The Tragically Hip - New Orleans Is Sinking | REACTION

[@backbeat44]

It's hard for anyone outside Canada to understand how huge the Hip were. when Gord's terminal illness was revealed the country was in shock and when the Hip said they would do a last canadian tour the country came to a standstill in each city and the last show was televised live from Kingston across the country and the whole nation stopped to watch it. Street parties, house parties, stadium parties - it was a national event. quite profound.

[@unacceptablecodyberg1402]

Days were much better minus trudeaus. Love A Guy From Alberta.

[@uh8myzen]

@@unacceptablecodyberg1402 Can't we have one nice moment, one solitary minute without politics? I don't care what side of the spectrum you're from, just hold it in for a minute and let us enjoy something that unites us for a change regardless of party, ideology or geography. If you still feel compelled to crap on a party, politician, bill or province there are a ton sites dedicated to news, political commentary and a plethora of echo chambers out there where people can vent their spleen or argue to their heart's content, just please can we be allowed a minute to enjoy the things that unite us as a nation without politics. Love from a Canadian.

[@fatcatadude]

@backbeat44, It was the mid nineties when I saw the Hip at a bar in Tucson...FRONT ROW. The following year they were back in town for their Road Apples tour and I was blessed to go back stage to meet the band and get their autographs. They were awesome and I was honored to share my Marlboros with them.

[@worldismyashtray]

@@uh8myzen 👏

[@carolyngardner1535]

@@uh8myzen No offence, but I think I love you?

[@tomdimartino7361]

I'm from Buffal n,y, and we know exactly how GREAT! The hip are! R.I.P. Gordie we will never stop loving you!

[@JimmyGrl09]

It will never be fair!!! Ty Buffalo!!!!

[@TheDylls]

As a Canadian, I'd be generally hesistant to say that the average American city ACTUALLY knows who The Hip are... It would never cross my mind for a second that our Brothers in Buffalo wouldn't know all about them ❤

[@kengaroo67]

I'm originally from Conneaut Ohio (upper right hand corner) and spent a decade in Erie PA. I've been a fan of the Hip since 1989 thanks to London Ontario's FM 96.

[@nicolejessome5430]

Buffalo! We love you

[@rajo741]

Thank you from a Canadian brother

[@danielledumont6536]

So, while Kanye West needed a stress break from touring. Gord Downie, after brain surgery, and while still fighting brain cancer, performed along with our favourite band, The Hip, a farewell tour. RIP Gord Downie

[@ronparsons8786]

Legend

[@Zoyanna]

Also, Gord stopped treatment at the start of the Canada tour.. when there was still 20+ cities to go, he did not want to be unable to perform, so he was going out there every night knowing it could be the last.

[@primary2630]

@@Zoyanna I love that he did that, what power and spirit it must have taken to have the energy to do that

[@Lisa-vk2jw]

Right!?

[@colezo2423]

You gotta do "locked in the trunk of a car" and crank that mofo!!

[@sandsnowvancouver1]

These three gents just had an introduction to greatness.

[@jeffhack6839]

Drove from Ontario to BC in 1990 wearing out the Road Apples cassette in a beat up 1980 Honda Civic. That is what memories are made of. Cheers.

[@JohnMacRae23]

"This is the best bar band on the planet"... oooh they're much more than a bar band my friends... One of the greatest bands to walk this earth, with one of the greatest lyricists/front man you'll find. RIP Gord, man I miss this band so much... from a long time fan from the States. Do "Courage" or "Locked in the Trunk of a Car" next... you'll start to see.

[@jasong.5165]

Canadians over rate these guys so badly. They’re good. Nothing more.

[@JohnMacRae23]

@@jasong.5165 nah... they were brilliant

[@BitchinStitches]

@@jasong.5165 After 130 shows (with #130 being the final show) and having seen them everywhere from parking lots to Woodstock 99, I can verify that they were exactly the right amount of rated.

[@danakerjbam]

I think they’d be proud of that opinion. Bar bands are the best bands.

