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One Song for Every Province and Territory of Canada

Alan Cross 1 Comment

The prevailing opinion is that Canada doesn’t get enough credit when it comes to song lyrics.  Sure, there are plenty of songs about Paris, London, Berlin, New York, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Phoenix, San Francisco and LA, but how many songs were written with Canada in mind?

Plenty, as it turns out.  Here’s one track for every province in the Dominion (moving west to east then looping north and returning west).  Once you’re finished with this list, move to 10 Artists Who Namecheck Canadian Town and Cities.

“Vancouver National Anthem”/Matthew Good

“Calgary”/Bon Iver

“Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon”/Guess Who (recorded live at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle in May 1972)

“One Great City/”The Weakerthans

“YYZ”/Rush (See also “Toronto Tontos” by Max Webster)

“Montreal”/Raine Maida

“Bud the Spud”/Stompin’ Tom Connors

“The Maritimes”/Classified (He’s from Halifax, but we’ll get him to cover New Brunswick, too.)

“Boston and St. John’s”/Great Big Sea

“Super Inuit”/Holy Fuck (We’ll say this is about Iqaluit)

“Northwest Passage”/Stan Rogers

“The Yukon Song”/Bill waterson (yes, the guy who did the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip) 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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One thought on “One Song for Every Province and Territory of Canada”

  • John Lawrence
    July 2, 2013 at 11:46 pm
    Permalink

    I work with seniors and have a similar, older, list of songs that I use for a celebration of Canada. It isn't perfect but I appreciate the suggestions that you have made.
    She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain (BC)
    Alberta Bound – Gordon Lightfoot (AB)
    Last Saskatchewan Pirate – Arrogant Worms (SK)
    Red River Valley (MB)
    Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay – with reference to Georgian Bay (ON)
    Au Claire De La Lune (Quebec)
    My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean – with reference to tide in Bay of Fundy (MB)
    Farewell to Nova Scotia (NS)
    Jack was Every Inch A Sailor – (PEI)
    I'sa Bye (Nfld)
    This Land is Your Land (Territories)
    and of course,
    O Canada.

    Reply

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