Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto. Jim C… Read Full Bio ↴Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto. Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, who have been friends since high school, having both attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute. The pair worked on forming a band after both attended Queen's University at Kingston. They had a few failed attempts and a few adventures before finally coming together with Cleave Anderson, Bazil Donovan, and Bob Wiseman to form Blue Rodeo. Their debut album Outskirts was produced by Terry Brown, who is perhaps best known for his work with Canadian hard rock legends Rush, was released in March 1987. They have been signed with Warner Music Canada since their debut, but have jumped around a bit in the USA and other markets, mostly on Warner Brothers, Rounder and recently re-signed with Warner Brothers International for the world.

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.

Stage Door
Blue Rodeo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know I can't hide this fear inside
Still my friends understand

Things have worked out

Much as you had said

Ain't no mystery what I need
Is understanding

And your sweet sympathy

A steel string guitar and a little weed
And someone to keep me company

Someone to keep me company

Through the stage door
Down the alley and

Sometimes I wonder

What I

What I do it for
Ain't no mystery what I need

Is understanding

And your sweet sympathy

A steel string guitar and a little weed
And someone to keep me company

Someone to keep me company

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blue Rodeo's song "Stage Door" suggest a deep sense of anxiety and fear in the singer. The opening lines, "I know I can't hide this fear inside / Still my friends understand" indicate a sense of vulnerability and insecurity in the singer. However, despite feeling anxious, the singer finds solace in the company of friends and a few simple pleasures. The lines "Ain't no mystery what I need / Is understanding / And your sweet sympathy / A steel string guitar and a little weed / And someone to keep me company" suggest that the singer's needs are few but absolutely essential.

The second verse speaks of the singer's career and the struggles that come with it. The lines, "Through the stage door / Down the alley and / Sometimes I wonder / What I do it for" imply that the singer may be questioning their sense of purpose or why they continue to pursue their career, but ultimately finds comfort in the same things as before - understanding friends, a guitar, and the company of someone close. The repeated chorus "Ain't no mystery what I need / Is understanding / And your sweet sympathy / A steel string guitar and a little weed / And someone to keep me company" further emphasizes the primary message of the song - that even in times of uncertainty and fear, it is the simple things in life that matter most.

Line by Line Meaning

I know I can't hide this fear inside
I am aware that I cannot conceal my apprehension within me

Still my friends understand
However, my buddies sympathize with me

Things have worked out
The events have gone as expected

Much as you had said
Precisely how you predicted

Ain't no mystery what I need
It is not a secret what I desire

Is understanding
It is compassion that I crave for

And your sweet sympathy
As well as your tender empathy

A steel string guitar and a little weed
All I require is a metallic-strung musical instrument and a small amount of cannabis

And someone to keep me company
Additionally, I need somebody to accompany me

Through the stage door
I go through the entrance for performers at a theater

Down the alley and
Then down a narrow street