An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and virtuosity on the bass guitar have proven very influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, John Myung of Dream Theater, Les Claypool of Primus, Cliff Burton of Metallica, and countless others. Lee's vocal style, while less influential, is nonetheless distinctive; one Rolling Stone critic opined a negative review in the Rolling Stone Album Guide that Geddy Lee's voice was a cross between Robert Plant's and Donald Duck's voices. Reference to the latter in the brief review upset many die-hard fans of Rush and Lee.
Lee's first solo effort, My Favorite Headache, was released in 2000. In addition to his composing, arranging, and performing duties for Rush, Lee has produced albums for various other bands, including Rocket Science, and recorded a short rendition of "O Canada" with Lifeson included on the "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" soundtrack. Geddy Lee is also heard singing the Top 20 hit "Take Off" on the McKenzie Brothers (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) 1981 comedy album The Great White North: Bob and Doug McKenzie, and on the Max Webster song, "Battle Scar," featured on their Universal Juveniles album, which saw both bands playing together live in the studio. Geddy shares lead vocals on this track.
Geddy is also a devoted baseball fan, and performed "O Canada" at the 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and took batting practice with the then-California Angels (circa 1992).
Along with his colleagues Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, Lee was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio were the first rock musicians so honoured.
Take Off
Geddy Lee Lyrics
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Okay, eh?
Cooo, loo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coooo!
Cooo, loo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coooo!
Okay. Good day. Welcome to our single. I'm Bob McKenzie and
This is my brother Doug.
Beauty, eh?
Yeah, I like that.
Okay. (Okay.)
Okay, everyone. This record was my idea.
Get out!
It was.
You're lying!
He...Hosehead here just sort of rides on my coattails.
Why are you doing this? It was our idea together, eh?
Yeah, okay. (Yeah, okay.)
We agreed to...to say that, but...
Ah, take off!
Take off! To the Great White North!
Take off! It's a beauty way to go.
Take off! To the Great White North!
Decent singing, eh?
Yeah.
Yeah, he's good.
Okay, so good day. Our topic today is music.
That's right like, 'cause my brother and I are now experts in
The field.
Yeah, right, 'cause we're a band now. (Yeah, yeah, so...)
And ummm...Well, except for him, I'm a band.
Aww. How can you do that? Making me look bad. You're such a hosehead.
Yea? Well, take off!
Take off! To the Great White North!
Take off! It's a beauty way to go.
Take off! To the Great White North!
Hey, hosehead.
Yeah, what?
Yeah, listen to this what's coming. You know what it is?
What?
It's a drum solo!
Okay, everyone, like this is me on the drums!
Oh, get out! It is not. You're not...
It is so!
Stop lying, will ya?
Take off, eh!
Aww...
Take off! To the Great White North!
Take off! It's a beauty way to go.
Take off! To the Great White North!
Take off!
Take off! To the Great White North!
Take off! It's a beauty way to go.
Take off! To the Great White North!
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooooo!
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooooo!
Beauty, eh?
Like magic, eh? It's coming in.
Well, that's like...
It's like it was sung by angels.
Hey, hosehead.
Yeah, what?
Guess what?
What?
It's over!
Take off! That can't be it!
Well...It is, yeah. Yeah, it is.
Why?
Because, well, hit records are short. Like, they...
No way.
Yeah, they're not that long.
Okay. So, that's our topic for today. So, Good Day!
Good day!
Hey, you guys!
What?
Take off!
Wait! No!
Hey! Don't go!
No! Come back, eh?
Aww. Look what you did! Everybody's gone because of you! You said...
Come back! I won't let him do it again!
My fault, eh?
Yeah, your fault.
You are such a hoser.
There's no way I'll ever do another record with you hoser.
Okay, that's fine! I'll do a solo album.
Fine then, you'll be looking for me...
Yeah? I will not.
...on another label.
Aww. Now everybody's gone.
So?
Good day!
Good day!
The song "Take Off" by Geddy Lee is a satirical take on the Canadian culture and the relationship between the McKenzie brothers, Bob and Doug. The song begins with the Kenzie brothers introducing themselves as the hosts of the show and discussing their musical experiences. They then perform a song where the audience is encouraged to "take off" to the great white north. The song features comical elements such as the brothers arguing about who came up with the idea for the record and one of them lying about playing the drums.
The chorus, "take off to the great white north," is a reference to Canada's northern territories, which are often associated with the country's rugged wilderness and vast expanses of snow and ice. The song is a playful take on Canadian identity and the McKenzie brothers' exaggerated accents and lingo have become quite famous in Canadian culture.
Overall, "Take Off" is a lighthearted and fun song that pokes fun at Canadian stereotypes and the relationship between the McKenzie brothers. The song has become an enduring part of Canadian culture and remains a beloved and humorous piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Cooo, loo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coooo!
This is just some sound effects by the DJ, nothing to see here.
Okay, everyone. This record was my idea.
Bob McKenzie claims credit for the record, but his brother Doug objects.
Take off! To the Great White North!
The McKenzie brothers exhort the listener to head north to Canada, their home.
Decent singing, eh?
Doug compliments his brother Bob's vocals.
Hey, hosehead.
Doug addresses his brother Bob with a friendly insult.
Guess what?
Doug has something to share with Bob.
It's over!
The song has come to an end.
Take off!
The McKenzie brothers encourage the listener to depart, in a friendly way.
Wait! No!
Bob objects to the listener leaving.
There's no way I'll ever do another record with you hoser.
Bob declares that he won't be making any more records with his brother Doug.
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN GOLDSMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chesterstewartdrawers5149
"Ten Bucks is Ten Bucks' and 'I'm a Professional, Eh' are phrases that I use on a regular basis. Most people don't get the reference. Somehow, that makes it even better.
@JaDem148
Beauty you hoser!👍
@joebobjones2238
Me too. Every once in a while someone picks up on it.
@JaDem148
@DExXR 380 It's an inside joke for Rush fans. That's how much they got paid for their first bar gig. Also yes, you are correct. SCTV✌
@johntuyhoa69
"TAKE-OFF"
@ericfletcher8454
Love it! My brother and I do the same
@mikekolokowsky
Geddy nailed it in one take. He said it was much earlier in the morning than he was used to. The studio thought he’d have to warm up his voice or something, and he said “nah”. His part comes up and he kicked it from zero to one hundred instantly. Everyone watching was blown away. Geddy rocked.
@xheralt
No surprise. He's a professional, eh?
@darrondocie8062
I think it was written around him ehh
@hogenmogen8545
@@darrondocie8062 There are people who write their own songs that need a few shots to get it right. Come in too late or too early, drop words, hit the wrong note, voice cracks - it can happen even with the best.