The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the single "Baby Ran" gaining significant radio airplay. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life".
Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough -- 1992's Dear Dear was their first album not to have a U.S. release. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.S. contract for the follow up, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which had a significant hit in "Ocean Pearl".
The band's song I Go Blind was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish.
The band's most recent album is 2008's Northern Soul released September 30th,2008 and they wrapped up their tour of Canada at the end of November 2008.
54-40
54-40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Finer things
Maybe just nothing
Maybe just a dream
You are gonna find him one day knockin' at your door
He's not the hero any more
You tell him what is wrong, not right
Don't She La
Don't she look happy
Don't She La
Don't she look happy
Gonna start living
Fantasy
Maybe just nothing
Maybe just a dream
Fire in the blue sky when he hits you in the mouth
This the war and not the warning
He says baby I love you wonยนt you stay
You say good-bye to him too late
Don't She La
Don't she look happy
Don't She La
Don't she look happy
Don't she look happy now
that he's gone away from here
He's gone away he died they say an awful way
It was attack of the heart
You have started something big
by cuttin' through the man
There was a sign you heard a calling
He says baby I don't wanna die today
You say so long man it's too late
The song "54-40" by the Canadian rock band 54-40 has a strong theme of freedom and self-discovery. The lyrics suggest a desire to break free from the constraints of everyday life and pursue something more meaningful. The opening lines "Gonna start dressing finer things, maybe just nothing, maybe just a dream" hint at a longing for a more glamorous existence, but also acknowledge the possibility that this may not be realistic.
Later on, the lyrics shift to a more personal struggle, as the singer faces a difficult decision regarding a relationship. The lines "He says baby don't you want me in your life, you tell him what is wrong, not right" capture the conflict between desire and reason. The chorus reinforces a sense of liberation, with the repetition of the phrase "Don't she look happy" suggesting that the singer has found a sense of contentment in breaking free from oppressive norms and expectations.
The second half of the song changes tone dramatically, with the line "Fire in the blue sky when he hits you in the mouth, this the war and not the warning" suggesting a violent confrontation. The subsequent dialogue between the singer and the aggressor reflects a sense of finality and resignation, as though the singer has accepted that there may be no way to salvage the relationship. The final lines "You say so long man it's too late" underscore this sense of closure and departure.
Overall, "54-40" is a complex meditation on the interplay between desire and reality, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna start dressing
I am going to wear nicer clothes
Finer things
Better quality items
Maybe just nothing
Maybe it's not important
Maybe just a dream
Maybe it's only a fantasy
You are gonna find him one day knockin' at your door
Someone you know will appear unexpectedly
He's not the hero any more
He has lost his former glory
He says baby don't you want me in your life
He asks if you still want a relationship
You tell him what is wrong, not right
You explain the problems instead of pretending everything is okay
Don't She La
Don't she look
Don't she look happy
She looks happy
Gonna start living
I will start living a certain way
Fantasy
Something that is not necessarily real
Fire in the blue sky when he hits you in the mouth
There is sudden intense pain
This the war and not the warning
This is the fight and not the warning
He says baby I love you wonยนt you stay
He asks you to stay
You say good-bye to him too late
You left him too late
Don't She La
Don't she look
Don't she look happy
She looks happy
Don't she look happy now that he's gone away from here
She looks happier now that he is gone
He's gone away he died they say an awful way
He died in an awful way
It was attack of the heart
He had a heart attack
You have started something big by cuttin' through the man
You made a significant change by taking action against authority
There was a sign you heard a calling
You received a sign to do something
He says baby I don't wanna die today
He says that he does not want to die
You say so long man it's too late
You say goodbye, but it's too late to change anything
Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Alynnia
Lyrics
Play a little kiss and tell with poison pills
Bitten in the valley of thirst, the body kills
I got an ocean pearl
I see an open world
(pre-chorus)
O...cean pearl!
(verse2)
You just have to whisper, promising the moon
And if she dares to dream, make it true
I got an ocean pearl
I see an open world
(pre-chorus)
O...cean pearl!
(chorus)
It's what I wanted
'cause I'm only gonna do this once
Gonna wash me in your water
Put the "vive" back in "la difference" yeah
(solo)
(verse3)
I got an ocean pearl
And I'd die without my
(pre-chorus)
O....cean pearl!
(outro)
I got an ocean pearl
I got an ocean pearl
I got an ocean pearl
I got an ocean pearl
I got an ocean pearl
@devious187
Music makes me proud to be Canadian, straight canucklehead
@christianhuntercascon888
great Canadian band!! ๐จ๐ฆ
@Tomfoolery1972
My friend Mark and I traveled to Arizona, Imperial Beach in San Diego, and Las Vegas in late August, 1994. Afrer we got home, I started seeing this video and couldn't believe it, it was like the band came with us and made the video while we were there. ๐
@lucypotato8793
OMG, I love me some 54-40!, thanx wonderful Canadian guys! Who is ever so much fun at live gigs!!! Luv your friend, Lucy in Edmonton ,I know all of your songs from about 1980. I'm not sure what year it was in the 2000's at Hawrelak Park with K-97, my little sister & I danced our asses off & Had had so much fun, her husband was ready to divorce her, we still laugh about it today, Sheelah...
@dave9863
Props Tsawwassen. Amazing group from the town we grew up in.
@cree8vision
Big hit in Canada.
@renlessard
A concert favourite that still holds up
@mariachi031676
under rated band!
@helenh1752
so true
@horribleboils6555
I can't believe this song has barely any viewership on Youtube. This is like, a radio hit I've heard since I was a tot and it doesn't even have half a million views across all its videos. What the hell?