The Tragically Hip: 50 Mission Cap (Amazing story in a song!): Reaction

[@j.c.a2872]

Not sure if you guys are aware but today (Oct. 17) is the anniversary of Gord's passing; so perfect timing on The Hip week. CHEERS !!!!!

[@BrianR.]

Didn't know that, thanks.

[@TheThamesmen]

That is awesome! RIP Gord

[@brendagustavson7460]

The song's actually about a hat. Fight pilots during the 2nd World War wore caps wire wire supports that would get crushed over time by the headsets. "I worked it in to look like that". He crushed his hat to look like it was aged and exprerienced. "I stole this from a hockey card I keep tucked up under.." He keeps the Bill Barilko hockey card in his cool 50 mission cap. Childhood memories become lyrical genius. Gord Downey was a Canadian poet, just like Stompin' Tom. Both sadly missed, both greatly loved.

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

Don’t joke about the song 'Fiddlers Green' if it should be on your list. Otherwise you’re pretty safe. - while Gord Downie was admired for his somewhat crazed persona on stage, off stage he was beloved for his kindness, thoughtfulness and working with many environmental and humanitarian causes. The many obituaries from so many sources were notable in that so many people were too overwhelmed by his achievements that they just resorted to telling personal stories of the times they met him. He was an extraordinary guy.

[@shneizah]

Some more song context, from Wiki: "The song's lyrics and title also reference a military cap, which became known as a 50 mission cap, and crush cap during World War II. The "fifty mission cap" or "crush cap" was just a standard issue military peaked cap, still widely used by modern military forces. These were worn by both fighter pilots and bomber crews. The terms "50 mission cap" and "crush cap" came from the look these caps gained after much wear. The wire crown stiffener was removed to allow the top of the hat to "crush" so headphones could be worn in the cockpit. The aged and worn look of the cap was thus a status symbol, and according to Downie the intended theme in the lyrics was that junior pilots would work their caps in to look like fifty mission caps, "so as to appear that you had more experience than you really did"." It's my 50 mission cap. I worked it in to look like that.

[@davechattoe9144]

This is PURE Canadian song and thank you for giving this a chance. It was from a lost time when there was no cameras and Tik Tok brain, but if you were a part of that time in Canada, it was almost religious.

[@philpaine3068]

Awhile back I had an article in an American magazine in which I tried to explain what The Hip meant to Canadians. I wrote: "I can tell you from the experience of hitch-hiking across the country that the people who were likely to give me a ride, when I stood forlorn and mosquito-bitten on the dusty shoulder of the Trans-Canada Highway, like as not had a Hip cassette playing in their car or truck, and a bunch of them scattered on the front seat, which they hastily gathered up to let me sit." I'm sure you know the story of their last tour, of Gord Downie's illness and the Prime Minister calling a press conference to announce the death of "Our buddy Gord, who loved this country with everything he had.." I'm sure you know of his final project, The Secret Path, which forced our nation to face up to its greatest crime and showed the path to healing it. The truth is that what was remarkable about The Hip was that they --- and all the band members are the same in this --- poured equal energy into creating their art and to being decent human beings. There was never any doubt about this, from the moment they played their first gig. I have always loved Midnight Oil and Crowded House, both bands having been very popular in Canada.. it was the first place they toured after the first album. You are perfectly right in seeing a common thread in the music of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and that thread is their authenticity. "Beds are Burning," "Don't Dream It's Over," "Diesel and Dust," "Something So Strong," "Blue Sky Mine," "Better Be Home Soon" --- these all have the same straight-from-the-heart truth as Hip songs do. Throw in Split Enz, Yothu Yindi and Hunters & Collectors. It's all about keeping your feet on the ground and your head in the stars, and giving a shit.

[@BrianR.]

Enjoyed you comments, thanks!

[@jomojojo6603]

The guy has a cap. And he puts a hockey card on to maintain the shape. So, then he takes that story, with the story of the hockey player on the back of the card...and makes a song about it. This has to be one of the very best song origins of all time.