[@andyburch1819]

I’m Canadian…boys, as Canadians, we don’t hear this band the way Americans do. We have so much emotion, nostalgia and national pride tied up in the Hip. It doesn’t always translate to non Canadian listeners. I love that the hip are almost exclusively ours. I find that to be there most endearing quality

[@robgraham5697]

The Hip have no typical sound. Every song sounds different but you'll always know it's The Hip. Damn, but I was pissed when I found out Gord was dying. So many great musicians go before we have their fill of them.

[@davidstobie2751]

same key

[@geographyinaction7814]

After the death of Gord Downie, a writer for Rolling Stone said that there was no US equivalent to how Downie and the Hip were to the Canadian phsyche. He said that if you had someone that blended Dylan, Springsteen, and Stipe, you might be on the right track...I paraphrased this.

[@christiankalk4668]

You guys: "You could take this song, and just stretch it out to any length..." Me: Killerwhaletank

[@kellystiver5075]

LOL YUP

[@BitchinStitches]

Word.

[@YukonWilleh]

:)

[@RonanDahlman-ci1ql]

😂 “ He bit my arm off, he bit my fucking arm off.”

[@taylorpineau9477]

All I could think of was how shamu and bartholemus relationship had gone stale

[@sincman]

It's Paul Lang-WAH (French Canadian name) and Rob Baker is playing the lead guitar that you're so fond of.

[@ChrisB-xm3mg]

They did actually have a tendency to lengthen this song live. One of the greatest things about Gord was that you never knew what he was going to do or say next. Look up a live version of this song labelled killer whale tank. It was a live version that ended up being broadcast and turned into probably one of the high points of their career. It’s really something special, and it shows you why Gord was as brilliant as he was.

[@michaelhopkins5548]

First time I heard this song was 37 years ago at a 20 keg party in the mountains of southern Arizona. Went out and got the cd the next evening.

[@geographyinaction7814]

Perhaps someone could verify this please. Apparently after Hurricane Katrina, there was a statement made that this song should not be played anymore. In response, a Toronto radio station played this track continuously for 24-hours. Rest in Peace Gordie.

[@jamielushman7577]

We sure did.

[@nullentry6032]

they made that demand because the DEMOCRATS who were responsible for the LEVEES wasted the money they were supposed to use for upkeeping that protection

[@nickface55]

I had my hands in the river, my feet back up on the banks Looked up to the lord above and said, Hey, man, thanks. RIP Gordo!

[@timwhitnell7145]

Fellow Canadian here. The Tragically Hip is the last great Canadian rock group. They have a huuuuge rabbit hole for you to travel down. Blow At High Dough, Three Pistols, Little Bones, Ahead By A Century, 38 Years Old, Fifty Mission Cap (tragic true story of NHL player Bill Barilko who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1951 and died young during a fishing trip in the off-season), Poets, Bobcaygeon, Grace Too and Wheat Kings etc. Just too many great tunes to list. Guys, love your channel. Please react to much more Tragically Hip. They are not a simplistic group. Their sound is all over the place. You will not be disappointed. Gord Downie has a distinctive voice and was a great, evocative lyricist.

[@bruceolie8644]

All of their songs are great! Canadian Gold

[@jethro1963]

Even though they came after my time, after I stopped listening to music, IMO they are THE Canadian band. There were bands that were more famous internationally, but no one got into the Canadian psyche more than them. I'm not even a big fan but I recognize their place in Canadian folklore and for that I think they are number one in Canadian hearts. That was certainly represented in their final tour when everyone knew Gord Downie was dying. As an aside, I think I sat beside Gord Sinclair on a plane before he became famous. I was returning to school and was about the same age and we introduced each other. He told me his name and I asked if he was related to the famous Gordon Sinclair who was an old newspaper guy on a long running TV show. I can't remember his answer though.

[@ROBCAR30GMAIL]

Could not have been said better, sir.

