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.
Phaedra's Meadow
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One cold and dreary morn
My heart sick with jealousy
And memories I need no more
But I would do him harm
Knowing that you?re there
Lying in his arms
My flesh was ripped and torn
By the bramble and the thorn
I was lost but well-prepared
To offer up my soul
Because the greater misery
Is to live with what I know
The moon concealed by April?s storm
No bearing I could find
Until I fell into a clearing
And a road I recognized
I was far
Far from my home
Further from her smile
Not sure if I would return
Or just lay down and die
As I stood in Phaedra?s Meadow
Well the dawn did break the sky
And from the highest up in heaven
The Weaving Star fell into my eyes
©Thunderhawk Music
The lyrics of Blue Rodeo's song "Phaedra's Meadow" express the emotional turmoil of a jealous heart. The singer of the song is walking through a forest on a cold and dreary morning, burdened by memories of his beloved with another man. While he admits that he could never kill a man, he admits he would do him harm, knowing that his beloved was in his arms. The bramble and thorn of the forest seem to physically mirror the singer's emotional pain. Yet, the singer seems to be "well-prepared to offer up my soul" as he is aware that living with jealousy is the greater misery.
The song takes a mystical turn as the singer falls into a clearing and recognizes a road. He is far from his home and not sure if he wants to return or lay down and die. It is here in Phaedra's Meadow, where he stands that the dawn breaks the sky, and the weaving star falls into his eyes from the highest point in heaven. The song ends on this surreal and mystical note, leaving the listener to interpret the scene. Perhaps the falling star symbolizes the singer's renewed hope or the shedding of his emotional burden or love's final extinguishing.
Line by Line Meaning
I was walking through the forest
I was physically walking through the forest, probably feeling lost and disconnected from the world.
One cold and dreary morn
It was cold and dreary, which might have made my thoughts more sorrowful.
My heart sick with jealousy
I felt strongly jealous of something or someone.
And memories I need no more
I was carrying memories that were hurting me and I wanted to get rid of them.
No I could never kill a man
I would not physically harm someone, but I might hold a grudge or act spitefully.
But I would do him harm
I might take some actions to cause harm to someone without resorting to physical violence.
Knowing that you’re there
I was aware that someone was close to the person I cared about.
Lying in his arms
I knew that the person I loved was intimate with someone else.
My flesh was ripped and torn
I was hurt both physically and emotionally, similar to being scratched by the sharp bramble and thorns.
By the bramble and the thorn
I was likely walking through difficult terrain.
I was lost but well-prepared
I realized I was lost but felt mentally prepared to deal with it.
To offer up my soul
I was ready to give up everything, even my soul.
Because the greater misery
I believed it would be more miserable to continue to live with the pain I felt.
Is to live with what I know
It was hard to live with the knowledge of what was happening in the situation.
The moon concealed by April’s storm
The stormy weather made it hard to see the moon in the sky.
No bearing I could find
I was lost and had no sense of direction.
Until I fell into a clearing
I found myself in a clearing, where the trees were not obstructing my view anymore.
And a road I recognized
I recognized a road that I might take.
I was far
I was far from where I wanted to be.
Far from my home
I was far from the place that I called home.
Further from her smile
I was away from the person that made me happy.
Not sure if I would return
I was not sure if I would ever come back to the place I was coming from.
Or just lay down and die
I was so lost and hurt that dying seemed like a better option than continuing to live.
As I stood in Phaedra’s Meadow
I was in a meadow that belonged to someone named Phaedra.
Well the dawn did break the sky
The sunrise broke through the dark sky.
And from the highest up in heaven
Something came from heaven or the sky above.
The Weaving Star fell into my eyes
I saw a bright and shining star that caught my attention and made me feel hopeful.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
danoh40
Great, calming song. I love the images! <3 :D
Tracee Chambers
My special friend Julie Cochrane has just lost her fight with cancer. We have seen BR many times in Bala and today I honour her and our friendship with this song. I will miss you. You are now free like these horses. Ride On my dynamic friend. xo Tracee. xo
BRBluebird
I'm so very sorry for your loss, Tracee.... ((hugs))
BRBluebird
@danoh40 Thanks danoh, glad you liked it!! :)
Ka Mac
<3