Stan Rogers: ‘Field Behind the Plow’

And for a final Canada Day weekend bonus: Stan singing his great western farming song ‘Field Behind the Plow’

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Stan Rogers: ‘Northwest Passage’

And to finish off our festival of Canadian music for Canada Day weekend, there can really only be one closing song.

James Keelaghan: ‘Kiri’s Piano’

For this Canada Day holiday Monday, one of Canada’s finest living songwriters plays one of his finest songs.

Gordon Lightfoot: ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’

Our Canada weekend continues with Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’. I have a very clear memory of the time I first heard this song on the radio; at the time I was used to short lyrical songs, so a longer, narrative piece seemed a little unusual to me. Now that I sing traditional songs, I understand the form a lot better. I think this is a true Canadian classic – but then, so many of Lightfoot’s songs fit into that category!

Arrogant Worms: ‘Canada’s Really Big’ and ‘Carrot Juice is Murder’

Two for the price of one tonight. Yes, folks, this is the Arrogant Worms in all their glory.

Um – no – this is not ‘Canada’s 150th birthday’

I love Canada and enjoy Canada Day, but I don’t like calling this ‘Canada’s 150th birthday’. Many great Canadians were part of our story before Confederation in 1867 (off the top of my head I think of Jacques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, Alexander Mackenzie, John Rowand, David Thompson…). And that isn’t even taking into account all the First Nations and Inuit who lived in this country for thousands of years before Europeans even set foot here. Aren’t they part of the Canadian story?

I’m not against celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation, but to call it ‘Canada’s 150th birthday’ really makes it all about politics, and I’m not comfortable with that.

Rant over. I will now go out and wear red, and listen to my favourite Canadian music all day long.

Bruce Cockburn: ‘All the Diamonds’ and ‘Gifts’

Forty years after I first heard ‘All the Diamonds’ in a live concert at Ontario Place, it’s still one of my favourites. ‘Gifts’ was a new one for me, though, and I like it too. Note that Bruce is playing a baritone guitar here.