Nautical Disaster

In my humble opinion, this song has some of the best lyrics ever commited to a rock tune. To paraphrase Gord Downie, "Every Canadian band needs a song about a nautical disaster. This is Nautical Disaster."

Nautical Disaster by the Tragically Hip

I had this dream
where I relished
The fray
and the screaming filled my head all day
It was as though
I'd been spit there
settled in,
into a pocket
Of a lighthouse off some rocky socket,
Off the coast of France,
Dear

One afternoon,
four thousand men
died in the water
here
And five hundred more were thrashing madly
as parasites might
in your blood
Now I was in lifeboat
designed for ten
and ten only
Anything
that systematic
would get you hated.
It's not a deal nor a test nor a love of something fated.

The selection was quick,
the crew was picked
and those left in the water
were kicked off our pant legs

and we headed for home.

Then the dream ends
when the phone rings
You're doing alright
except it's out there,
most days and nights, but only a fool would complain

Anyway
Susan
if you like
our conversation is as faint a sound
in my memory
As those fingernails
scratching on my hull

Sick and ashamed and happy (and what's it really all about?),
d.

Great song Gin...the Hip seem to be one of those love 'em or hate 'em bands. I am definately in the love 'em camp though. One of the coolest concert moments I have had was watching them play Wheat Kings in the middle of a huge prairie field south of Calgary just as the sun was setting - it was sureal.

Is the new album any good?

Haven't heard the new album yet. To be honest, I didn't care for In Violet Light and didn't bother listening too often to Music at Work. The last album I bought was Phantom Power and then I started drifting. They've put out some great albums and some of their shows rank among the best I have ever seen, but I can't really get into their current stuff. Oh well.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and, regardless, I'll always love the Hip),
d.
--
"I was the funniest guy in the room
For half an hour or so
Pretty much until
This guy kicks me out, says it's time to go."
- The Tragically Hip