[@DavidCormier-er7em]

The first time I saw the hip was in 150 seat Tavern in Toronto. I've seen the many times with 10 to 15,000 people. Every time this song is played doesn't matter how many people there everyone was bobbing their heads just like you three were. I really miss Gord Downey and the whole band for that matter. Great job I enjoyed the show first time watching

[@had64198]

Fiddlers Green makes my cry every time. Knowing Gord wrote the song about his nephew who died young from a heart condition.

[@bryankautz826]

Actually, although The Hips version is great, Gord didn't write it, changed it up a bit but it's a long known Maritime folk song about where sailors & fishermen go when they die, Fiddlers Green is their version of heaven. You can find multiple variations by many artists over the years before Gord added his version to the list. I come from a Nova Scotia fishing family and knew this song since I was a kid and as a life long Hip fan I was actually excited to hear them do their rendition of it when it came out on Road Apples, but I do think your right about Gord doing his version in dedication to his nephew. Cheers 👍🍻

[@robertbreedon9137]

This song was written and recorded long before Katrina hit the Big Easy. Out of respect of the disaster that was Katrina radio stations here in Canada did not play this song for a time long after.

[@deanovanno]

The band also refrained from playing it live during Katrina and for a time afterwards out of respect

[@Shakesbear-c1g]

@@deanovanno it was also forbidden to play in the U.S. by mainstream music networks first.

[@frogsnacks]

"There's 2 Gords what are the odds" in Canada it's pretty high actually, There's Gords and Glenns all over the place up here.

[@karenpower1643]

We miss you Gord! You were a lyrical genius! RIP

[@MrDeadstu]

Gentleman, this is but one side of the legendary Canadian gem that is "The Tragically Hip". Lionized, Poets , Wheat Kings, Bobcaygeon, 50 Mission Cap, Little Bones...there are WAY too many to list. Enjoy

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

Every Song Ever.

[@mikepasichnuk5197]

Think about every album.... (except for the last 2 that got ruined by the producer). They didnt have a bad song. 11 Albums of pure genius. 100+ songs that I would never "switch the station" if it was on the radio - just listen in awe.

[@nicolejessome5430]

Wheat Kings is incredible

[@MadameFine]

The Tragically Hip is my ultimate favourite band!!! They have help me through the toughest times of my life. Losing Gord was a musical loss felt around the world. Especially in Canada where the loss of a beloved musical artist was palpable! They sound the same Live as they do in their albums. I will greatly miss seeing these amazing musicians on stage laying a part of themselves on that stage every time!! RIP Gord Hey Man Thanks ❤️🙏🎼🎤 The Hip will always be my musical heartbeat.

[@jp1170]

Oh fellas, you’ve opened a can of worms here. The Tragically Hip are so criminally underrated everywhere but Canada. Id recommend giving “Bobcaygeon”, “Blow at High Dough”, and “Locked in the Trunk of a Car” a listen. You guys are in for a treat

[@Fern635]

Excellent choices

[@cutchopweld5717]

The hip were an insanely good band but to get a true feel you have to check out their live early stuff. They also have a habit of each album growing on you till you wanna hear more. This song dropped when I was 14. I'm convinced that no human can hear it without bobbing your head to its groove(just like all 3 of you). Rest easy Gord...you are dearly missed!

[@6BURG9]

The Hip's most popular stuff spans blues-rock and folk, but they dabble in alt-rock, power pop, and psychedelia. Their catalogue is super deep and worth a listen.

[@SFDoucette]

Robby Baker is the lead guitarist. Paul Langlois (Lang-wah) is the rhythm guitarist. Their first two albums were recorded in Memphis so they got that southern bluesy sound. This song is great live- lots of test drive lyrics and fun rants from Gord.