[@51actual]

More complicated than that. He is pretending to be a bomber pilot. He isn't. He's a faker.

[@torchmark66]

Met Gord Downie (and the band) a number of times and watched many interviews. Off stage, he is completely different than on stage. Very understated, quiet, gentle voice. Thinks before he speaks. One of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet, really. You get his full attention, even a member of a crappy bar band. Still almost... 'intense' in his presence though.

[@KilgourTrout64410]

I'm the same age as Gord Downey and I only started listening to the Hip the year he died. 😓 What a beautiful gift it was to dive into everything the Hip meant to us as Canadians and like a kid be experiencing the music like it was brand new.

[@TheThamesmen]

Good times discovering this. was amazing week for us

[@paulvez6296]

In 1991 they played 3 nights at the Spectrum in Montreal which was a small venue holding 800 people. After their first night the Montreal Gazette wrote "the hip lack intensity" in the review's headline which was b.s. cause I was there and went to all 3 shows. Then the second show started with Gordie saying into the microphone "so we lack intensity hey?" before the first note. Then they blew the roof off the Spectrum... again

[@pairokeet]

I saw them perform live many times in several different countries. Large stages and small stages. Inside and outside. I had the privilege of meeting and speaking to the band and Gord Downie and Gord was very shy and soft spoken. Wonderful people and one of the greatest bands ever

[@TheThamesmen]

Cool!

[@canuckled]

50 Mission Cap has been entered into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I'm surprised you didn't mention who Daniel Lanois is, the legendary music producer who has worked with U2 and many other for decades.

[@TheThamesmen]

I didn't know that - Many thanks

[@jaycmacg]

@@TheThamesmen Yeah, Lanois and Brian Eno teamed up producing for years. First on Eno's early ambient stuff, then many U2 albums starting with Joshua Tree, Peter Gabriel stuff, Willy Nelson and others...prodigious partnership!

[@mic7504]

While he was producing Joshua Tree he started production of the fantastic Robbie Robertson self titled solo album. He brought Robbie over to Ireland and recorded at U2's studio. And was able to engage all of U2 to play as a back-up band as Bono sang the back-up vocals on two tracks. Later Peter Gabriel joined for one of Robbie's tracks as well. Daniel won Grammys and Juno's for Joshua Tree and Robbie Robertson over the next two year. Three years later he won again for Peter Gabrial's So. @@jaycmacg

[@canadianhexe6002]

The song lyrics about Bill are literally from the back of a hockey card. "I stole this from a hockey card". One of their biggest hits in Canada.

[@TheThamesmen]

How crazy

[@okazon69]

The Tragically Hip and Midnight Oil were on the Another Roadside Attraction tour together in 1993 (along with others), so it makes total sense they'd collaborate on a song about something they both cared deeply about.

[@btnordal]

I believe a fifty mission cap refers to the cap WW2 airmen got when they completed 50 bombing sorties. Not a lot of those caps around.

[@dougwestoby6632]

The best part about the live performances from The Hip is that Gord and the band brought it like this, with all the energy in the world, night after night for 40+ years. Every time i was lucky enough to witness a tragically hip concert it was this same energy. They never performed a song exactly the same way twice. Imagine over 100 concerts a year with this energy... Absolutly amazing band!

[@TheThamesmen]

So sorry we missed out

[@79Gordo]

I grew up a massive hip fan and always believed midnight oil was another Canadian band as they played sooo many shows together over the years

[@williamdemerchant7295]

When the Thamesmen were referring to England's 1966 World Cup Win it triggered my memory to the Hip song Fireworks, which mentions the winning goal of the 1972 Canada Soviet Union hockey series. 🇨🇦🏒 Enjoying Hip week. Keep 'em comin' guys!

[@75direwolf]

So glad you were introduced to “Land.” My very first Tragically Hip show was the one and only time “Land” was performed live (the final show of the Another Roadside Attraction tour).

