The Tragically Hip Trivia Questions & Answers : Page 3

The band released their self-titled EP "The Tragically Hip" in 1987. "Up to Here" was released in 1989.

This is one of several songs that began as improvisation during one of the band's most popular songs, "New Orleans is Sinking". During the bridge of that song, lead singer Gord Downie would improvise and come up with all kinds of interesting lyrics and stories. Gord Downie tragically died of brain cancer in October 2017 and the day after his death was announced, "Ahead by a Century" was the song most played on Canadian radio.

Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie has stated publicly that "Pigeon Camera" was an impromptu song performed during a concert about the controversial subject of "spying" and "incest". It was initially an account of the childhood of their road manager Dave Powell.

As the nature of this subject is taboo, a more literal reference of "Pigeon Camera" relates to how pigeons were once used for military purposes during the Second World War. Easy to train, pigeons often had cameras attached to their bodies and were used to complete reconnaissance work during the war.

"Where's our pigeon camera,
by now he could be anywhere
and after all that training.
And after all that training, (And after all that training)
With something we could no longer contain. (We could no longer contain)"

The game was held in Ottawa, and the Toronto Argonauts beat the BC Lions 27-19.
The Hip performed "Gus, The Polar Bear From Central Park" and "Courage".

Released in 1998, "Phantom Power" was the sixth full-length album by the Tragically Hip. It won a Juno Award for Best Rock Album, and one for Best Album Design. One of the singles on the album, "Bobcaygeon" also won the Juno Award for Single of the Year in 2000.

"Cuz as soon as Joni says 'blue'
You're somewhere else"

This lyric from the song is in reference to Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell. "Blue" was a newer album, that parted from the "hippie" scene to which she had up to then been associated. The album was released in 1971 and featured such songs as "Blue," "This Flight Tonight," and "California."

This particular quote, to me, represents a commentary on human nature. When the proverbial droppings hit the equally non-existent spinning blades, each person is out for themselves, no matter how much they claimed to be loyal. Maybe a vein of innate betrayal in these words. Couldn't find any explanations, really, for the song as a whole (as is the case for many Hip lyrics), so my interpretation will have to satisfy.

Lacross eis actually Canada's official national sport. Hockey is what the song is about and the sport is usually associated with Canada. There is a line in the song "I stole this from a hockey card". I loved this song live!

The band played on "Saturday Night Live" in 1995 because fellow Canadian Dan Aykroyd, who was a huge fan of the band, was the host and brought them along. One of the songs they played was "Grace, Too". During live performances of the song, lead singer Gord Downie would often change the first line from "He said I'm fabulously rich" to "He said I'm Tragically Hip" and that's what he did that night as he introduced the band to an American audience.

Gord Downie, while most notable for being a singer, also spent some time studying film and performing in the film industry. He had a cameo appearance in the film "Men With Brooms" and has also appeared in "The Big Dirty". While not noted in the music notes, the lyrics to the song have been written in a style called "Roman a clef". Roman a clef is a French term meaning "novel with a key". This refers to novel written about "real life" but also has hints of fiction within it. One of the most famous examples of this style of film or writing is Orson Welles film "Citizen Kane".

"I can't draw, but I can trace (I can't draw, but I can trace)
I know a lack I've got, (I know a lack I've got)
an abundance of extra space (an abundance of extra space)
Cold wind blowing over your private parts (Cold wind blowing over your private parts)
I know a lack you've got is to make a strong case for art (I know a lack you've got is to make a strong case for art)

Lionized (Lionized)"

The members of the band are lead singer Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker, drummer Johnny Fay and bassist Gord Sinclair.