[@nicolejessome5430]

I have to say it is so great to see new fans emerge even after Gord has left us. ✌️🇨🇦

[@danahashcroft9482]

The live version with the Killer Whale story is amazing. There are a lot of live unhinged versions but killer whale is the best

[@katiesmashes878]

13:15 Dude in the middle, spoke god's words! They started in Kingston, outta highschool (former Canadian capital). In the bar scene. Kingston Ontario is home to Queens university. #1 Party school in Canada @ the time. Awesome waterfront, and very cool downtown music scene. Dan Akroyd (Blues Brothers). Owned a bar where they played often. I have seen them 12+ times. In arena shows, to small bars in Kingston, and at Woodstock 99. Best live band for sure! Smaller the venue, better the show! "Locked in the Trunk of a Car" is a killer track boys. Albums 2 thru 7 are total gems. Listen to them all. Canada's Band played to a live audience of 20+thousand for their final show ever. It was at home in Kingston, of course. The Prime Minister at the time (a huge fan) asked the CBC television network to show the entirety of the final concert. LIVE and 100% commercial free! And over 11,000,000 people tuned in. That's 1/3 of the entire country. Planned, or stopped everything. To watch the Poet Laureate, and his band crush it one more time. Many Canadians of a certain age, can tell you exactly where they were, who they were with and start crying while smiling about, a truely Canadian moment in time. No one who took the time to tune in, will ever forget such an emotional event. Gords final gift to us all. The Tragically Hip, and Big Sugar. Two Canadian Bands. With insane talent, and showmanship. Listen to Big Sugar, and The Hip. These bands should be bigger than Rush globally. Both bands were among the 5 best live music, I have experienced. And they are both in my top 5 favorite Bands/ musicians to listen to! Both are what ZZ top aspired to be. But are much better musicians & songwriters. So excited for anyone/ everyone willing to go down the rabbit hole! It's gonna rock.

[@fantasyguru26]

Pronounced Lang wah. I'm Canadian and new to your channel. The Hip are a national treasure. Seeing them live was an experience to say the least. Next to Rush probably the best Canadian rock band of all time. New Orleans is Sinking is one of their biggest hits from their debut LP, Up to Here, which is sensational. Lots of quality in their discography. RIP Gord 🙏

[@primary2630]

Gord Downie's voice is unmistakable. It could be another 30 years and I'd just be able to remember that voice

[@paulprendergast3184]

I went to University with these fine gentlemen in Kingston, Ontario in the 1980s. We graduated in the same year. They played local bars and the campus pub, sometimes to small crowds of 20. I moved to NYC after graduation but saw them there a few times, including their appearance on SNL. We moved back to Canada in 2007 and I saw them a couple of times in Toronto. When Gord found out he had inoperable brain cancer, they announced a final tour. Their last show was in their hometown of Kingston and was livestreamed across Canada. We all had a singalong, danced and had a good cry. Lead guitar is Rob Baker, bass is Gord Sinclair, Drums is Johnny Fay and rhythm guitar is Paul Langlois (pronounced Lang-wah)

[@kellymelansonwheaton2153]

Rob is bass, Gord plays lead…

[@superrodder2002]

the best songs are the ones when ten different people, each has their own idea of what the song means to them. it reaches a larger crowd.

[@dmykyte65]

He was magical to watch in concert and would change the lyrics in the concerts... he as a remarkable Canadian and still miss to this day .... Legends never die and he was one hell of a legend

[@jasonroussel2881]

Imagine being 16 and hearing this fir the first time , driving with your buddies and then we had 30 or so more years of them...and at the same time barenaked ladies was popular in states , so we had the hip to ourselves

[@kengaroo67]

If you've ever seen the Hip live, you know that the proper lyrics (as sung by the fans) are, "looked up to the Gord above and said, 'hey, man, thanks.'" That's more true now since Gird passed than ever before.

[@Keepee66]

3 heads a bobbing. You boys look Canadian! L💞ve from Canada!

[@epongeverte]

So many hits. This band was great. LITTLE BONES and LOCKED IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR are 2 of my favs. GREASY JUNGLE is also pretty good.