[@janicemackie611]

I worked on their production team for two shows north of Montreal , Quebec in the 2004, 2006 at an outdoor event bar… some amazing memories with the nicest guys ever… Gord was slightly manic on stage but very quiet and private off stage… they put Canadian history you would never hear about into songs….RIP Gord…. In Gord We Trust..❤

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

It may be an oddball observation, but something I’ve always admired about the Hip are their instruments. In this video you see Gord Sinclair has already found his G&L bass, I think that Tele that Paul is playing continued to be used, but he almost always plays an LP, and Rob is playing the Strat he was known for for years until his PRS came along. None of them are signature models, none of them are anything but workhorse guitars. Despite covering a vast range of musical styles over the years, they cover it all with what most bands would consider the most basic of tools. This sort of philosophy is capped of with Johnny, if you watch their early gigs, you'll see him playing the drums and if you watch their very last gig, you'll see him playing the drums. There are very few rock drummers who can still be seen after a couple of years in the business, as they tend to disappear behind increasing layers of toms and cymbals. Their instruments were never iconic, fans didn’t show up expecting to see a particular guitar like they do for some bands, fans didn’t crane to see what pedals they were using or ask questions about what strings they used. As musicians the Hip pretty much drove 'trucks' and always got the job done.

[@rw2452]

Dude, that is so true. When I was in my late teens reading guitar magazines, I'd never come across an article on the Hip (American publication). It always mystified me what guitars they use and preferences. Thanks for the insight.

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

Paul usually plays a Les Paul and a Tele, Rob has a Tele, but used a Strat which still comes out for a few songs when he’s not playing his PRS. Gord almost always plays his G&L SB-2 (?) but I’ve seen him play a semi- acoustic bass for a couple of songs. - I’ve never looked into what they play, it’s just there - and I think Rob has often used Yamaha acoustics? But as I said, what impresses me is how bare their stage is. @@rw2452

[@willis2920]

As a side note, that Thames graphic at the beginning reminds me of my youth watching Benny Hill! Hip forever

[@TheThamesmen]

I know!!!

[@jethro1963]

One of the most iconic idents, for me the show is The World at War

[@paulagwhyte1720]

Off stage, he's very quiet and shy. He doesn't do interviews well and doesn't like to talk about himself, but he's honest and polite, except for the cursing. But we all do that. The band absolutely love each other, they've been friends since they were young and they are more like brothers than brothers. Once, Gord was asked why he doesn't go out on his own and leave the rest of the band behind and he answered simply, "Because I love them." They wouldn't work apart so well apart because they can read each other so well. They are too in tune with each other.

[@swiss86]

the SNL performance of "Grace, Too" is another AMAZING live video.

[@northlander4370]

Bill Barilko scored the Stanley cup winning goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951 , later he went on a fly in fishing trip . the plane crashed in the deep bush 62 miles north of Cochrane, Ontario . The line , "they did not win another , until he was discovered " ,refers to when the crash site and Bariko,s body and that of the pilot were discovered eleven years later. The Leafs won the Stanley cup again the year the crash site was found in the deep bush !

[@TheThamesmen]

Wow. Crazy

[@ourlittleadventures519]

Boys, keep listening to The Hip, you'll only come to appreciate and become a fan of theirs. Great music to come. 😊 Victor, Langley City, BC Canada 🇨🇦

[@TheThamesmen]

Good plan! Thank you

[@Smallmouthbass]

I was at an outdoor show in Markam Ontario around 1994 and went to buy a 50 Mission Cap baseball hat during the show, but was saddened to find they were sold out. To this day, wish I would have gone to buy one earlier. Great show with Midnight Oil and Pursuit of Happiness from the front row, 20' from Gord!!

[@game_4_growth]

I still have mine! It has definitely been on at least 50 missions.

[@rmurphy4299]

Great week men (LOVING the live tracks) See you in a couple of months for MORE Hip......POETS & AT THE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN. They would have killed it at the ROUNDHOUSE opening for the Count Bishops or in CANVEY teaming with the Feelgoods)

[@TheThamesmen]

Stick around. Who knows what comes up next!

