With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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Story About Chicopee
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had no idea where I wanted to take her, I just didn't want to take her home.
On the way, for driving, she said "Do you have a place in mind? We've been driving for about half an hour now"
I said, "uh, yeah"
We stopped at what passes for a ski hill in south-western Ontario
Parked the Hyundai Pony and we walked up to the top of the observation deck,
where everyone who had a friend who worked at a ski hill who got stoned all the time and watched the skiiers from it in the winter time
and we cha-cha'd, and fox-trotted, and we waltzed,
And he had his hand on her hip, and it felt like electricity
And he said "Mild weather we're having"
And she said "yeah, it's pretty mild for this time of year"
And they danced into the night
And it was velvet blue
And he said "so, your dad's a pretty avid hunter, hey?"
And she said "he doesn't own a gun at all"
He said "Oh"
Some kids came by
They were getting high
To this new band called Ben Folds... Five
Getting stoned on the ski hill
And they walked down and it was like electricity
They drove home in his beat-up Hyundai Pony
And he walked her to the door
And said "I, I've, I've had a great time tonight. Pretty mild weather we're having, lately"
And she said "I think it's ok for you to kiss me now"
And so they kissed
For a good, it must have been 15 minutes, it could have been an hour, he lost all track of time
In the kiss, and then the stroke started
He was having a stroke, he was sure it was a stroke
The lights were going on and off and on and off and it was amazing
And she pulled away and said "My dad is such an asshole"
He said "oh, I've had a great time. Let's do this again sometime soon"
She said "I've had a pretty good time, too"
He felt like he was floating 18 feet off the ground
And he floated back to the Hyundai Pony
And said goodnight and drove
Listening to Ben Folds on the radio
And singing this song
The lyrics of Craig Cardiff's "Story About Chicopee" tell the tale of a romantic adventure that takes place on an observation deck at a ski hill in south-western Ontario. The singer is taking a girl out and trying to impress her by taking her to a special place. However, he doesn't actually know where he wants to go, he just knows that he doesn't want to go home. They end up going to Chicopee, a ski hill in Ontario, where they begin to dance and have a great time. The setting is very peaceful, and it's a beautiful summer night. The singer is very nervous about how the night is going to end, but ultimately, they get into a deep kiss, and he feels as if he's floating eighteen feet off the ground.
The song is full of rich metaphors, and it shows the power of passion and romance. When the singer and his girlfriend start dancing, it represents the electricity and the chemistry between the two of them. Additionally, the references to Ben Folds Five and the idea that they were getting high on the ski hill taps into the youth culture of the 90s. It shows that this story takes place during a time when everyone was searching for something new and exciting.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanted to, to take her someplace special.
He wanted to take her on a special date.
I had no idea where I wanted to take her, I just didn't want to take her home.
He didn't have a specific place in mind, but he didn't want the date to end at home.
On the way, for driving, she said "Do you have a place in mind? We've been driving for about half an hour now"
She asked him if he had a destination for their date after driving for a while.
I said, "uh, yeah"
He pretended that he knew where they were going.
We stopped at what passes for a ski hill in south-western Ontario
They went to a nearby ski hill in south-western Ontario.
Parked the Hyundai Pony and we walked up to the top of the observation deck,
where everyone who had a friend who worked at a ski hill who got stoned all the time and watched the skiiers from it in the winter time
But it was summer and so we practiced dancing on it
and we cha-cha'd, and fox-trotted, and we waltzed,
They danced on the observation deck where people usually get high and watch skiers in the winter. They practiced different dance styles on it despite it being summer.
And he had his hand on her hip, and it felt like electricity
And he said "Mild weather we're having"
And she said "yeah, it's pretty mild for this time of year"
They danced intimately and he commented on the weather to start a conversation.
And they danced into the night
And it was velvet blue
They danced throughout the night under the velvet blue sky.
And he said "so, your dad's a pretty avid hunter, hey?"
And she said "he doesn't own a gun at all"
He said "Oh"
He made conversation about her dad being a hunter, but she corrected him and said that her dad doesn't own a gun.
Some kids came by
They were getting high
To this new band called Ben Folds... Five
Getting stoned on the ski hill
Some kids came by and got high on the ski hill while listening to the band Ben Folds... Five.
And they walked down and it was like electricity
They drove home in his beat-up Hyundai Pony
They walked down the ski hill feeling electric and then drove home in his car.
And he walked her to the door
And said "I, I've, I've had a great time tonight. Pretty mild weather we're having, lately"
And she said "I think it's ok for you to kiss me now"
And so they kissed
He walked her to her door and they shared a kiss after talking about the good weather and her giving him the green light to do so.
For a good, it must have been 15 minutes, it could have been an hour, he lost all track of time
In the kiss, and then the stroke started
He was having a stroke, he was sure it was a stroke
The lights were going on and off and on and off and it was amazing
They kissed for a while and he lost track of time. He started to feel dizzy and thought he was having a stroke, but he was enjoying the sensation of the changing lights.
And she pulled away and said "My dad is such an asshole"
He said "oh, I've had a great time. Let's do this again sometime soon"
She said "I've had a pretty good time, too"
She commented about her dad while pulling away from the kiss. He suggested they should meet again and she agreed that she had a good time.
He felt like he was floating 18 feet off the ground
And he floated back to the Hyundai Pony
And said goodnight and drove
Listening to Ben Folds on the radio
And singing this song
He felt ecstatic and drove back to his car. He said goodbye to her and listened to Ben Folds on the radio while singing along.
Contributed by Carson F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.