After performing in a number of metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, Townsend was discouraged by what he found in the music industry, and vented his anger on a solo album released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band under the name, and released the critically acclaimed City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent record label, HevyDevy Records. Townsend's solo albums, a diverse mix of hard rock and progressive metal, have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians. In 2002 he formed The Devin Townsend Band, a dedicated lineup which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases.
In 2007, Townsend disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began work on a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, with each album written in a different style. The first two entries in the series, Ki and Addicted, were released in 2009. Townsend scheduled tours throughout Australia and North America in 2010 in support of the albums, and released the next two, Deconstruction and Ghost, in 2011.
Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.
Canada
Devin Townsend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's home,
At least for now, the rivers low
Wake me, please wake me,
It's cold and warm on the prairie freeway
All the time I needed your approval to be me
More than ever I needed Mora
More than Mora means...
Be whatever you must be to get by
It's oil, It's wheat, It's soil, It's meat
It's beef!
The road, it's home, the mountain high, river low...
Wake me, please wake me,
When it's my turn to drive
Only the lonely (and maybe John Denver) know the Canadian freeway.
The lyrics of Devin Townsend's song "Canada" evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for a place called home. The road is the only familiar constant, as it winds through the diverse landscapes of Canada. The phrase "It's cold and warm on the prairie freeway" suggests that the journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional one as well, with ups and downs along the way. The singer reflects on the constant need for approval and validation, waiting for the verdict of a jury or the approval of others to be themselves. The mention of Mora, whose significance is unknown, implies a deep longing, perhaps for a lost love or a place of belonging. The chorus, "Be whatever you must be to get by," is a reminder to keep moving forward, to adapt and grow in order to survive and thrive in an ever-changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
The road,
Life is a journey that I'm on.
It's home,
On the road, I feel a sense of belonging.
At least for now, the rivers low
I'm content with where I am, but I know everything changes.
Wake me, please wake me,
Sometimes I feel like I'm sleeping through life.
It's cold and warm on the prairie freeway
The road has its ups and downs, good moments and bad.
All the time I needed your approval to be me
I used to care too much about what others thought.
All that time spent waiting for the jury duty...
I wasted too much time on unimportant things.
More than ever I needed Mora
I longed for something or someone to fill a void.
More than Mora means...
I couldn't find what I was looking for in material possessions or other people.
Be whatever you must be to get by
Sometimes you have to adapt to difficult circumstances to survive.
It's oil, It's wheat, It's soil, It's meat
Canada is known for its natural resources.
It's beef!
A beloved Canadian food.
The road, it's home, the mountain high, river low...
The road is a place of contrasts.
When it's my turn to drive
I need to take control of my own life.
Only the lonely (and maybe John Denver) know the Canadian freeway.
The road can be a lonely place, but there are others who understand.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEVIN GARRETT TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iamcharliecooper
It's oil It's wheat It's soil It's meat ...it's beef! Devin thank you for being truely awesome.
@DemiseUnseen
This album is a manifestation of Spring, yearning to know what Summer is like.
@WeWantYouToStay
I get very spring/summery vibes, summery vibes especially from this song
@TheInceptum
Makes me damn proud to be Canadian!
@emilily6513
I like that it's got a critical tone, but still somehow you can tell he wouldn't want to live somewhere else.
@ninetydegreeplanet
Im not Canadian and I still feel proud to be Canadian !
@VivianDanger
This!!!!! ^^^^ National pride so rare these weird days
@wildanS
Wow, such an achievement.
@paulmerritt8593
This song and Juno are the best ever. So proud to be Canadian. Fuck all the haters. Come to Canada and live free!
@WeWantYouToStay
How can one man churn out BOTH of my two favourite albums ever?? I honestly think terria and ocean machine are as close to perfect as albums come