[@rmurphy4299]

Great......I'll wait for you Down at the Doctors🚑

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

The Leafs regularly play this track during their warm ups. On display in the arena are the hand written lyrics, given by Gord. Like most stadiums, the Leafs is multi-purpose. It will be completely stripped for other sports and events. When the Hip played there, the stadium would leave Barilkos banner up. When Gord died, sports broadcasters on both sides of the border paid tribute. With the bulk of the NHL consisting of Canadian players, the Hip became a fixture of the NHL, with their music a fixture in NHL dressing rooms.

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpioqHSgbdRrpLcsi=fc4dnwdkzDgaOngK

[@andreadee1567]

I cannot explain why this music sounds familiar and foreign at the same time to me. And the bonus was b-b-beautiful.

[@BrianR.]

I forgot to mention that Daniel Lanois, who is part of the band on the second track, he's the guy with the durag who sings at first, is a very famous Canadian music producer who produced such albums as U2's Joshua Tree, Peter Gabriel's So and Us albums, Bob Dylan's Oh Mercy album and Robbie Robertson's debut solo album among others. How's that for a long sentence.

[@btnordal]

I just finished the video, two thumbs up, and saw the bonus where they were singing about the clear cutting of the rainforest around Clayoquot sound. I live in Vancouver but as of right this minute I’m literally 20km away from Clayoquot sound. My wife and I are staying a few days at a resort at Cox Bay near Tofino BC. (Brag) It’s a surfers paradise. Truly, look it up, it’s as rugged and wild a place as you’ve ever heard of out here on the far left coast of Canada. An atmospheric river has dumped 100 mm of rain on us in a day and a half. We hiked in an ancient rain forest today amongst trees so friggin big it blows your mind. Come visit the west coast of Canada. It’s a real palate cleanser for the soul out here. They still log here, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was in the 80’s and 90’s.

[@BrianR.]

Great reaction guys, thanks. Just assume everyone dies in these videos, including the trees, that's your best bet. The Hip have 13 studio albums in total. I saw them Live on this tour, but unfortunately they didn't have Midnight Oil with them by the time they toured Eastern Canada.

[@csn10]

Excellent choices again Brian! I had no idea the collaboration existed and to see Peter Garrett alongside Gord Downie just makes so much sense. Who would have thought they would cancel out each others 'weirdness', which I'm a huge fan of, so hopefully you have another video up your sleeve where their personalities are amplified. I get it for the case of this song, but would love to see Downie joining Garrett on Blue Sky Mine or Nautical Disaster.

[@vaudreelavallee3757]

Barikow is a Ukrainian name. Canada has the third largest Ukrainian population in the world. This is only one of two songs I know of that was written about Barikow. The second was, ironically, written by the Member of Timmins-James Bay. Barikow grew up in a mining town. The Bill Barilko Song -- Charlie Angus and the Grievous Angels

[@robertfraser845]

the hip are one of those very very rare bands that sound just as good live as they do on each album what a class act all of them are

[@craigmorris4083]

I was there for this show. Wonderful memories.

[@BrianR.]

It sure looked like a wild time..

[@sean---the-other-one]

Loved it. Seems fitting that they connected with the Oils. I could definitely hear some similar approaches in their music. Also heard aspects of R.E.M., at least the stuff that I've heard from R.E.M. I'm surprised these guys weren't bigger in Australia, since it's definitely the sort of pub-rock that Aussies would appreciate.

[@TheThamesmen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bob2shred894]

This is my favorite thamesman week yet

[@stevemartin9688]

Thanks guys. Been a Hip fan since before they were the Hip. I have never seen this before.

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks for watching and stay tuned for tomorrow... More Hip

[@briz1965]

Bought all the CDs when i arrived in Canada from Notts in 1990. Lifetime obsession - 50 in Hockey is something he's referring to i think as he was a goalie too. You need to react to New Orleans is Sinking Killer Whale Tank version. Met thehip in Manchster on a trip back, hail South Porcupine TTH.