[@ronparsons8786]

Fellas please do more Tragically Hip. Criminally underrated band with whip-smart lyrics set to some filthy guitar and drum work. A lot of great softer/more acoustic songs as well . Gord was sick and yet still went out and performed literally while he was dying and they televised one of their last if not last concerts and it was like a national holiday / celebration watched by many Canadians across the country. If you watch it it'll break your goddamn heart I saw them live in like 2006 or 7 here in LA and you guys nailed it, they are definitely take it to another level live Some faves Grace, Too Ahead by a Century Wheat Kings Emperor Penguin My Music at Work Bobcaygeon

[@philpaine3068]

LOL in Canada, for that generation, it wasn't at all unusual for a band to have two Gords. The Hip's guitarist is Paul Langlois. Langlois is a very common French Canadian name, pronounced sort of like "Lan-gwah" if you make the first syllable nasal. The Hip started as a small town bar band, and ALWAYS kept the spirit of a fantastically good bar band.

[@ChrisB-xm3mg]

I feel like now we should get into how they toured when he was dying and what the countries response to that was. Thousands of people coming out in cities and towns across the country to watch the final performance months before he passed away. I thought he was literally going to perform fell over that night. I don’t know how we did it to this day. Canada, love the hip and losing Gord hit us hard.

[@izatafactnow]

They are Canadiana at it's best... what a poet ...what a band... all terrific humans. Cheers gang

[@michaelccozens]

The Hip were environmental and social-justice activists before it was cool, and risked a lot doing so. Even as a newbie band, they risked their careers helping to bring awareness to and fight the illegal logging of irreplaceable old-growth rainforest in Clayoquot Sound in BC, logging being done on unceded Indigenous territory against the will of the inhabitants. That logging still continues, unfortunately, but the Hip helped make it an international cause and an embarrassment for Canada's continuing white-supremacist governance.

[@MrTheCamel]

The Hip is one of my top 5 bands. I've seem them live 11 times in bars and small venues around Pennsylvania. In Canada, they sell out stadiums. I feel blessed to have seen them that close so many times

[@mileswatkinson8135]

Lifelong Hip fan from Canada here. You're right, this song was often played live at twice the original length with Gord improvising poetically throughout. I love seeing my American friends' first experience with the Hip, us Canadians all know them well. This is a very early work by them. Check out something like Gift Shop or Vaccination Scars to see how they matured and their sound matured with them.

[@brianesbaugh6897]

Gordie was our Canadian poet RIP

[@Anna-hl5zb]

You really need to go down the rabbit hole that is The Hip!! There is truly a reason they are so popular in Canada. Simply amazing!

[@skidart9063]

My friend bought the hips mixing board a few years back.

[@johnantonioni9654]

Juno beach was the code name of the beach that the Canadians attacked on D-Day. The British beaches were all to be named after fish , Sword, Gold and Jelly… but the Canadian general said there’s no way that my soldiers will be known as jellyfish. He needed to keep a J in the title and ended up using his dog’s name. Juno. JUNO I has a very honoured historical name in Canada.

[@kyle-ld2gh]

And we took the most beach head by the end of the day. Juno was the second most defended position. Also Canadian warcrimes are legendary.

[@Scott_fonz81]

Yes sir...rest in peace great uncle

[@patiodweller]

The song is not about drugs lol (their song "Locked in the Trunk of a Car perhaps). It's an ode to New Orleans. A literal reference to it being below sea level and sinking and if it goes down, he wants to go down with it ("don't want to swim") because it doesn't get any better than New Orleans. So, you have this character in the song who is dead and buried in a New Orleans cemetery, it gets flooded, and his corpse gets washed up and he's all "I had my hands in the river, my feet backed up on the banks..." And a girl is walking down the path and sees this corpse and screams in horror and the embarrassed corpse sarcastically thanks God, hence the line, "I looked up to the Lord above and said 'Hey, man thanks..." "I swear to God she said, "NO!!!!!!!!"

