Fifty-five years ago, Marilyn Bell took a plunge and traversed Lake Ontario. Back then, being a Great Lake swimmer was a big deal; now, it's an astonishing physical feat taken for granted. It's a rapidly forgotten part of history, like a faded map or a tattered photograph. Or a lost channel.
Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world - though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."
The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years—with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen — Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.
Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it.
To record LOST CHANNELS, Dekker and company went upstream on the St. Lawrence River to the Thousand Islands, halfway between Toronto and Montreal, a historic and picturesque area that straddles the Canadian/American border, and has been designated a World Biosphere Region. Great Lake Swimmers arrived at the invitation of fan and Thousand Islands photographer/regional historian Ian Coristine (www.1000islandsphotoart.com).
Coristine was able to arrange for the band to record in a number of acoustically unique spaces within the region, including one of the area's most storied landmarks, Singer Castle on Dark Island, near Hammond, NY (www.singercastle.com); as well as the historical Brockville Arts Centre (www.brockvilleartscentre.com); and at St. Brendan’s Church in Rockport, ON.
Additional recording took place at Halla and the Lincoln County Social Club in Toronto and the album was woven into a cohesive whole at the House Of Miracles, in London, ON, with long-time Great Lake Swimmers collaborator, Andy Magoffin.
That the album was created in both rural splendour and urban Ontario makes perfect sense for a band that has always navigated the parallels between natural and urban rhythms. River imagery recurs throughout LOST CHANNELS; the title of the album is a reference to a certain passage of the St. Lawrence, close to the recording locale, where a reconnaissance boat from a British warship went mysteriously missing in 1760. There’s no specific reference to the incident in the lyrics, though there are plenty of night skies, howling winds and raging rivers in almost every song which captures an elusive sense of mystery. As the album closes, Dekker sings the final lyrics—“Like the unstoppable river… Your beauty is gentle/ but forceful, and fast”—before the band ends on a suspended note. There is no resolution there, only eternity, a continuum, an endless river.
LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.
Four albums into an already-rich and storied career, Great Lake Swimmers’ live show has won them ever-expanding audiences in the United States and Europe, and of course their native Canada. In 2008 Great Lake Swimmers shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Feist, Bela Fleck & The Sparrow Quartet, Hayden, Goldfrapp, Bill Callahan of Smog, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.
Stealing Tomorrow
Great Lake Swimmers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't I feel mean without you
And everything become more true
The more that I believe in you
Stealing tomorrow
I don't care what you think
I'm going to take it away
While I am stealing tomorrow from today
Stealing tomorrow from today
Stealing tomorrow from today
Take it away
And I built this wall around me
And I refuse to let anyone through
Oh no, not even you
No, no, not even you
No, no, no, not even you
And it's like someone else is driving,
Like this body isn't mine
I changed myself without even telling you
Or even asking and I need relief
'Cause I can't be sober and win you over
And relate my temperature
I have to get out of here
And you don't even know the half of it
I cannot turn it off, I don't have a switch for that
Haven't crash landed yet, haven't crash landed yet
Stealing tomorrow from today
The lyrics of "Stealing Tomorrow" reflect the feeling of being lost and trapped in a situation that one cannot control. The opening lines "Is this place shaking or is it me, why can't I feel mean without you" suggest that the singer is in a state of confusion and is seeking to understand their feelings. They try to find meaning and clarity through their belief in a person or an idea, as in the line "and everything become more true, the more that I believe in you." This highlights the need for understanding and the impact that a belief system can have in one's life.
