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Canada-wide Tragically Hip sing-along planned for March 26

Montreal comedian Joey Elias has put the call out on social media
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Gord Downie performs at WE Day in Toronto on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. Chris Young/CP

It’s a most Canadian response to social distancing, with a ‘courageous’ twist.

Montreal comedian Joey Elias has put a call out on social media - inspired by the sights and sounds of Italy’s serenades - for Canadians to “sing from the rooftops” this Thursday, March 26.

The choice of song? Courage by the Tragically Hip.

“It was just an idea that came together; there’s so many people indoors, so much gloom, and I thought courage was the perfect word,” said Elias. “As a comedian, I’ve got nothing going on right now. My job is to get up on stage and let people forget about their world for ‘x’ amount of time, so I thought this is one way to do that.”

Elias wants as many citizens as possible to join together at 6 p.m. EST - 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time - to sing the lyrics (posted below).

As of Thursday morning, Elias received more than 150 retweets, and a variety of responses, including Americans who are fans of the Hip who want to join in the serenade.

He said radio stations in both Montreal and Ontario have agreed to play the song on-air. Hip band members Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois retweeted Elias’ tweet which has helped spread the message.

“The reaction has been so overwhelming; this is what social media should be used for. There’s a wonderful reaction - that’s the Hip community - that’s what it was like on the last tour.”

For those who need a refresher, click on the official video below.

Courage by The Tragically Hip:

Watch the band through a bunch of dancers

Quickly, follow the unknown with something more familiar

Quickly, something familiar

Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter

Sleepwalk, so fast asleep in a motel

That has the lay of home and piss on all of your background

And piss on all your surroundings

Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter

Courage, your word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter

Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter

Courage, it couldn’t come at a worse time

There’s no simple explanation

For anything important any of us do

And yeah, the human tragedy

Consists in the necessity

Of living with the consequences

Under pressure, under pressure

Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter,

Courage, your word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter

Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter

Courage, it couldn’t come at a worse time

It couldn’t come at a worse time

It couldn’t come at a worse time

Courage



photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com

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Erin Haluschak

About the Author: Erin Haluschak

Erin Haluschak is a journalist with the Comox Valley Record since 2008. She is also the editor of Trio Magazine...
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