[@mikehurtubise4115]

I had a projection tv unit and showed the last show on the wall of my house and many neighbors came over to watch

[@MickLoud999]

The guy in the middle hit the nail on the head about this song. I have seen the Hip around 6-7 times. This song IS USED TO introduce new songs by jamming them in the middle of performing this song. Sometimes it's a new song or it could be a story Gordie tells off the top of his head. There are some stories he really likes to tell. The one I have heard several times is called "Killerwhaletank"! it's about working at an aquarium in the killer whale tank. Great reaction. Everyone loves the guitar jam in this song. The lead guitar player is Robert Baker who once went by Bobby Baker when this was recorded. I guess he felt he got too old to be called Bobby.

[@kellymelansonwheaton2153]

New Orleans is Sinking was released in 1989 (their 2nd album). Long before Katrina in 2005 however, it was pulled from rotation for a long time out of respect for the city. The Hip we high school friends who formed a band… they played together until Gord passed in 2017. The have a blues influence but their stuff is very rock-centric. Especially their later stuff… Check out their back catalogue (and SNL appreances)

[@heatherturner6955]

Would not have known this was Canadian. Having just been to Nashville, and going on Broadway there - i can totally see hearing this at one of the venues! I liked the fast-fingered guitar riff (especially at the end).

[@christopherbailey557]

Saw these guys the year before this album, I live 45 miles from Kingston Ontario. I live in New York on the St.Lawrence river. Love them!

[@thorzzz1z]

Love that area, I have a cousin that lives right on the river at Cape Vincent

[@christopherbailey557]

@@thorzzz1z was up there last week for dinner.

[@thorzzz1z]

Went there to visit few years ago, the whole town celebrated Octoberfest, had a parade during the day, cool little town. Most people leave during the winter, guess it brutal during that time

[@AichElle]

When you’re in Canada and a Hip song comes on in a bar or restaurant everyone sings along and jams out. I’m glad you tried it I have never known why they didn’t get bigger outside of Canada. Wheat kings is one of my favourites 🇨🇦 🍁

[@warrenk5101]

Subscribed because of this reaction. One of the most underrated outside Canada bands ever. More Hip please!

[@chadsimmons4496]

Guitar: Rob Baker Guitar: Paul Langlois Bass: Gord Sinclair Drums: Johnny Fey The GOAT: Gord Downie

[@thegetsome3]

I had my hands in the river, my feet back up on the bank. I looked up to the GORD above and said hey man thanks.

[@taz-man]

❤

[@FredFlintstone-m2n]

Well said!

[@maureenwagg5305]

Our Canadian boys. Miss you Gordie baby. On guitar: Paul Langlois. Gord Sinclair,bass, Rob Baker guitar, Johnny Fay on drums, Davis Manning plays sax.

[@jerrynoble6585]

Your line about playing forever is bang on. If you want a fun version of it find this song song and “killer whale tank”. Exactly what you were talking about it being a jam.

[@michaelccozens]

Yeah, the Hip were famous for never having a live show that was quite like any other show they'd ever done.

[@allisonnixon2828]

Gord Downie a Canadian icon. May he Rest In peace. The Tragically Hip is one of the top bands in Canada.

[@snoozinglion8596]

👍🤟🙏

[@chrisbrugma9851]

Funny you noticed the solo feel with the riff. They often did stretch this song out live, and in a lot of cases Gord Downie, the singer would break into a poetic monologue. Some people often compare him to Jim Morrison of the Doors! This is a great post I found which is bang on "The song “New Orleans Is Sinking” by The Tragically Hip is an ode to the deep-rooted culture of New Orleans, one of America’s most significant historic cities. The narrator of the song is recalling a past experience in the city, and the lyrics seem to describe a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for everything New Orleans has to offer. As the chorus tells us, “My memory is muddy, what’s this river that I’m in? New Orleans is sinking, man, and I don’t want to swim.” This lyric speaks to the ever-changing nature of the city, its culture, and the people who inhabit it-all of which are in a state of decline as the past fades away. The narrator is lamenting the changing times, and expressing his desire to remain connected to its rich history and traditions despite the impending decline."

