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.
Canoe Song
Connie Kaldor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mist in the morning, smell of pine
Whiskey jack, wake me up
Send me out with a fishing line
Give me a canoe and let me go
Up past Waskesui to the Wabinow
Give me a canoe and let me go
Take me where the loons are calling
Lake like glass and a starlit sky
Smell of a small campfire burning
Sit and watch the embers die
Give me a canoe and let me go
Up past Waskesui to the Wabinow
Give me a canoe and let me go
Up past Waskesui to the Wabinow
Give me a canoe and let me go
The lyrics of Connie Kaldor's song Canoe Song paint a picture of the serene and breathtaking experience of canoeing in the outdoors. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the desire to be where the loons are calling, a symbol of wilderness and freedom. The imagery of mist in the morning and the smell of pine create a sensory experience, transporting the listener to a tranquil and calming environment.
The mention of the whiskey jack, a bird often found in the Canadian wilderness, further emphasizes the theme of being in nature. The feeling of being awakened by the bird's call adds to the sense of organic connectedness with the great outdoors. The mention of a fishing line highlights another indulgence that is part of the experience of being in nature - the opportunity to catch one's own food.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Give me a canoe and let me go" three times, creating a sense of longing for the spiritual rejuvenation that the great outdoors can provide. The line "Up past Waskesui to the Wabinow" refers to two lakes in Saskatchewan, Canada, linking the song to its Canadian roots. The song concludes with the repetition of the chorus, affirming the desire to escape to the wilderness.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me where the loons are calling
I yearn for a place where I can hear the beautiful calls of the loons.
Mist in the morning, smell of pine
I want to wake up to the fresh, dewy mist of morning and breathe in the sweet aroma of pine trees.
Whiskey jack, wake me up
I want to be woken up by the sound of a whiskey jack, a bird known for its cheerful and friendly nature.
Send me out with a fishing line
I want to go fishing and have the chance to catch my own food.
Give me a canoe and let me go
I want a canoe so I can explore the beauty of nature on my own terms, without being confined to just one spot.
Up past Waskesui to the Wabinow
I want to travel in my canoe to the Wabinow river, passing Waskesui on the way.
Take me where the loons are calling
Again, I strongly desire to be in a place where I can hear the hauntingly beautiful calls of the loons.
Lake like glass and a starlit sky
I want to be beside a calm, mirror-like lake at night, gazing up at the stars above.
Smell of a small campfire burning
I want to smell the wood smoke and feel the warmth of a small campfire as I sit beside it and watch it burn.
Sit and watch the embers die
I want to peacefully sit and watch the glowing embers of the fire fade away as the night falls deeper.
Up past Waskesui to the Wabinow
Again, I want to travel in my canoe to the Wabinow river, passing Waskesui on the way.
Give me a canoe and let me go
One more time, I desire to have a canoe and to be free to explore and embrace the beauty of nature by myself.
Contributed by Zoe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.