[@TheThamesmen]

Great stories and info. Thanks

[@lencooke944]

I think I might have said this in relation to another song of theirs (a few months back), but in 50 Mission Cap, Gord was giving me really strong Michael Stipe vibes again. In yesterday's video I got hints of Doc Neeson, it's almost like Gord Downie is an amalgam of every distinctive frontman of the past 50 years. The Hip are a seriously good band, and I am mad at myself for not discovering them earlier. On a side note, in 1990 (or maybe 1991) I saw Hothouse Flowers play one song in the BBC studios in London as they were the musical guest on an Australian nighttime variety show (The Steve Vizard Show) that was taken to England for a week of live via satellite shows. I was in the audience for one of these shows and the Flowers played their cover of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now". They actually played live and sounded fantastic.

[@norinecook844]

Yes Gord can be similar to Michael Stipe

[@williamdemerchant7295]

A treasure that Canadians hoarded and enjoyed for thirty years. RIP Gord.

[@wjadam024]

True story.

[@brianparsa7794]

Wow, thank you Brian, Chris, Alex, and George! Two very good songs here!

[@TheThamesmen]

Glad you like them!

[@rickfairman5640]

You take a great lead singer a band that has been together from their beginning very tight add in the number of songs that deal with social issues and you have the Hip. As I said day one the hip were a band that grew on me over a period of time. I’m all in now. Great sound great presentation

[@CiPhEr505]

Downie snidely calls it "Flag on your knapsack", because so many Americans "put the 🍁flag on their baggage when going overseas" to not be treated like assholes

[@mic7504]

Bill Barilko disappeared that summer He was on a fishing trip The last goal he ever scored Won the Leafs the cup They didn't win another till nineteen sixty two The year he was discovered I stole this from a hockey card I keeped tucked up under My fifty-mission cap I worked it in I worked it in to look like that It's my fifty-mission cap It's his fifty-mission cap And I worked it in I worked it in And I worked it in to look like that And I worked it in to look like that Bill Barilko disappeared that summer (in nineteen fifty one) He was on a fishing trip (in a plane) The last goal he ever scored (in over time) Won the Leafs the cup They didn't win another till nineteen sixty two The year he was discovered In my fifty-mission cap I worked it in I worked it in to look like that It's my fifty-mission cap It's his fifty-mission cap And I worked it in I worked it in And I worked it in to look like that And I worked it in to look like that It's my fifty-mission cap It's my fifty-mission cap It's my fifty-mission cap It's my fifty-mission cap Classic Gordan taking inspiration from an every-day encounter with a Hockey Card.

[@BrianR.]

Thanks for posting the lyrics.

[@mic7504]

The opening lyrics come straight from Bill Barilko's hockey trading card. The fifty mission cap perhaps refers to the young pilot flying the plane that day. Suggesting he was not as experienced as he needed to be to be flying a pontoon plane into a fishing lodge in Norther Ontario. It is often quoted that during the Second World War Canadian Bomber Pilots were required to fly 50 missions before being removed from combat. A young pilot might work his cap in to look like it had been worn under the pilots headphones for many missions in order to fit in more with the experienced crews. Gord once described a kid he met with a cool looking ball cap. The kid quoted the "I worked it in" line. Which demonstrates Gord's talent for finding authenticity for his lyrics in conversations with other people. Which makes his briliannt story telling that much more vibrant. @@BrianR.

[@LARENLM]

Hip Week here ❤️ So many great songs with The Hip. My favourites are Grace, Too and It’s a Good Life if you Don’t Weaken. Thx Brian.

[@BrianR.]

Glad you're enjoying it so far!

[@sushimaster77]

To me, this song is about Gord experiencing imposter syndrome. Apparently, a fifty mission cap refers to a military cap worn aboard allied bombers during world war 2, and the more worn out your cap, the more missions you had been on. New airforce members would "work in" their new caps so they looked more experienced. Gord swipes the verse lyrics from a hockey card, and then calls it his 50 mission cap. I wonder if he is saying that he doesn't always know what he's doing.