The song continues with the idea of "stealing tomorrow" from today, which could be interpreted as an attempt to escape the present and find a way out of the situation. The singer is determined to take control of their life, and they don't care what anyone else thinks. The wall that they have built around themselves suggests a form of self-protection, which makes it hard for anyone to get through, including the person they believe in. However, the line "like someone else is driving, like this body isn't mine" suggests that the singer feels like they are not in control of their actions and emotions, which further complicates the situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stealing Tomorrow" explore the theme of control and the need to break free from one's emotions and circumstances. The singer is seeking to understand their feelings and find a way out of their present situation, but they are also struggling to find a sense of identity and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this place shaking or is it me
I feel like something is off and it's making me question whether it's just me or the environment around me
Why can't I feel mean without you
I feel like I can't be my true self without you present and it's bothering me
And everything become more true
I feel like everything in my life is more genuine and authentic because of my connection with you
The more that I believe in you
I feel like my faith in you gives me a sense of purpose and direction in my life
Stealing tomorrow
I am trying to take control of the future and make it what I want it to be, regardless of the consequences
I don't care what you think
I am willing to disregard other people's opinions and desires to achieve my goals
I'm going to take it away
I am determined to take control of my future and shape it in my own image
While I am stealing tomorrow from today
I am actively making changes to secure a better future for myself, even if it means sacrificing present-day pleasures
Take it away
I am trying to seize control of the future and make it what I want it to be, regardless of the consequences
And I built this wall around me
I have put up emotional barriers to protect myself from being hurt or exposed
And I refuse to let anyone through
I am stubbornly guarding my emotions and not allowing anyone to get close to me
Oh no, not even you
My emotional barriers are so high that even the person closest to me can't break through
And it's like someone else is driving,
I feel like I am not in control of my own life and someone else is making the decisions for me
Like this body isn't mine
I feel disconnected from my own body and like I am not in touch with my own emotions
I changed myself without even telling you
I have made significant personal changes without consulting or informing the person closest to me
Or even asking and I need relief
I feel like I can't keep going on this path without some kind of emotional release or escape
'Cause I can't be sober and win you over
I feel like I need to be under the influence of something to be able to connect with you and win you over
And relate my temperature
I struggle to express my emotions and connect with others on a deeper level
I have to get out of here
I feel a deep sense of restlessness and discomfort in my current situation and need to escape
And you don't even know the half of it
The person closest to me doesn't fully understand the extent of my internal struggles and conflicts
I cannot turn it off, I don't have a switch for that
I feel like I am trapped in my own personal struggles and don't have the ability to turn off my emotions or thoughts
Haven't crash landed yet, haven't crash landed yet
Despite my personal struggles and conflicts, I haven't reached a total breaking point yet
Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
thatguyonthedoorstep
This song is about the experience of taking psychoactive drugs (most likely LSD) and having a bad trip out of it. Some of the lines that alludes to this interpretation are:
1. "Everything become more true the more I believe in you" (One of the most recurring effect of a bad trip is intense paranoia, in which the subject believes that their perception of reality is the absolute truth and refuses anything that says otherwise)
2. "And I built this wall around me, I refuse to let anyone through" (A person who is experiencing a bad LSD trip is prone to self-isolation, a side effect of the paranoia mentioned above)
3. "And it's like someone else is driving. Like this body isn't mine" (Need I say more?)
4. "I cannot turn it off, don't have the switch for that" (The subject could not handle the trip but is unable to stop it at will)
5. "We haven't crash landed yet" (The subject has yet to come down from his trip at this point)
The line "Stealing Tomorrow" is ambigous at best, but it can be interpreted as how someone rob themselves of their tomorrow by taking said drugs today (hence "stealing tomorrow from today")
Takin' it EZ with DZ
I love this band! And this is in my opinion, their best song. So melodic and beautiful.
J Z
Makes me weep... Beautiful
Aimee Egner
for some reason, pitches & tones, Tony Dekker's voice and lyrics make me weep. like another commenter mentioned, comforting "like a hug". I met them at a festival and they were so humble and kind. I will cherish them forever; serenaded me through one of the toughest times in my life. thank you GLS! love always.
cardonethebear
this song is great... probably the most relaxing music i've ever listened to...
Phyllis Grant
This man is going to give me a heart attack with how beautiful he is.
J Z
I can't be sober and win you over 😭
Tiah Rae
YES
danillo rabelo
I am Brazilian and I discovered this band by chance, enjoyed very, very beautiful songs
michael perez
I danced this song with my wife at our wedding.
brando444
This song is incredibly comforting. Listening to it is like getting a hug from someone you really care about.