Tattoo Tribute

In Gord We Trust

Hey Friends,

If you've made it this far on my site, thank you, and welcome.

In this section of the site is a detailed description of

something extremely

personal to me.

I love The Tragically Hip so I got a tribute Tattoo.

Why ?

I have always wanted a tattoo.

Nothing ever had enough meaning behind it to

just get a tattoo,

until 2016/2017.

When I learned that Gord Downie was sick with a terminal cancer.

I was sad, along with the rest of The Hip

fans of Canada.

I then reflected on The Hip and all of the memories

over the years.
Most (to all) major events in my life have a Hip song or full album associatated with them.

I remember hearing The Hip for the first time,

like it was yesterday.

I was at my cousins house,

shag carpets, panel board

walls throughout.

I can still smell that freshly lit cigarette when they said

"Hey have you heard this?"

The loon call started and I thought,"well this is

different from the

usual hair metal."

Then the acoustic riff started, Gord's unmistakable,

unique voice

"Sundown in the Paris of the Prairie" ...

I was immediately engulfed by everything in that moment: notes, lyrics, melody, emotions

At that point I begged my Mom to get me Fully Completely.

I wore out two copies

of that album.

Followed by a deep, dive into every album before that one.

Self titled, Up to Here,

Road Apples.

Each one receiving the quality time they deserved.

Then two years later Day For Night came out.

I made everyone super annoyed with that album.

I could not get enough.

Fast forward another two years for Trouble at the Henhouse,

and my first concert seeing The Hip play live.

I had saw big production concerts such as AC/DC and Aerosmith a few years prior.

There was something about the lights dimming and the band walking out and Gord just saying Hello

as Grace Too started.

The simplicity was so powerful.

From there on The Hip seem to play at Ottawa Bluesfest

every second year.

I was there, every single time.

Outdoor concert, Hip Fans packed in shoulder to shoulder, July heat, just perfect.

No one can replace Gord

on the microphone.

During the last concert in Kingston Ont, Gord kept turning the Mic out

towards the audience.

Was that to capture the audience sound or was he trying to tell us more?

I personally feel that the symbolism that he used in his songs was front and center in his last live performances.

Which is part of my tattoo design below.....

For a very long time we all assumed The Hip would

be around forever.

Until the terrible news of Gord's health and the fact that The Hip would no longer be putting out new material and no more

live concerts.

Tattoo Description

Gord is Gone he has hung up his Hat.

Before he left he turned the microphone out to us to remind us to keep singing the songs even after he's gone.

Here are the songs

in picture description.

Sunset over a wheat field
Sundown in the Paris of the

Prairie
- Wheat Kings

Moon with one star
The constellations revealed themselves
one star at a time

- Bobcaygeon

Tree with no leaves

Garbage trees whispers of disease and
acts of enormity and lower me slowly and sadly and properly Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy
- At the Hundredth Meridian

Purple Hat

For the album In Violet Light

Sunset blended into night sky

For the Album Day for Night

Finally to tie it all together is written lyrics to the last line of "Scared"

It's been a pleasure doing business with you