[@catherinemallette7490]

lol yes Gord was unique on stage for sure ! If you’re interested you can dig a bit deeper and into his life and you’ll find an intelligent, poetic man. His support of indigenous rights in Canada was incessant

[@mikerichardson7053]

Great song of their best album

[@chewbacca1271]

Just ❤ your open8ng!

[@TheThamesmen]

X

[@wiseonelol25]

It's probably a good idea to point out how important the Toronto Maple Leafs are, not only to Toronto, but to the entire country, not to mention the sport of hockey as a whole! Before the NHL expanded in '67, and even to a few years later, only 2 of the original 6 teams, and then the expanded 12 teams, Canada's hockey fans were of divided loyalties primarily based on language - English vs French - with the other team, still the most decorated team even to the present, the Montreal Canadiens (yes, spelled 'iEns', not 'iAns')! From the predominantly French province of Quebec! Still, even to this day, even now with 5 other Canadian teams, the loyalties still run back for generations, and the Leafs are still 'Canada's team', so to speak,with huge followings of fans across the country, and sometimes dominating the stands when the the Leafs play in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary or Ottawa. And now, considering they have one of the longest championship droughts of any team in any professional sport anywhere (they last won the Cup in '67), the Leafs always face the question - "IS THIS THE YEAR?" You're not missing the irony in that, after winning in '51, that fateful year Barilko lost his life after scoring the winning goal for the Stanley Cup that season they went on a drought of 11 years and didn't win again until '62, the very year Barilko was found! (sidenote: The Stanley Cup, easily the most beautiful championship trophy in the world, gets passed around from player to player on the winning team who each have a day or two to take it to their hometown to celebrate with their friends and families),

[@paulvez6296]

Well, being a Montreal Canadiens fan the Toronto Maple Leafs are important to us Habs fans so that the rivalry can be one of the greatest in sports history. It goes against my DNA but I hope the Leafs get to enjoy winning the Cup in color one day 😉. And I agree 1000% the Stanley Cup is the most beautiful trophy in sports. But I kinda disagree with the language issue. I'm pretty sure that there's a good proportion of Habs fans that are English speaking Canadians. They drown out the home teams fans when the Habs are in Calgary or Edmonton. Since there's about 20% to 25% of Canadians that are French speaking I wouldn't be surprised if the English speaking Habs fans outnumbered the French speaking Habs fans.

[@wiseonelol25]

@@paulvez6296 I appreciate the sentiment of the Leafs finally ending the drought some time soon. Fyi, I made my living in hockey for 4 decades, and despite bleeding blue and white for the Leafs, I'm not one of those Habs haters, but I have great respect for their history, for their ability to win a bunch of Cups even after all the expansion! One of my biggest disappointments came in '93 when the Leafs should have beaten the Kings, and we were denied a Toronto - Montreal Stanley Cup Final!!!! Considering the divisional alignments now, that will never happen again unfortunately! Would love to see the Habs come back up as one of the top teams in the league - they've done too much losing in the last several years, and the game of hockey would be much better off if they were contenders!

[@scifimonkey3]

Yet another example of the Thamesmen ‘laughing in the face of death’😂. Please never read out any notes about me!

[@TheThamesmen]

Good point!

[@paulagwhyte1720]

Seeing those magnificent trees fall was heartbreaking! And you're right, I love Australian music!

[@TheThamesmen]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Veggamattic]

I saw them twice on this tour...Them and Hothouse Flowers were much better than Midnight Oil.

[@toddashton9696]

really wish you would feature some studio tracks rather than live performances

[@TheThamesmen]

Hi Todd. I get it, but it's a different craft and format. Both are important, but one is pieced bit by bit until perfect, whilst the other is no hiding and is sometimes captured as how the musicians wanted it, not quantized, not edited, but alive with room to breathe; the tempo speeds up as the band gets excited. I've done Studio work, and its a totally different format and outcome. Most musicians always prefer the live version, they love to perform, and they bounce off the crowd. I also want to do Studio versions sometimes, and then you get a performance like the Hip who captures the gene in the bottle. So long story short, many other reactors do only Studio versions, and personally speaking, I, Alex, prefer to look for that spark, and when it happens, it's magical. So, there's no right version, really, but I would like to mix some studio versions in as well.

[@BrianR.]

@@TheThamesmen just submitted a Hip week 2 with all studio versions for future consideration. Of course that can be changed. Cheers George.

[@mikeschenk4730]

Way to ratchet up the insensitivity guys! At this point even you guys aren't surprised. You're right about Gord Downie, he's immediately recognizable and has that hint of madness to him. I didn't like the song as much as yesterday's, but still very good. And the bonus vid (Nintendo effect!!! I grew up with that system.) As protest songs go, I won't complain. Very good for what it was.

[@rickfairman5640]

Great song great cause should be re-released as the message is even more needed.

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

RE: "Land," strong song but poor logic. "They're tearing all the tall trees down," really? Uh, no. British Columbia is 4 times the size of Great Britain, the vast majority of it covered in forest, mostly composed of "old growth" (i.e. over a century old). Old growth forest is a primary cause of wild fires, as the forest floor provides super-charged kindling when lightning strikes. The land at issue here wasn't even a rounding error in terms of the amount of "tall trees" available to be harvested. Less than 1/3 of 1 per cent of BC's forests have been logged - and only 42% of its forests are even open for logging licences. The logging industry in British Columbia adheres to world-leading sustainable forestry practices. Such practices are an absolutely crucial aspect of wildfire prevention and curtailment. BC has also been home to some notably centre-left (and green-friendly) governments, including in 1993 when this song was composed (New Democratic Party majority government), so no facilitation of rapacious capitalists occurring there! Indeed, the current government is an unofficial NDP-Green coalition, and yet you can find a more detailed explication of what I've written here on this government web page: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/mr/mr113/forests.htm Also important to recall that this particular dispute was NOT over the territorial rights of indigenous peoples, many of whose members rely on the logging industry for good paying jobs (and co-investments at the band level, in the form of logging concession agreements with the province, on a nation-to-nation basis). So, with all due respect, no, this song doesn't support the proposition that the global environment has been despoiled. That's just the emotions raised by good music talking.

[@katewilson914]

Appreciate your post, it’s important to realize the scope of BC’s forest and forest industry, but as far as I know this performance is about Clayoquat, a specific part of the BC homeland. It has physical, spiritual and historical significance to the people who live there, not to mention unique attributes globally.

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

@@katewilson914 , I appreciate your point. I was indeed addressing myself to the comment that connected the subject of this song to the wider problem of global deforestation/despoliation. As to the specific subject of the song, I think the performers took a rather strident and not particularly well informed position on the dispute. The record shows that the 1993 civil disobedience event had been preceded by many years of good faith efforts - on the part of all stakeholders and government representatives - to reach a compromise on land use in the Sound and the forrest lands surrounding it. It seems to me that the performers thought - or at least sought to convey the impression that - they were righteously protesting against an arbitrary and discriminatory act of government, in cahoots with a foreign-owned private corporation and against the interests of both indigenous peoples and the environment in general. In this regard, it should also be noted that the First Nations concerned didn't necessarily share the same interests as the primarily urbanite protestors, as reflected in the fact that they didn't always align their positions with that of the NGO's sponsoring the protests. Sometimes they allied themselves with industry players instead. Finally, it's also important to note that the final compromise did, indeed, involve logging in the area, by indigenous-owned enterprises. Whether it could have been reached more quickly without the protests is an interesting hypothetical for academics to ponder.

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

For me, the most interesting aspect of the protests - 20 years out - is how they had a much greater impact on the evolution of the green movement in Canada, particularly with regard to the use of illegal group action to achieve desired policy goals (illegal because committing a trespass is one thing; acting in defiance of a valid court order to cease trespassing is an entirely different thing, as it threatens universal consensus on the rule of law). One might also add here the connections made between local environmentalists and sources of foreign financial backing (mostly from the US).

