During the 70s, while still in his teens, Mitchell began playing with local bands in the city of Sarnia. After evolving through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and a group titled "Zooom" headed off for Toronto, Ontario. The band eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling over to the Greek islands.
Upon his return to Canada, he formed the band Max Webster, which managed to finally break through commercially. Besides playing the group, Mitchell and wrote most of the band's songs with fellow Sarnia native and lyricist, Pye Dubois (Paul Woods). Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster, with session work and a succession of solo albums.
In early 1985, the song "Go For Soda" from the Akimbo Alogo album became an international hit and perhaps remains his best known song outside of his native Canada.
In 2004, Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming afternoon drive time host on Toronto classic rock radio station Q107.
As of 2005, Mitchell, still does the afternoon drive time on Q107, and is working on a new double CD set for a Spring 2006 release.
In December of 2005, Mitchell had proposed to the Q107 listeners that they write a Christmas song together. The resulting song is entitled "A Christmas Smile". At the end of the song, Mitchell advises his fans not to drink and drive, but to "go for a soda" instead.
Expedition Sailor
Kim Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I had a view of the whole wide world
And I was on expedition, expedition sailor
I was out to find a much better world
I'm gone away, odds are not really in
Their favor of seeing me home, I'm gone away
Guess, I'll lay it down on this cruise
I crossed the dateline, I crossed the equator
There is no shore I can't call home
Horizons in heavens just for the sailor
I'm out to find a much better world
I was out to find a much better world, I'm gone away
Guess, I'll lay it down on this cruise
To take me off to somewhere
I'm gone away, odds are not really in
Our favor of seeing me home
The lyrics to Kim Mitchell's song Expedition Sailor speaks metaphorically about a journey of self-discovery and exploration. The singer wakes up in the middle of the Atlantic with a newfound view of the world. He is on a sailing expedition to find a better world. Throughout the journey, the sailor crosses the dateline and the equator, indicating that boundaries and divisions are not a hindrance to his journey. He feels a sense of freedom and liberation, as there is no shore he cannot call home. The sailor is not sure where his voyage is taking him, but he is content and willing to let the waves guide him to wherever the winds may blow.
The lyrics suggest that the sailor is contemplating a departure from the world's constraints and expectations. He is taking a chance, leaving everything behind, and following his dreams. The lyrics leave much to interpretation, but it is clear that the singer is searching for something more and is willing to take on new challenges and risks to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up in the middle of the Atlantic
I found myself in the vast ocean and realized the enormity of the world
And I had a view of the whole wide world
I was in a place that gave me an all-encompassing perspective of the globe
And I was on expedition, expedition sailor
I set out on a mission to explore the unknown as a daring sailor
I was out to find a much better world
My quest was to discover a world that was perfect and superior in every way
I'm gone away, odds are not really in their favor of seeing me home, I'm gone away
I have embarked on this journey, and the odds of returning to my starting point are low
Guess, I'll lay it down on this cruise, to take me off to somewhere
I have decided to commit to this voyage and let it guide me to an unknown destination
I crossed the dateline, I crossed the equator, there is no shore I can't call home
I have traversed the globe and crossed significant points on my journey, and now every shore feels like my own
Horizons in heavens just for the sailor
The skies have unlimited horizons that only the sailor can appreciate
I was out to find a much better world, I'm gone away
I was hell-bent on discovering the best possible world and was ready to risk everything to do so
Our favor of seeing me home
There are slim chances of returning home safely.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danieloleary1129
My favourite Kim Mitchell song that hardly anyone knows about.
So emotional , melancholy, haunting, sad and moving.
@Brad72B
This song was on the radio a lot the year I graduated from high school, and I used to hope it was describing what my life would be like. I thought I wanted to wander. Hearing it now brings me back to how I felt then.
@alicia-rs4ef
This one just popped in the noggin today. My random songs of the day are always great.
@anthonymacdonald862
Kim Mitchell 👍👍maybe Canadas most underrated rock musician guitarist…..and a Fkn great guy too….🎶🎸(blue) 😊
@bendybananakick
Haven't heard this for ages but woke up in the middle of the night last night singing this to myself!!! Weird but such a great song from an amazing album which is gonna get played to death in the next few days.
@anthonyloftis9975
This song would be great in a soundtrack for a movie. Love Kim
@normancook965
Cast Away
@westwindsailer
Being a sailor and in the spirit of the continual possibility of moving across the water to who knows where ..this song resonates.
@ItsDhyve
Canadian Icon lads...Kim, and Pye....legendary lyrics, Kim and Peter, legendary harmony.
@resipsaloquitur854
This is a brilliant song, recorded perfectly. It's not not one of the hard-driving party songs Kim's so well-known for. It's a more mature, beautifully structured melody, with fantastic lyrics by Pye. It quickly became one my favourite Mitchell pieces.