-
Growing up, there were three bands I absolutely hated: Blue Rodeo, Rush, and The Tragically Hip. And I mean hated. Like "Shut that damn radio off!" level. But, I still had songs I enjoyed from each of them. After a lifetime of encountering their music everywhere, I finally, begrudgingly, learned to like them. I wouldn't ever say that I loved them, but I can listen to them now without twitching.
One of the 2 songs of the Tragically Hip that I always loved is this one, At the Hundredth Meridian. Geographically, it is the meridian line where the actual Great Plains begin. Deeper down, though, I always felt that this was a song about the decline of the American culture and dream. No insult intended, it's just how I interpreted the song.
The other song is "New Orleans is Sinking," but that song has been overplayed and now has other connotations that I'd rather not get in to.
-
The Tragically Hip - "At the Hundredth Meridian"
-
Me, debunk an American myth?
And take my life in my hands?
Where the great plains begin
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin
-
Driving down a corduroy road (crashing through the window)
Weeds standing shoulder-high (through the window)
Ferris wheel is rusting off in the distance
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin
-
Left alone to get gigantic
Hard, huge and haunted
A generation so much dumber than its parents
Came crashing through the window (through the window)
A raven strains along the line of the road
Carrying a muddy, old skull
The wires whistle their approval
Off down the distance
-
At the hundredth meridian (hundredth meridian)
At the hundredth meridian (you're gonna miss me)
At the hundredth meridian (trust me)
Where the great plains begin (at the hundredth meridian)
At the hundredth meridian (at the hundredth meridian)
At the hundredth meridian (really, you're going to miss me)
At the hundredth meridian (trust me)
Where the great plains begin
-
I remember, I remember Buffalo
And I remember Hengelo
It would seem to me, I remember every single fucking thing I know
-
If I die of vanity, promise me, promise me
They bury me some place I don't want to be
You'll dig me up and transport me, unceremoniously
Away from the swollen city-breeze, garbage bag trees
Whispers of disease and the acts of enormity
And lower me slowly and sadly and properly
Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy
-
At the hundredth meridian (hundredth meridian)
At the hundredth meridian (you're going to miss me)
At the hundredth meridian (trust me)
Where the great plains begin (at the hundredth meridian)
-
At the hundredth meridian (at the hundredth meridian)
At the hundredth meridian (baby, you're going to miss me)
At the hundredth meridian (trust me)
Where the great plains
-
Begin
