Courage Your Words, The Tragically Hip’s Goodbye
As tens of thousands flocked to The Tragically Hip’s last ever Ottawa show and second last show period, it was everything from a funeral to a party.
I never go to arena shows. You are too far, so disconnected, it’s so expensive, you’re stuck in your seats… but for this show I am glad I made the exception. This journey started in May with the news that our beloved Gordon Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and that this would be The Hips’ final tour. I was in New Orleans a few weeks later for a friend’s bachelor party on our “party bus” after a swamp tour listening to “New Orleans is Sinking” when I realized – The Hip tickets went on sale today and I missed them! I quickly checked with fellow party goers who might be interested in tickets and paid far too much (almost $400 per ticket, if you must ask) from online scalpers knowing I had missed my chance. I then returned to Ottawa just to find out that I bought the tickets the Friday before they went on sale and that is why I could only find the scalpers’ versions. The decisions made in New Orleans at a bachelor party aren’t always the most logical.
But logic was irrelevant. No matter the cost, this was an amazing decision. Having seen The Hip many times before, like most, I was so excited to get the hottest ticket in town. Even better, I was able to bring the bachelor to his first, and ultimately last, Hip show. Atta boy Nick!
The music hadn’t started yet and as I made my way to my seat at the Canadian Tire Center I was already on the verge of tears. They opened with “Boots or Hearts” and the band huddled around Gord in what looked like a family mourning their loved one in a hospital bed. It was real and was actually happening. This was Gord and The Hip’s goodbye. The band was perfect, Gord’s voice never sounded better and the set list had a little bit for everyone as it always does. The band hasn’t played the same set list on any night of this tour so you never know what you were going to get. They must have rehearsed well over 100 songs and hand picked 25 per making every show different enough for that added level of special. This was our special list.
You couldn’t hear yourself think any time Gord stopped singing as the crowd was roaring. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. And when Gord addressed the crowd, damn was it powerful. He asked simple things like “How y’all doing?” to which fans erupted. He followed that with “What’s your secret” and I think every one of us in the sold out arena yelled “YOU!”
There were many special moments in a show like this. Some of the most notable moments for me were when the band played “It Can’t be Nashville Every Night” and “New Orleans is Sinking.” We spent two nights in Nashville on our way down to New Orleans for the aforementioned bachelor party where this story began. Another was Gord “freestyling” or going off script during “100th Meridian,” capping off their first encore.
As the band returned for their second encore I realized I was running out of paper towel, having ran out of tissue an hour ago. They capped off the night in such an epic fashion with “Bobcaygeon” and “Poets” (video above). And with one final standing ovation it was done.
The final Hip show was beyond a religious experience for me, this was a national experience. At this show I felt not only connected to everyone in the crowd and the lucky ones who got to see them during this tour, but everyone who had ever seen the Hip. This was far beyond chords and words, this was one of those Canadian moments that can never be repeated. It was worth every single penny I spent while on that party bus in New Orleans singing along. Saturday’s live broadcast will be something else.
Gord, courage, your words. We thank you.