![]() ![]() The voice of the child is again captured when he explains - perhaps to a parent - “that’s where the hornet stung me.” This unexpected and unpleasant experience marks the end of childhood’s “golden light,” and brings on the “feverish dream” of adulthood, where we are all addled by emotions such as “revenge and doubt.” In the bridge, the “illusions” of childhood are inevitably and almost accidentally punctured. Having been back to childhood, and then forward to “someday,” the verse closes with the present and an insistence on living as fully and genuinely as possible: “No dress rehearsal / This is our life.” They have “illusions of someday” that as children cast “a golden light.” But as the rest of the song reveals, their ideas of the future are “illusions.” It will not be as they planned or hoped. The singer and his friend have played together many times: “First thing we’d climb a tree / And maybe then we’d talk / Or sit silently / And listen to our thoughts.”Īmong other things, the two discuss what they will do when they get older, or what they think their future will be like. ![]() It begins with the words “First thing,” which immediately captures the excitement children feel when they recount their day. (Courtesy of TIFF) Childhood’s golden years The writer attended the Tragically Hip’s final tour stop in Kingston, Ont. On April 4, 2017, the Canadian Cancer Society recognized The Tragically Hip with a commemorative plaque in honour of their support for cancer clinical trials at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, which is housed at Queen’s.A still from the documentary, Long Time Running, captures frontman of the Tragically Hip, Gord Downie, as he leads the band through a concert in Vancouver last summer. That summer, the band embarked on a final tour and raised funds in support of brain cancer research. Days later he announced that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Downie was absent from the convocation ceremony. Over the next three decades the band remained connected with the university and in May 2016 Queen’s conferred honorary degrees upon them. During his time at the university he and fellow band members Gord Sinclair (Artsci’86), Rob Baker (BFA’86), Paul Langlois and Johnny Fay formed The Tragically Hip. Downie graduated from Queen’s in 1986, majoring in film studies. “Apart from his enormous musical contributions with Kingston’s own The Tragically Hip, Gord devoted much of his energies during his final years to causes close to him, particular those connected with Indigenous reconciliation.” “I’m saddened to learn of Gord Downie’s death after a long and brave fight against cancer,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. ![]() In his memory, flags on campus have been lowered. Downie died Tuesday night in Toronto from brain cancer. Queen’s University is mourning the death of Gord Downie (Artsci'86, LLD'16), lead singer of The Tragically Hip, a Queen’s graduate and honorary degree recipient. Mr Downie died Tuesday night in Toronto from brain cancer. Gord Downie (Artsci'86, LLD'16) performs during The Tragically Hip's final tour. ![]()
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