The band consists of original members Cuddy (guitar/vocals), Keelor (guitar/vocals) and Donovan (bass) plus newer additions Glenn Milchem (drums), and Bob Egan (multi-instrumentalist). Former members include Anderson (drummer), Wiseman (keyboardist), Kim Deschamps (multi-instrumentalist), Mark French (drummer), and Jamie Gray (keyboardist) and Bob Packwood (keyboards).
Blue Rodeo is one of the most successful and well known contemporary Canadian bands, having released 11 studio albums, one live album, a greatest hits collection and a DVD which have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. In addition, both Cuddy and Keelor have released solo albums. Blue Rodeo members have collaborated extensively with other notable Canadian artists, including Jann Arden, Cowboy Junkies, Burton Cummings, Kathleen Edwards, Great Big Sea, Sarah McLachlan, The Sadies, Ron Sexsmith, Skydiggers, and The Tragically Hip. Blue Rodeo have won many Canadian music awards, including seven Juno Awards (Canada's Grammy) and principal songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor have been honoured with seven SOCAN awards.
The band released (November 2008) Blue Road a special 20th Anniversary Live 'bootleg' DVD which features an insightful documentary by Chris Mills and an acoustic CD of their 2008 February 29th Toronto Massey Hall concert. The DVD disc features some acoustic covers, including Neil Young's "Are You Ready For The Country", Randy Travis's "Diggin' Up Bones" and Ian & Sylvia Tyson's "Four Strong Winds." In addition, there's a new bonus studio track on the audio CD by Cuddy and Keelor called "Losing You", which is also performed Live on the DVD.
It was formally announced on June 16th, 2009, that Blue Rodeo will be inducted onto Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in September, 2009.
On November 10th, 2009, Blue Rodeo released its twelfth studio album, The Things We Left Behind, which is a double CD featuring 16 original compositions by Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy. The release was produced by the band with engineering and mixing assistance from Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, Jim Cuddy, Kevin Kane, Sarah McLachlan, The Sadies), and the first single to crack the airwaves is "Arizona Dust".
It was officially announced on December 12, 2011 that Blue Rodeo will be inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, with the formal presentation to occur on April 1st, 2012 at the Canadian Juno Awards.
Blue Rodeo released its 13th studio album on October 29th, 2013 entitled In Our Nature.
Canadian Governor General David Johnston announced on Dec. 30, 2013 that Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor will be celebrated as Officers of the Order of Canada, one of the country`s highest honours, in a ceremony to be scheduled later in 2014.
In the Fall of 2014, Blue Rodeo released their first seasonal holiday collection entitled, A Merrie Christmas To You, which is blessed with their favourite Christmas classics. The collection features beautiful songs by The Band, Big Star, Merle Haggard, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and two moving originals entitled "Glad To Be Alive" and "Home To You This Christmas".
Blue Rodeo released its latest studio album on October 28, 2016 entitled 1000 Arms, which was produced by Tim Vesely and the band. The Warner Music Canada release features eleven new songs penned by Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, and the first single is entitled "Superstar".
For photo galleries, tour dates and other information on Blue Rodeo you can visit their official website, www.BlueRodeo.com.
Are You Ready
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ready to cry
Are you ready
Ready to cry
So cry cry cry
Are you ready
Ready to leave
This life we love
You know what I mean
No more whiskey
No more cigarettes
And your last breath just like a sunset
You know I love your old bones
I love your story but you?re going home
Are you ready
Are you ready
Ready to die
Are you ready
Ready to die
Is there anything I can do
Cause saying goodbye to you
Will be the hardest thing I ever do
Don?t worry buddy we?ll see this thing through
I?ll cry the river that carries you through
Are you ready
©2005 Blue Rodeo Productions
The song "Are You Ready" by Blue Rodeo is a melancholic and emotionally powerful song that deals with themes of loss, mortality, and grief. The song's lyrics make frequent use of repetition, with the repeated phrase "Are you ready" acting as a refrain and a reminder of the inevitability of death. The song begins by asking if the listener is ready to cry, and then asks if they are ready to leave this life behind. The singer laments the loss of whiskey, cigarettes, and the beauty of life, symbolized by the setting sun.
The second verse addresses the listener directly, asking if they are ready to die and if there is anything they can do to help them through the process. The final lines express the singer's love for the listener and their memories, as well as their resolve to carry on and cry the river that carries them through.
The song's lyrics are deeply evocative and emotional. They capture the feelings of grief and loss with a sense of honesty and vulnerability that is both moving and relatable. The song's simple but powerful structure, with its repeated refrain and haunting melody, make it a memorable and poignant tribute to the human experience of mortality and loss.
Overall, "Are You Ready" is a moving and poignant song that speaks to the human experience of grief and loss. Its lyrics are simple but powerful, and its melody is haunting and memorable. It is a fitting tribute to the people we love and the memories we cherish.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you ready
Are you mentally and emotionally prepared to face some tough situations?
Ready to cry
Are you prepared to show emotions in the form of tears if situation demands?
Are you ready
Again asking if you are mentally and emotionally prepared to face some difficult situation.
Ready to cry
Same as above, asking if you are ready to show emotions by shedding tears.
This is the saddest story we all know why
The upcoming story or situation is very emotional and sad which everyone knows the reason behind.
So cry cry cry
It's okay to cry as the upcoming incident or situation is really heart-wrenching.
Ready to leave
Are you prepared to walk away or leave something which you love behind?
This life we love
The life which we are so fond of.
You know what I mean
You understand what I am implying here, do you not?
No more whiskey
You will have to stay away from alcohol, which was once your favorite.
No more cigarettes
You will have to quit smoking too.
And your last breath just like a sunset
Your last breath will leave you, just like the sun sets over the horizon.
You know I love your old bones
I love you irrespective of your age and hereditary bones.
I love your story but you?re going home
I will always cherish your memories, but you are leaving, you are going back to your home or heaven post your death.
Are you ready
Again asking if you are mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared to face this massive change in life, which is ultimately death in the future.
Ready to die
Are you prepared for death?
Are you ready
Asking one last time if you are ready for the inevitable or not?
Ready to die
Asking the same question again.
Is there anything I can do
Can I help you in any way? or Is there anything that I should do for you now, which can make this situation bearable?
Cause saying goodbye to you
Leaving or parting ways with you forever.
Will be the hardest thing I ever do
Saying goodbye to you will be the toughest job of my life.
Don?t worry buddy we?ll see this thing through
Don't be worried; I am here to help you and endure this situation together with you.
I?ll cry the river that carries you through
Metaphorically I will cry with you so that my tear drop form a river, and that river will take you through this journey of death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUTH ANNE CUNNINGHAM, DANIEL O'DONOGHUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind