Lyric discussion by vanceastro2 

Cover art for Membership lyrics by Tragically Hip, The

it seems like a song about being an alcoholic, or perhaps a recovering alcoholic (in AA maybe)

@vanceastro2 This was my impression too, that it's about alcohol/alcoholism. the river extensively referenced in the lyrics is a river of alcohol. i think the membership is supposed to represent being a "member of the club of alcoholics/addicts", by familiarity with the river/road/path that is substance abuse.