Canada Day 2014: Top 10 Songs About Places in Canada
In honour of Canada Day, I’ve put together a top 10 list of the best Canadian tunes that have a place name or strong geographic connection. Here are my picks, in order from ten to one. Did we miss your favourite? Leave it in a comment, and we’ll create a new list with your top picks.
#10 – Runnin‘ Back to Saskatoon, by the Guess Who:
#9 – Northwest Passage, by Stan Rogers:
#8 – Sudbury Saturday Night, by Stompin’ Tom Connors:
#7 – Lakeside Park, by Rush:
#6 – Montreal, by Blue Rodeo:
#5 The Last Saskatchewan Pirate, by the Arrogant Worms:
#4 – So long, Marianne, by Leonard Cohen (some say it’s about a street in Montreal):
#3 – Vancouver Divorce, by Gordon Downie:
#2 – The Log Driver’s Waltz, by Wade Hemsworth:
#1 – William Shatner, singing O Canada:
There are so many great Canadian Songs that make place and geography a big part of their charm and fun. What are some of your favourites? Post your comments below and let’s create a new list to share with everyone else.
Happy Canada Day!
Never heard “So Long Marianne” was about a street in Montreal. That seems a stretch, when it’s so much more obvious that its addressed to his longtime lover Marianne Ihlen whom Cohen lived with in Greece in the 60s. “Suzanne” has a stronger claim to Montreal association. “The sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbour” refers to the statue on Notre Dame de Bon Secours overlooking the St. Lawrence River.
Speaking of Montreal, I think of Stars’ “Your Ex-Lover is Dead”‘s line “We drove in silence across Pont Champlain”. Not really a particularly geographic focused song, though.
Just about anything by Stan Rogers or Stompin’ Tom would qualify.