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.
Underground
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If we walk together
Keeps us from this cold
On the sidewalks of these streets
Lie the broken dreams
Scattered at our feet...
Lead me on, I don't mind
I'll come forward laughing every time
Go underground
There's a shadow on this land
A growing darkness
Cruel and senseless hand
This block won't be the same
Now the music's there
But somehow something's changed...
Lead me on, I don't mind
I'll come forward laughing every time
All my friends they've gone underground
I got burned, left too quick
Got myself locked outside the heart of it
All my friends they've gone
Underground, go underground, go underground
There's a song that I've heard
Rising up above the streets
Of this crumbling world.
'Bout the sadness in every day
How it leaves and takes
A bit of your faith away...
Lead me on I don't mind
I'll come forward laughing every time
All my friends they've gone
Underground.
I got burned left too quick
Got myself locked outside the heart of it
All my friends they've gone undergound
Go undergound, go underground
The lyrics to Blue Rodeo's "Underground" capture a sense of disillusionment and disconnect from the world, as the singer laments the loss of dreams and the growing darkness of the land. However, the song also has a sense of resilience and determination, as the singer continues to move forward despite feeling left behind by the world around them. The opening lines suggest a sense of hope and togetherness, with the idea that walking together can keep us warm in the cold world around us. This is followed by a reminder of the broken dreams and the disappointment that lies on the sidewalks of the streets, indicating that the world around us can be a harsh and unforgiving place.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the singer expressing a willingness to keep moving forward, laughing in the face of adversity. The repetition of the phrase "lead me on" suggests a willingness to follow others and be guided by their example, even in difficult times. The second verse turns to the music scene, suggesting that even this once vibrant and exciting world has been affected by the growing darkness of the land. However, despite this, the singer remains determined to continue on and find something worth holding onto. The final verse introduces the idea of a song rising up above the streets, offering a glimmer of hope and reminding us that even in the bleakest of times, there can be something beautiful and uplifting to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a way I've been told
Someone has given the singer advice or guidance.
If we walk together
The advice involves sticking together or teamwork.
Keeps us from this cold
The consequence of not following this advice is metaphorical 'coldness'.
On the sidewalks of these streets
The setting of the song is urban streets.
Lie the broken dreams
The streets are full of people's failed dreams.
Scattered at our feet...
These broken dreams are all around us.
Lead me on, I don't mind
The singer is willing to follow someone else's guidance.
I'll come forward laughing every time
The artist has a positive attitude despite the difficult circumstances.
All my friends, they've gone underground
The artist's friends have withdrawn from the world or society.
There's a shadow on this land
There is something oppressive or negative influencing the world.
A growing darkness
This negative influence is increasing over time.
Cruel and senseless hand
This negative influence is harmful and illogical or unfair.
This block won't be the same
The neighborhood or community is changing.
Now the music's there
Despite these changes, music still exists in the area.
But somehow something's changed...
However, there is something different or not quite right about the situation.
I got burned, left too quick
The artist has experienced something negative in the past and left too soon.
Got myself locked outside the heart of it
As a result of leaving, the artist is now disconnected from the core of the community or experience.
There's a song that I've heard
The singer has heard a song.
Rising up above the streets
This song transcends the negative atmosphere of the streets.
Of this crumbling world.
The world is decaying or falling apart, but the song provides hope.
'Bout the sadness in every day
The song's lyrics deal with the common sadness or struggles of everyday life.
How it leaves and takes
These struggles can take a toll on a person.
A bit of your faith away...
They can also affect a person's faith or hopefulness.
Go underground, go underground, go underground
The refrain repeats the idea of people escaping, avoiding, or hiding in response to difficult or negative circumstances.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREG KEELOR, JIM CUDDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind