ago. He also explained that it's bizarre song that isn't intended to make a lot of sense.