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.
Brown-Eyed Dog
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the bones of your breath
A long ride on an endless stretch
Of abandoned highway
I wake up and there's this dog
Against the slate-gray sky
One brown one blue eye
And there's this beautiful crack in the pavement
And the wind caresses my face
And I feel like a ghost
'cause I can hear the people
The passing cars
But I'm all alone
I love your crazy heart
The sacred drum
With these hands I'll dig
A tunnel to the sun
We've got to find a new way
And it's got to be true
It's got everything to do with you
We've got to find a new way
And it's got to be true
It's got everything to do with you
The song "Brown-Eyed Dog" by Blue Rodeo is a metaphorical representation of a journey of self-discovery, of finding oneself in the midst of chaos and loneliness. The lyrics describe a person's feeling of being disconnected from the world around them, of being a ghost who can see and hear the world, but with no one to share their experiences with. The first few lines of the song set the mood, where the singer talks about how their flesh entwines with the bones of someone's breath, which implies intimacy and closeness. However, this is quickly followed by the metaphor of a long ride on an endless stretch of abandoned highway, which evokes a sense of loneliness and a feeling of being lost.
The song then describes the singer waking up to see a brown-eyed dog against the slate-gray sky, with one brown one blue eye. This is symbolic of how everything around the singer is a contradiction, with the dog representing companionship and love, while the sky is gray and bleak. The beautiful crack in the pavement where the grass grows tall is representative of finding beauty in unexpected places, and the wind caressing the singer's face is symbolic of hope and new beginnings. The singer hears passing cars and people, but they are all alone, highlighting the feeling of being lost and disconnected.
The chorus of the song talks about how the singer loves the other person's crazy heart and the sacred drum, which represents passion and a sense of purpose. The metaphor of digging a tunnel to the sun represents finding a new way, a new direction in life. The last two lines of the chorus repeat that they have to find a new way that has everything to do with the other person, implying that the journey of self-discovery is closely tied to the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes my flesh entwines
At times, I feel a deep connection with you that goes beyond just emotions.
With the bones of your breath
This connection between us is so strong, I feel it in my very being.
A long ride on an endless stretch
Life seems to be going on forever without a change in scenery, and it feels like we have been stuck in this endless cycle.
Of abandoned highway
We're alone in the journey, and just like this abandoned highway, there are no other travelers around us.
I wake up and there's this dog
One day, I wake up and take notice of this brown-eyed dog before me.
Against the slate-grey sky
The image of the beautiful, gray sky, along with the dog, makes me feel peaceful.
One brown one blue eye
The dog has eyes of different colors, and it reminds me how unique every creature is.
And there's this beautiful crack in the pavement
In the midst of this deserted road, there is a beautiful crack that stands out.
Where the grass grows tall
Inside the crack, the grass has grown to an unusual length, signifying that even in the most unusual places, life finds a way to thrive.
And the wind caresses my face
The wind blowing across my face gives me the sensation of being alive, and I am grateful for that moment.
And I feel like a ghost
Despite being surrounded by live objects and nature, I feel like a ghost, unseen and detached from reality.
'cause I can hear the people
I can hear the people and cars passing by, but no one seems to see me or acknowledge my existence.
The passing cars
Cars represent the fast-paced life that I am supposed to be living, but I am stuck in this moment of realization and clarity.
But I'm all alone
Despite everything around me, I am alone, and it is the truth of the moment that hits me hard.
I love your crazy heart
Despite the loneliness and confusion, I love the eccentric and unique person that you are.
The sacred drum
The constant rhythm and beat of the heart represent the essence of life, and how we must cherish every moment.
With these hands I'll dig
I'll use my own two hands to make something, just like how we create our own lives and destinies.
A tunnel to the sun
I'll create something that will lead me towards light and happiness, a representation of the sun.
We've got to find a new way
We need to find a new path and a better approach towards life.
And it's got to be true
The path we take must be genuine and authentic to our own desires and beliefs.
It's got everything to do with you
You play an integral role in my life and this journey, and I cannot take a step without involving you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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