Catherine McKinnon (born May 14, 1944 in Saint John, New Brunswick) is a Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Catherine McKinnon (born May 14, 1944 in Saint John, New Brunswick) is a Canadian actress and folk/pop singer.

McKinnon began as a child performer, making her first radio appearance at age eight and her television debut at age 12. She subsequently studied music at Mount St. Vincent College in Halifax.

In the 1960s she was a regular on CBC radio and television, including Don Messer's Jubilee.

McKinnon's first and biggest selling album, Voice of an Angel, was a collection of folk material, but she has also recorded ballads, torch songs and songs by notable pop songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Buffy Sainte-Marie. She has also been a stage actress, appearing in Canadian productions of Turvey, The Wizard of Oz and My Fair Lady.

She married actor/comedian Don Harron in 1969.

Her sister, Patricia Anne Mackinnon, began her singing career on CBC Television at age 13. She was featured on both volumes of the albums titled "Voice of an Angel". Her career was often on hold due to Hodgkins disease which caused her death at the age of 53 in 2001.

Today
Catherine McKinnon Lyrics

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Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known
Can't live for tomorrow,
Tomorrow's much too long
I'll burn my eyes out
Before I get out

I wanted more

Than life could ever grant me
Bored by the chore
Of saving face

Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known
Can't wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I'll tear my heart out
Before I get out

Pink ribbon scars
That never forget
I tried so hard
To cleanse these regrets
My angel wings
Were bruised and restrained
My belly stings

Today is
Today is
Today is
The greatest day

I want to turn you on
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you

Today is the greatest
Today is the greatest day

Today is the greatest day
That I have ever really known

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Catherine McKinnon's "Today" express a sense of urgency and euphoria. The singer declares that today is the greatest day they have ever known and that they cannot live for tomorrow because it is too far away. They even consider self-harm rather than leaving the moment. The singer has clearly faced challenges and regrets, evidenced by the "pink ribbon scars" and their efforts to "cleanse these regrets." Despite the struggles, the singer revels in the present moment, calling it the "greatest day."

The lyrics reveal a craving for connection and intimacy as well. The singer declares that they want to "turn you on." It is unclear who "you" refers to, but the use of the second person creates a sense of intimacy and could suggest a romantic interest. The urgency and intensity of the moment in which the singer finds themselves indicate that the relationship or connection could be fleeting.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of living in the moment and embracing the present, even if it means forsaking the future. The singer acknowledges the difficulties they have faced but seems to be overcome with joy and possibility in the current moment.

Line by Line Meaning

Today is the greatest
I'm feeling amazing today

Day I've ever known
Better than any day I've had before

Can't live for tomorrow,
I'm focused on today, not worrying about the future

Tomorrow's much too long
I don't want to think about the distant future

I'll burn my eyes out
I'll exhaust myself completely

Before I get out
Before I leave this world

I wanted more
I desired things beyond what life could give me

Than life could ever grant me
I yearned for things out of reach

Bored by the chore
I'm tired of the responsibility

Of saving face
Of keeping up appearances to please others

Can't wait for tomorrow
I'm eager to seize every moment