[@katewilson914]

@@SnowDogisVictorious Ditto, you obviously know this incident better than I, I’m a forestry graduate and appreciate the background insights. With such a diverse and rich resource there’s going to be differing interests, this is a long game issue. One thing I always return to, and who knows how many Clayoquat participants, is we need to recognize the true value our shared resources, the alternative is getting lost along the path of material values over deeper connections. And in case it also gets lost, much love to the Thamesmen for their posts.

[@davidedwards3838]

Its just hockey mate. Not ice hockey.

[@thipster666]

Great song choice however that was a relatively poor choice of video. I understand “live” versions but to really appreciate an artist I think first listens should be released versions . There are lots of great live performances but not all are great or even good. Just my thought . Keep up the great spotlights guys.

[@rickfairman5640]

Ie Neil Yonge Ohio!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BlackBeanChicken]

Baa-ril-ko

[@davidstobie2751]

the rap is casual

[@johnbrown3824]

Didn't know weed was legal in the UK

[@Spudtaylor69]

Been watching you Aussie week videos Notice you have never checked out another great highly underrated Aussie band 1927 Check out the songs compulsory hero (the video is brilliant as well),that’s when I think of you and you’ll never know

[@TheThamesmen]

I will check it out

[@Spudtaylor69]

Looking forward to your reaction Also you liked the black sorrows Check out their song never let me go What a voice

[@tomaszzaraza9971]

Here's a challenge for you. Star Trek Strange New Worlds series 2 episode 9 'subspace rhapsody'. Thank me later. you would be a fool to pass on it.

[@TheThamesmen]

Haven’t got time. Spit it out man!!

[@tomaszzaraza9971]

@@TheThamesmen but spit out what? There’s an episode of star trek when enterprise hits an anomaly and causes people to sin uncontrollably when their emotions are high. Set of fantastic tunes. Certainly you would not expect a set of such good singers from actors

[@TheThamesmen]

@@tomaszzaraza9971 ha! How strange!

[@tomaszzaraza9971]

@@TheThamesmen well it IS called strange new world

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

Trunk in the car & 50 Mission Cap. Two songs I forgot all about after the song was over. 6.3 .

[@BrianR.]

Stay tuned for another amazing track tomorrow! Glad you're enjoying this so much, thanks for watching.

[@fiverx2159]

Canada isn’t a little bit French. There is Canada then roughly 50% of French speakers in Canada who despise Canada and wish to leave. They are not a part of us since they hate us so much. Case in point I couldn’t get a cab in Quebec City because I spoke English. 5 cabs turned me down at my hotel. Such hospitality, so I now extend the same to them

[@TheThamesmen]

H A :) Having half a French family and most of my family living there, it's not their fault, I promise. Its the "Frenchness" it's just a cultural thing. So don't take it personally, seriously, it's not directed at you. It's just cultural.

[@fiverx2159]

@@TheThamesmen ok. My family originated from England. So my culture is to conquer and devour

[@paulvez6296]

Well I'm a French Canadian from Quebec and I doubt very much your cab story in Quebec city it being an internationally renowned tourist destination and a Unesco World Heritage site. Maybe the problem was you judging by the tone of your comment.

[@fiverx2159]

@@paulvez6296 read the comment half wit. I changed my opinion on the French after that occurred. I don’t care if you believe it or not. You clearly lack any sort of intelligence to begin with so your opinion is zero. I imagine you’re a Canada hating quebecois. So you’re welcome to leave anytime. Remember England conquered you. Made your ancestors lay down their arms and cry like babies to be able to stay And now all that groveling and boot licking means nothing with the separatist movement

[@shawnkilpatrickmusic]

@@fiverx2159 That kind of sounds more like a “you” problem.

[@Veggamattic]

Maybe my least favorite cut on this great album