Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Connie graduated from Campbell Collegiate in Regina in 1972 and the University of Alberta in 1976 with a BFA degree in theatre. She performed with various theatre groups, including Theatre Passe Muraille, The Mummers, and 25th Street House Theatre, until 1979, when she gave it up to start a full-time music career.
In 1981, she founded her own independent record label, Coyote Entertainment, and has released fourteen albums. In 1997 she was featured performer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on the last broadcast of Peter Gzowski's CBC national radio program Morningside.
She has won the Juno Award for best children's album three times. She won it in 1989, 2004, and 2005. However, most of her music is for adults. She co-wrote a song for the animated television series based on the comic strip For Better or For Worse, which debuted in 2000.
She is married to music producer and Hart-Rouge member Paul Campagne. They live in Montreal.
Her song "Wanderlust" was covered by Cosy Sheridan.
In 2003, her television show Wood River Hall debuted on VisionTV.
In 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
A Duck In New York City
Connie Kaldor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Which is not exactly perfect for a duck
Instead of little ponds with little lilies
There are great big buildings, pavement and trucks
But if you are a duck in New York City
You do the very best with what you′ve got
You don't go waddling after dark
You take a taxi to the park
His apartment was too small to have a bathtub
So, he had to go out waddling on the street
He'd pretend that he was swimming up the pavement
Even though it often hurt his little feet
But he loved to see the Nicks down at the Gardens
And he loved the shows down on the Avenue
And he said: "I feel at home in New York City
'Cause everyone is quackers too
Start spreading the news
I′m leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York"
So, if you are a duck in New York City
It′s not exactly perfect for a duck
Instead of little ponds with little lilies
There are great big buildings, pavement and trucks
But if you are a duck in New York City
You do the very best with what you've got
You don′t go waddling after dark
You take a taxi to the park
And you find a fire hydrant when it's hot
Oh yeah, New York is ducky
Connie Kaldor’s “A Duck in New York City” tells the story of a little duck living in New York City, a far cry from the idyllic ponds and lakes typically associated with his kind. The song emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of the duck, who makes the most of his small apartment and lack of access to water to thrive in an unusual environment. Instead of ponds, he takes dips in fire hydrants to cool off in the heat, and instead of a bathtub, he imagines himself swimming up the pavement.
The song is not only about the duck's adaptability, but also about how he finds a sense of belonging in a city that is not exactly suited for him. He revels in the energy of New York City, frequenting Madison Square Garden for basketball games and catching shows on Broadway. He even feels that others in the city are just as peculiar as he is.
The chorus of the song - "If you are a duck in New York City, you do the very best with what you’ve got" - can be seen as a metaphor for resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The little duck represents the underdog in a challenging environment, but embodies the idea that with determination and resilience, one can thrive even in the most unexpected circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a little duck in New York City
The story is about a small duck that lives in New York City.
Which is not exactly perfect for a duck
New York City is not exactly ideal for a duck's habitat.
Instead of little ponds with little lilies
Instead of small, natural habitats with lilies and other vegetation,
There are great big buildings, pavement and trucks
there are large structures like buildings, roads, and trucks.
But if you are a duck in New York City
Despite these challenges,
You do the very best with what you've got
the duck makes the best of its situation.
You don't go waddling after dark
The duck has learned not to waddle around in the city at night
You take a taxi to the park
Instead, it takes a taxi to go to the park when it needs to travel.
And you find a fire hydrant when it′s hot
At the park, the duck finds a fire hydrant to cool down during hot weather.
His apartment was too small to have a bathtub
The duck's apartment is too cramped to have a bathtub.
So, he had to go out waddling on the street
Thus, the duck had to waddle around the city streets.
He'd pretend that he was swimming up the pavement
As he waddled, the duck pretended that he was swimming up the pavement.
Even though it often hurt his little feet
However, this often hurt the duck's small feet.
But he loved to see the Nicks down at the Gardens
Despite the pain, the duck enjoyed seeing the Knicks play at the Gardens.
And he loved the shows down on the Avenue
Additionally, the duck enjoyed the shows down on the Avenue.
And he said: "I feel at home in New York City
Through all of this, the duck felt at home in New York City.
'Cause everyone is quackers too
This is because everyone in the city is a bit strange or odd, in their own way.
Start spreading the news
This line is from the song 'New York, New York', which represents the duck embracing the city.
I′m leaving today
The duck is not leaving, but instead referencing the song to show approval of the city.
I want to be a part of it
The duck wants to be a part of the city.
New York, New York"
Repeating the chorus of 'New York, New York' to show his happiness in being in the city.
Oh yeah, New York is ducky
Lastly, the song concludes with the phrase 'New York is ducky' to signify that the duck loves living in the city despite the challenges it presents.
Writer(s): Inconnu Compositeur Auteur, Connie Isabel Kaldor
Contributed by Eli S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.