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.
Finger Lakes
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Water shining at our side
I was wrestling the demons in my mind
But it seemed to me you were reaching for
Where we?d leave the past
On some dark road behind
I will always come
If you need me
And I will never forget
The things you said
And in my hour of darkness
You will come to me
And I will raise up
My worried head
There?s a line between what might have been
And where we stand today
There are roads we both know
We can never cross
But a voice comes down from history
And whispers in my ear
Don?t waste the time
The time that isn?t lost
I will always come
If you need me
And I will never forget
The things you said
And in my hour of darkness
You will come to me
And I will raise up
My worried head
I have walked by so many rooms
And watched you brooding in the dark
I spent my youth moving round you
Like a ghost
But the years go by
And the reasons die
That kept us far apart
Now the sun coming up each day?s
What we need most
I will always come
If you need me
And I will never forget
The things you said
And in my hour of darkness
You will come to me
And I will raise up
My worried head
©Thunderhawk Music
The lyrics to Blue Rodeo's song "Finger Lakes" describe a journey the singer and someone else are taking through the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The water is shimmering on their side as they drive, but the singer is preoccupied with wrestling their own demons. The other person with them is reaching for new experiences, wanting to leave the past behind on dark roads. The singer makes a promise to always be there for this person when they are needed, and assures them that they will never forget the things they have said.
The lyrics also touch on the delicate balance between what may have been in their relationship and where they are standing today. They both know there are roads they can never cross, but a voice from history whispers not to waste the time they have together. The singer recalls watching the other person brood in the dark in past years, but as time has passed, the reasons for their distance have died. Now, they need the sun coming up each day more than ever before.
The song captures the bittersweet emotions of two people who have a deep connection, but also have their own issues and obstacles to overcome. It is a promise of support and understanding, and a recognition of the beauty and fragility of the moments they share.
Line by Line Meaning
As we drove on through the Finger Lakes
While we were traveling through the Finger Lakes, enjoying the scenery
Water shining at our side
The lake's water was glistening beside us
I was wrestling the demons in my mind
I was struggling internally with my problems
But it seemed to me you were reaching for
It appeared that you were striving for something
Some places we?d never been
New experiences we were yet to have
Where we?d leave the past
Somewhere we could escape our past
On some dark road behind
Leaving all the negative things behind on a dark path
There?s a line between what might have been
A distinction between what could have happened and what actually happened
And where we stand today
Our present situation
There are roads we both know
There are paths we are both familiar with
We can never cross
That we cannot take anymore
But a voice comes down from history
A voice from the past guiding us
And whispers in my ear
And speaks softly to me
Don?t waste the time
That we should not waste time
The time that isn?t lost
But instead use the remaining time wisely
I have walked by so many rooms
I have passed by many chambers
And watched you brooding in the dark
And seen you sulking in the darkness
I spent my youth moving round you
I spent my younger days surrounding you
Like a ghost
Like an invisible presence
But the years go by
However, as time passes
And the reasons die
And the reasons for our separation fade away
That kept us far apart
That caused us to be so distant from each other
Now the sun coming up each day?s
Now what we need most is the bright light every morning
What we need most
The thing we require more than anything else
I will always come
I will always be there for you
If you need me
If you require my help or my presence
And I will never forget
I will always remember
The things you said
What you told me
And in my hour of darkness
And during my difficult times
You will come to me
You will be there for me as well
And I will raise up
And I will lift
My worried head
My head that is full of worries and concerns
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM THOMAS EMMANUEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@parisol78
LOVE it,,,,,,so unique, fantastic to hear in 2014...Canadians do it like no others......heart felt
@randyandy1960
Thank you so much for your efforts! Ironically I too am a musician and a huge Blue Rodeo Fan, from toronto. Take care and again, thank you for your efforts!!!!
@FlorencePonk77
Thanks so much for making this video, Steve. Has really special meaning - and LOVE the song SO MUCH. Thanks so much for being a friend. Donna xo
@MythozMan
One of my favorites too. Thanks to you and Blue Rodeo, one of my favorite bands.
@dianakillens9999
Just been alerted to Blue Rodeo & Finger Lakes by Whispering Bob Harris by reading his autobiography and it's a great track !
@glennorman5108
love this song
@StageParades
@FlorencePonk77 - Jim's voice and lyrics deserved a video full of nice lake pictures and a message that says it all about friendship. Thank you too, Steve xx
@sludy100
Lovely song!
@kamac8761
My fav Canadian band, Blue Rodeo.
@ScotCanuk
They make me proud be one of the few, the proud, the Canadians!