[@chrisrandall2710]

AUTOMATICALLY you all start the Hip headbob in synchro haha

[@chrisrandall2710]

Hope u explore more Hip x

[@Moosey11]

Best band ever out of Canada. God rest Gordie's soul.

[@anthonypallen7919]

Hi guys , Montréal here , they changed so much over the years from blues rock to alt rock to just amazing music and vibes and meaning .

[@jimsutherland8273]

"This is a jam band... this is the kind of song you could lengthen to any length you want to be..." Pretty sure he just described a live Hip show.

[@GrotesqueGardener]

Anyone notice the perfect head stop at 7:59 ? Havent even heard the song before and all 3 knew that shit was comin. 😂 Fuckin love the hip and you guys !

[@danmaclean2770]

Try "Locked in the trunk of a car" you'll see The Hip was a multifaceted band. As a Canadian we all were very proud of what that band brought to us music lovers. R.I.P. Gordon Hip music wìll live on.

[@abshadowrider]

The Hip have an incredible catalogue of music. It’s a deep amazing rabbit hole you will really enjoy!

[@sarahrobertson3936]

If you listen to songs they've played through the years, you'll be witness to a fascinating genre shift, that still maintains the Hip at it's core. Love them. Great reaction.

[@MindRiot395th]

The Hip is such an important band up here that we want to see Gord's portrait on our money bills - may he rest in peace. Another great Hip song if you're interested is "music At Work" - cheers from Montreal eh.

[@charlesjohnson7744]

Another great Canadian band is Trooper, mega hit makers . A few of my favorites are we’re here for a good time, raise a little hell, Santa Maria, the boys in the bright white sports car, two for the show, etc. etc.

[@BitchinStitches]

My husband's band has opened for Trooper several times and in addition to being super talented and excellent performers they're also the nicest people in rock and roll.

[@lisadavenock1319]

Trooper. In the same sentence as The Hip. Yeah, not even close.

[@Tangyy]

Because you didn't know what the whole song was about...here you go!!! The song refers to the steamboat, The New Orleans, which sunk in the Mississippi River in 1814. Although it mentions this in the actual song, the overall meaning/feeling of the song kind of points to just enjoying life and living it to the fullest. Just enjoying your surroundings and making the best of everything. Need say more??

[@christinedarrah1219]

I remember reading somewhere that the song was written after Gord read an news article talking about how New Orleans was very slowly sinking to lower and lower sea levels.

[@jschap712]

You're right about it being a jamming song. They improvised a lot live, and often did extended versions of this song.

[@scottmccambley764]

He's singing about a old historic river boat called the 'New Orleans' that sunk on the ole Miss back in the day and surviving.

[@mikmaqwoman]

They were Canadian Icons...they always wrote and sang about social issues...They were phenomenal....Canadian French Acadians migtated from Nova Scotia to New Orleans,,,hense, The French Quarter. Round the 1500's this happened. History folks.

[@MatthewSmith-wv5fi]

This was one of their first hits/singles. They definitely enter the "Alternative" 90's style as the decade comes. This track would be '89. It would be followed up by Road Apples in '91, Fully Completely in '92 and and Day for Night (one of my favs) in '94.

[@aliasmarg8ta127]

1:19 "Langlois" is French name pronounced LONG-LOO-WAH. You're not wrong - there's a zillion Gord/Gordon in Eastern Canada. 3:15 The opening riff gets me everytime

[@panarchpete5637]

Blow at High Dough by the Hip..... You'l love it...

[@robertcartier5088]

I'm Canadian, and my gf lived in New Orleans during Katrina... She told me that this song was banned from all radio stations in the city for years! I'm not sure if it's even allowed today! When I was there, I made damn sure not to play it on my phone!

[@stevewest5397]

When I saw these guys live about 20 years ago, and they got to the end of the song, Gord went to the front of the stage and used the mic stand as a paddle off the edge of the stage and let the rest of the band just jam out for another 2-3 minutes, yelling "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" as he 'paddled' with the mic. Epic.

[@bustos1959]

The 99 Woodstock the Hip play is a must watch, to really get there vibe as a band.

