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.
Fools Like You
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So good at doing
What you don't do
Just trying to protect yourself
And other fools like you
So well practiced
In your deceit
Behind the high walls of stupidity
Your endless conceit
Behind the locked door
The sleeping dog you beat
I hope I see the day
She satisfies her teeth
Give back to the native
Their treaty land
What you preach you preach for others
Why don't you practice that first hand
I just don't understand
This world of mine
I must be out of touch
Or out of my mind
And will the profits of destruction
Forever make your eyes blind
Do you bow to the corporations
Cause they pay their bills on time
God bless Elijah
With the feather in his hand
Stop stealing the Indian land
Stop stealing the Indian land
Stop stealing the Indian land
The lyrics to Blue Rodeo's "Fools Like You" explore themes of deceit, self-protection, and the exploitation of Indigenous communities. The song speaks to individuals and corporations who prioritize their own self-interests over morality and justice. The opening lines, "So good at doing what you don't do / Just trying to protect yourself / And other fools like you," highlight the way in which people can become so adept at protecting themselves from criticism and negative consequences that they lose sight of their impact on others.
Throughout the song, the lyrics suggest that those who prioritize their own gains often do so through dishonesty and a disregard for others. The lines, "So well practiced in your deceit / Behind the high walls of stupidity / Your endless conceit / Behind the locked door," portray them as people who are adept at hiding their true selves and actions from scrutiny. The song also draws attention to the exploitation of Indigenous communities, referencing the need to "Give back to the native / Their treaty land" and to "Stop stealing the Indian land."
The song's reference to "Elijah / With the feather in his hand" is believed to refer to Elijah Harper, a Canadian politician and Indigenous rights activist who famously spoke out against the Meech Lake Accord, which threatened Indigenous sovereignty. Overall, "Fools Like You" is a powerful commentary on the way in which self-interest and greed can be used to justify dishonest and immoral behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
So good at doing
You are an expert in pretending
What you don't do
And not putting in an ounce of real effort
Just trying to protect yourself
Your actions are motivated by self-preservation
And other fools like you
And you want to protect others who are like-minded
So well practiced
Deception is second nature to you
In your deceit
And you are very good at lying and cheating
Behind the high walls of stupidity
You are trapped in a world of ignorance
Your endless conceit
You are arrogant beyond measure
Behind the locked door
You hide your true self from the world
The sleeping dog you beat
You take advantage of those who are vulnerable
I hope I see the day
The future I envision is one where
She satisfies her teeth
The balance is restored and justice is served
Give back to the native
It is time to return what was taken
Their treaty land
And honour the agreements made with indigenous peoples
What you preach you preach for others
You are a hypocrite who speaks empty words
Why don't you practice that first hand
You should practise what you preach before telling others what to do
I just don't understand
I am bewildered
This world of mine
By the state of the world around me
I must be out of touch
Perhaps I am disconnected from reality
Or out of my mind
Or maybe I am crazy
And will the profits of destruction
The gains from causing harm
Forever make your eyes blind
Will continue to blind you to the consequences of your actions
Do you bow to the corporations
Are you subservient to big businesses
Cause they pay their bills on time
Simply because they pay their invoices
God bless Elijah
May Elijah's spirit guide us in the right direction
With the feather in his hand
With the sacred symbol that represents his power
Stop stealing the Indian land
Stop acting unjustly towards indigenous peoples and taking their land
Stop stealing the Indian land
Stop this harmful and immoral practice
Stop stealing the Indian land
It is time to put an end to this injustice
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREG KEELOR, JIM CUDDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind