We Explain the Lyrics. You Feel the Music.
The Tragically Hip’s “Little Bones” is a dense, driving, and deeply critical rock song that uses the setting of a dive bar’s “happy hour” as a microcosm to comment on the state of modern society. At its core, the song is a powerful cautionary tale about navigating a world full of hidden dangers and devalued … Read more
The Tragically Hip’s “Blow at High Dough” is a swaggering, high-energy rock anthem about ambition, risk-taking, and the chaotic thrill of seizing life’s unpredictable opportunities. The song’s title is an old poker term meaning to bet big or bluff when the stakes are high, and this central metaphor drives a narrative about going for broke … Read more
The Tragically Hip’s “Grace, Too” is a powerful, tense, and poetic anthem that is widely interpreted as a narrative of domestic abuse and the pivotal moment a victim summons the immense courage to confront or leave their abuser. The song is not a story of victimhood, but one of profound empowerment, exploring the internal struggle … Read more
The Tragically Hip’s “38 Years Old” is a haunting and powerful piece of narrative songwriting that tells a dark, fictional story of family tragedy, revenge, and lost time, set against the backdrop of a real-life prison break in Ontario. The song recounts the tale of a man named Michael, who has spent 18 years in … Read more
Summary “Ahead By a Century” by The Tragically Hip is a profoundly moving masterpiece that reflects on the passage of time, the preciousness of childhood innocence, and the often-painful transition into adulthood. The song paints a vivid picture of a pure youthful relationship, free and full of golden promise, and pinpoints the exact moment that … Read more
Summary At its heart, “Bobcaygeon” by The Tragically Hip is a quintessential Canadian love story, one that contrasts the serene, hopeful peace of small-town, rural life with the tension and chaos of the big city. The song tells the story of a man whose love for another person is deeply intertwined with a memory of … Read more
Summary “Wheat Kings” by The Tragically Hip is a haunting and poetic ballad that tells the true story of David Milgaard, a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 23 years in prison before his release. The song uses the vast, lonely landscape of the Canadian Prairies as a backdrop to explore themes … Read more