[@johnmarion6200]

You’re right, this set is so damn cool.

[@melk1393]

💯

[@Dagwagon-o7]

Definately look up the live version of this, you owe it to yourselves!! Will answer many questions :) Also look up Highway Girl (Live - Double Suicide Rant) - Tragically Hip

[@snoozinglion8596]

The Tragically Hip were brilliant... another Canadian Band you should check out sometime -> "Blue Rodeo" Try... Outskirts... Heart Like Mine... Piranha Pool...

[@teddcoleman8736]

The Hip is one of coolest bands Damm tight all great musicians Gord Dowine is a great singer and poet all members have a hand in the music 🎶 RIP Mr Dowine. Long time fan from Michigan

[@tnt8092]

3 bobble heads lol…the hip are amazing..

[@stephenbrunn2200]

For me their performance at the Troubadour in L A showed all the passion that we loved of them

[@clarkcraig6959]

The Tragically Hip have always been known as a live band. every time you see them you got a different show. One of the first videos they did was at a Rock Club that shut down in 1989 it was always a town favorite. they have some live footage from there in the Video for Small Town Bring Down. When they played their last live show The Canadian TV network broadcasted it live. areas had big screens set up across several Canadian cities as well as Town squares. Canada shut down that night and I think everyone watched it from home a venue or a bar.

[@boblapham]

Streamed it to my TV on the patio in the Buffalo 'burbs. Had a group of friends over and texted with a few others who couldn't be here. Sad, happy night. Our local movie theater screened it, too.

[@MrAndrewkheinrich]

Spent many an evening at The Lakeview Manor and I was there the day they filmed small town bringdown.

[@rosemorin81]

❤❤❤❤ R.I.P.Gordie wish i had met you. The voice 😍 👌 i loved and still listen to the late Mr.Downie❤❤🙏🙏❤

[@Lolquake]

The Juno awards are basically the Canadian grammy's.

[@TehFrenchy29]

These guys more than most you have kind of an excuse for not knowing, as they never really pushed to get international recognition. Aside from an appearance on Saturday Night Live introduced by fellow Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd, they only ever really got US attention on college rock stations in border states or picked up via Canadian stations which reached across the border. Places like Buffalo and Seattle you could run into people who knew them and weren't from Canada, but beyond that you pretty much were Canadian yourself, had Canadian friends / family who essentially evangelized the Hip, or you didn't know the Hip. Canada's best-kept open secret in music.

[@stephenlevy4852]

Dudes ...Check out Blow at High Dough. the Hip are a Canadian treasure. rip Gord Downey.

[@kenhutchingame2606]

The hip were from Kingston, ON. After the Queen's University Golden Gaels won the 28th Vanier Cup in 19912, they provided a concert for the football team and guests. Best concert ever.

[@fatcatadude]

These guys were great live. In fact, if you listen to their Saskadelphia release you'll hear studio recordings of these guys that sound like they're playing in front of thousands.

[@NathanEMilos]

It's funny that you talk about stretching the song out for a long time because they have a legendary 9 minute version of this song called New Orleans Sinking Killer Whale Tank where it sounds like Gordon Downie improvises a story about working at Sea World into the song.

[@kevinhewett4499]

reminiscing about gordie & the boys.....and found myself here I am a Canadian who now lives down the highway in bowling green and a huge Hip fan. You guys keep listening to the hip! congrats on finding a legendary band and be sure to listen to all their albums. They evolved over time with so many great songs

[@maureenwagg5305]

This is a first toe in the water for new Hip fans. Go deep. You won't be disappointed.

[@turnthepage_lol]

Canadians that sound like they're FROM New Orleans!

[@patrickwilson9617]

The song was banned in the US after Katrina.

[@toddlastman198]

Thanks I get very emotional listening to Gord Loved here in Canada

[@wesleyfallis5160]

This album was written and recorded in New Orleans, each album have different sounds but two things are guaranteed this iconic rhytenic guitar and legendary lyricism from Gord Downie