Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Tip of the Cap from Tip of the Tower: Tribute to Gord Downie

By Tony Rosati

BARRIE, CANADA - JULY 2: Gordon Downie of the Tragically Hip performs during the Live 8 concert on July 2, 2005 in Barrie, Canada. The goal of the Live 8 series is to raise awareness of poverty and debt relief for third world countries. (Photo by Donald Weber/Getty Images)
BARRIE, CANADA - JULY 2: Gordon Downie of the Tragically Hip performs during the Live 8 concert on July 2, 2005 in Barrie, Canada. The goal of the Live 8 series is to raise awareness of poverty and debt relief for third world countries. (Photo by Donald Weber/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Following the death of the Tragically Hip’s front man Gord Downie earlier this week, Canadians and fans across the world have been remembering the impact he had with his music especially in sports.

Gazing into my baby boy’s glowing brown eyes, a familiar melody beckons from the speakers; “Sled dogs after dinner close their eyes on the howlin’ waste…” It has become habit now in my life as a newly minted father to introduce my son to the iconic voice that defined a country.

Tuesday night, that lyrical poet succumbed to his battle with cancer. I’m not Ry Cooder, and, I most certainly am no singer, but I have a eulogy. I’m just a fan who has set foot on those “checkerboard floors” & I remember Buffalo most definitely.

Since 1984, Gord Downie has been the frontman for Canada’s quintessential band, the Tragically Hip. It wasn’t until my late teens that I was introduced to the music that shaped my life. My first encounter with the band came with At the Hundredth Meridian. From that day forward, Gord became implanted in my life, as only music can do; it can soothe your soul, unlock your emotions, and take you away…..even for a while.

The beauty about the band’s music was became a part of me. Anywhere I went the music was there in my mind, creeping into my soul. The amazing thing about this band was the discovery of more and more treasures, as you explored deeper into their craft.

More from Tip of the Tower

In an era where grunge, hardcore rap, and all versions of pop music stood out, the Tragically Hip were something so much different. Being an American, their music isn’t very well known outside the bordering states, so I would always be asked the same question: “Who are they similar in style to?”

At first, I would reference a hybrid of many bands, ranging from blues to hard rock to alternative, but in my head I could never seem to pin it down.  You see I’ve realized that there is no comparison to Downie. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan will go down in history as some of the greatest American musicians of all time that personify their country, but they still don’t come close to what Gord embodies of the great white north. He exudes confidence without cockiness, never showing outwardly he’s too cool for the room.

His playfulness on stage was inviting to the many admirers of his craft. In fact, Downie is the unassuming brilliant mind, authoring countless poems and written works, along with his six solo albums to go with the Hip’s 15 albums and multiple alternate versions of his signature ramblings and outlandish tales. Now I realize the only correct answer is that Downie is incomparable.

Never was this more evident from the support nationwide where personalities from all walks of life voiced their praises and tributes. Among them were members of the National Hockey League, fellow musicians, thespians, media, and the government. The Toronto Maple Leafs observed a moment of silence, lowering Bill Barilko’s jersey banner from the rafters.

If there was ever an endorsement on the magnitude of Downie’s influence on Canada, it came in a heartfelt tribute from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

"“We are less a country without Gord Downie in it……He cares deeply about his country….and he wanted to make it better. He knew as great as we were, we needed to be better than we are.”"

The charismatic leader of “Canada’s band” was so dynamic on stage. From his shadow boxing with the microphone stand, shaking a banana, and telling wild and magnificent tales (Killer Whale Tank, Double Suicide, etc) during the middle of a jam session, Gord always had his audience mesmerized with the smirk on his face. Bobcaygeon, Attawapiskat, Mistaken Point, and Moonbeam were some of the many Canadian locales he put on the musical map. The names Bill Barilko, Hugh Maclennan, Ann Harvey, and David Milgaard become synonymous with Canadiana, as some of the subjects within his songs.

TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 19: The Toronto Raptors pause for a moment of silence in memory of Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragiacally Hip, who died this week, prior to an NBA game against the Chicago Bulls at Air Canada Centre on October 19, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 19: The Toronto Raptors pause for a moment of silence in memory of Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragiacally Hip, who died this week, prior to an NBA game against the Chicago Bulls at Air Canada Centre on October 19, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

A former hockey goaltender and lifelong fan, Downie immortalized some of the sport’s greatest anecdotes on the songs 50 Mission Cap and Fireworks, as well as tribute to the late Dan Snyder in Heaven is a Better Place Today.  It is off the stage where Downie embodied the true definition of a national hero. Gord was a tireless philanthropist, heavily involved with many projects, including water rights issues, “The Great Moon Gathering,” and reconciliation with indigenous affairs. Even after the diagnosis, Downie made it a priority to finish “Secret Path,” a solo album and graphic novel, telling the story of Chanie Wenjack, with all proceeds being donated to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Project.

Although I have never met him, I consider Downie to be an inspiration. It’s amazing how much his lyrical poetry has stayed with me along every step of the way; Through life milestones, relationships, triumph, and tragedy, Gord’s music has shaped my life in way I could never imagine. Jeff Blair, renowned journalist and co-host of the Jeff Blair Show said it best during his Wednesday show monologue: “You know the trouble with someone’s death after a long fight with something as insidious as cancer is having the time to prepare yourself mentally for the moment.

It doesn’t really make it easier to come up with the words you need to say. We’ve lost Gord Downie, folks; he’s gone……..there was always Gord’s voice. That’s the thing about good music, singers, and performers; they always welcome you back. That’s what good friends do, They’re non-judgmental. Luckily for us, the sorrow of Downie’s passing is mitigated by the fact, well, his music is still here and always will be……”

Next: Tip of the Tower Podcast - The Boys are Back in Town

Thanks for being there every step of the way, my friend. You make me proud to call you my neighbor.

“I got to go, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you”

–Scared: Gordon Edgar Downie

Home/Toronto Sports