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.
Sheba
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
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Like an African Queen
And she makes a good living from strangers
Wherever she's been
She's always got a drink on somebody's bill
And lives in a house up on a hill
And nobody knows when she's coming
It's a long long way we've come
From a darker day
Well they took all the fun out of it
But people like it that way
There are things on the news now testing your faith
Maybe it's good
And maybe it ain't
Everybody once was a sinner
And now they're all saints
I know
I think about it all the time though
There's nothing really for me to hold on to
I'm taking the days as they come
I'm right here
Stuck between a dream and a nightmare
Praying for the day when it all comes clear
I'm barely just holding my ground
Til Sheba comes down
Well she draws out the rags and riches
Wherever she goes
And she knows what it's like to live out
In Emperor's clothes
She's practiced in the arts of magic and such
Ancient blue eyes, electric touch
I got to look away when I see her
It hurts me so much
I know
I think about it all the time though
There's nothing really for me to hold on to
I'm taking the days as they come
I'm right here
Stuck between a dream and a nightmare
Praying for the day when it all comes clear
I'm barely just holding my ground
Til Sheba comes down
Blue Rodeo’s “Sheba” is a powerful love song and commentary on the state of the world. The song is about a mysterious woman who walks down the busiest streets like an African queen, making a good living from strangers wherever she goes. She's always able to get a drink on someone else's bill, and lives in a house up on a hill. Nobody knows when she's coming, but they know that she will.
The lyrics of the song suggest that the world has changed a lot since the days of old. The fun has gone out of life, and people like it that way. There are things on the news now that test your faith, but nobody really knows whether they are good or bad. Everybody was once a sinner, but now they're all saints.
The song speaks to the idea of holding on to hope, even when it seems like the world is going to hell. The singer talks about taking the days as they come, and hoping that “Sheba” will come down to save him. Overall, “Sheba” is a beautiful song that explores the power of love and the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Well she walks down the busiest streets
Like an African Queen
And she makes a good living from strangers
Wherever she's been
She walks down busy streets with confidence and pride, like royalty in a country far away. She earns a good living by charming strangers with her presence, no matter where she goes.
She's always got a drink on somebody's bill
And lives in a house up on a hill
And nobody knows when she's coming
But they know that she will
She never pays for her own drinks and lives in a luxurious house on a hill. While people can't predict when she will show up, they know that she always does, bringing excitement and energy with her.
It's a long long way we've come
From a darker day
Well they took all the fun out of it
But people like it that way
We've come a long way from a time when things were much harder, but now life is less exciting due to rules and regulations. However, people seem to prefer it that way for safety and stability.
There are things on the news now testing your faith
Maybe it's good
And maybe it ain't
Everybody once was a sinner
And now they're all saints
News stories can challenge your beliefs, and it's hard to know whether this is healthy or not. People who were once flawed and sinful are now seen as perfect and righteous.
I know
I think about it all the time though
There's nothing really for me to hold on to
I'm taking the days as they come
I'm right here
Stuck between a dream and a nightmare
Praying for the day when it all comes clear
I'm barely just holding my ground
Til Sheba comes down
The singer is constantly thinking about life and its ambiguities, and feels lost without a solid sense of purpose. They are taking each day as it comes while feeling trapped between their hopes and fears. They long for clarity and eagerly await the next time Sheba arrives to bring excitement and pleasure.
Well she draws out the rags and riches
Wherever she goes
And she knows what it's like to live out
In Emperor's clothes
Sheba has the power to bring joy and pleasure to anyone, no matter how poor or rich they may be. She can relate to both the powerful and the powerless, having experienced life on both sides.
She's practiced in the arts of magic and such
Ancient blue eyes, electric touch
I got to look away when I see her
It hurts me so much
Sheba is highly skilled in using her charm and charisma to enchant those around her, leaving people spellbound. Her piercing blue eyes and electric energy are hard to resist, leading the singer to look away in pain and longing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind