The band began in 1983 as a Vancouver-based folk trio called Evesdropper, consisting of John Mann, Geoffrey Kelly and J. Knutson. They soon changed their name to Spirit of the West, and independently released a self-titled album in 1984 before signing to Stony Plain Records, an Edmonton, Alberta roots music label.
Stony Plain released Tripping Up the Stairs in 1986. Following that album, Knutson left the band and was replaced by Hugh MacMillan.
1988's Labour Day was the band's first major success, spawning the popular single "Political" and making the band a major name on the folk festival circuit. After that album's tour, MacMillan took a temporary hiatus from the band. He was replaced by Daniel Lapp and Linda McRae, but returned before the band's next album was recorded. When MacMillan returned, Lapp left the band but McRae stayed on. (As a result, Lapp never actually appeared on a Spirit of the West recording. He pursued a solo career, however, releasing a number of albums of experimental jazz/folk/electronic fusion.)
On the strength of "Political", Warner Brothers Records signed the band, and Stony Plain released a compilation, Old Material 1984-1986 in 1989. In 1990, the band's major label debut, Save This House was released, spawning the singles "Save This House" and "Home For a Rest" (which is still considered a classic frosh week anthem at universities across Canada.)
Following that album, the band toured England with The Wonder Stuff, and decided to bring in a drummer and experiment with a more rock-oriented sound. Vince Ditrich was brought in, and the band's 1991 album, Go Figure, was the result.
Although the album retained the band's folk influences, it was more hard rock than any of the band's previous efforts, and this proved controversial among the band's fans. The album included a rock rendition of "Political", and at one show in London, Ontario, the audience presented the band with a petition demanding that they play the original version of that song. Despite the controversies, however, it became the band's mainstream commercial breakthrough, and won them many new fans in the alternative rock scene.
In 1993, the band released their most successful album, Faithlift, and scored their biggest hit single, "...And if Venice is Sinking". 1995's Two Headed, in turn, garnered significant airplay for the single "Tell Me What I Think". However, the album was not as successful on the charts, or as critically hailed, as its predecessor.
In 1996, the band performed two shows with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The band included some of their hits in these shows, but also included an album's worth of songs written specifically for the occasion, and the new songs were released as Open Heart Symphony that year. (Some of the hits performed at those shows are available on the compilation Hit Parade.) Also in 1996, McRae left the band amicably to pursue a solo career, performing her last show on New Year's Eve of that year. She went on to release a solo country album in 1997, and then formed the alternative country band Cheerful Lonesome.
The remaining members recorded 1997's Weights and Measures as a four-piece, working with members of The Wonder Stuff, Capercaillie, Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull to round out the studio effort, and added Tobin Frank for their concert tour. However, with the music industry's emphasis having shifted by this time toward more mainstream pop-oriented performers, Warner put little effort into promoting the album, and dropped the band from their roster after the tour.
After Weights & Measures the band took a hiatus, although they continued to perform live, and remained a popular concert draw. During the hiatus, Mann, Ditrich and Kelly all released solo albums, Mann pursued acting roles, MacMillan worked as a session musician and producer, and Kelly and Frank recorded with The Paperboys.
The band's first new album in seven years, Star Trails, was released on July 6, 2004 on MapleMusic Recordings.
In 2005, "Home For a Rest" was named the 22nd greatest Canadian song of all time on CBC Radio One's 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.
Mann was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers' disease (disclosed in Sept 2014) and Ditrich has liver disease. The group gave its final performances in April 2016 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
The band performed a reunion set at Spirit of Canada, a benefit concert for Alzheimer's awareness at the Commodore Ballroom on November 19, 2017. The concert's lineup included Odds, Barney Bentall, Dustin Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Kendel Carson, Jim Cuddy, Alan Doyle, Colin James, Sarah McLachlan, Ed Robertson, Shari Ulrich and Spirit: The Next Generation, an act consisting of the band members' children. Before the show, the performing musicians participated in a group recording of the band's signature song "Home for a Rest" as a tribute to Mann.
John Mann born September 18, 1962 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, died November 20, 2019.
Turned Out Lies
Spirit of the West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember a promise to save our youth
I remember security for our aging
But when you made the pudding you left out all the proof
I seem to recall you mentioning the word hope
I seem to recall you mentioning solutions
You made it sound like an angel had landed on our doorstep
Gave us more like two steps back than any evolution
You have us crawling round in circles 'stead of walking straight ahead
And I remember what you passed for truth turned out lies instead
Yes, I remember what you said (lies, lies, lies)
Yeah, I remember what you said (lies, lies, lies)
I made you a promise for a new tomorrow
I made you a promise to share our youth
I promised you security through our aging
But when I made the pudding, love, I left out all the proof
I seem to recall you mentioning the word trust
I seem to recall you mentioning devotion
Made it sound like god's gift had landed on your doorstep
Gave you more like two steps back than any evolution
My empty promises were filling up your head, I have us
Crawling round in circles 'stead of walking straight ahead
And I remember what you took for truth turned out lies instead
Yes, I remember what I said (lies, lies, lies)
Yes, I remember what you said (lies, lies, lies)
I remember
Yeah, promise, promise, here's a little promise, it's love that I'll keep for sure
Said, promise, promise, here comes a promise, it's love that I'll keep for sure
Promise, promise here's a little promise, it's love that I'll keep for sure
Said, promise, promise here's a little promise, it's love
I remember, I remember
I remember, I remember
I remember, I remember
I know you're through with broken promises, yes
I know you're through with broken plans and broken dreams
I know you're through with broken promises, yes
I know you're through, you're through with broken promises
The song Turned Out Lies by Spirit Of The West is about broken promises and deceitful words by those in power. The first verse talks about a promise for a better future for both the youth and the aging population, but the proof never materialized, and the promises turned out to be lies instead. The singer recalls the word "hope" and "solutions" being mentioned but instead of progress, there was regression.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that they also made promises that were broken, mentioning the words "trust" and "devotion." The person they made promises to has lost faith in them due to empty words and lack of action. The chorus emphasizes the impact of these lies and empty promises; they are filling people's heads and causing them to move in circles instead of moving forward. The repetition of "I remember what you said" and "I remember what I said" emphasizes the importance of keeping promises and upholding the truth.
The song is a commentary on politicians and those in power who use lofty language to make promises they don't intend to keep. The difficulty of making progress in society when so much is based on deceitful words and empty promises is a central theme of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember a promise for a new tomorrow
I recall being promised a better future.
I remember a promise to save our youth
I recall being promised that the younger generation will be protected and saved from harm.
I remember security for our aging
I recall being promised security throughout old age.
But when you made the pudding you left out all the proof
But when it came time to prove these promises, there was nothing substantial to back them up.
I seem to recall you mentioning the word hope
I recall you speaking about hope.
I seem to recall you mentioning solutions
I recall you speaking about solutions.
You made it sound like an angel had landed on our doorstep
You painted a picture of it being a perfect solution that would solve all of our problems.
Gave us more like two steps back than any evolution
The solutions you provided actually set us back further than the progress we had made.
Your empty promises are filling people's heads
Your promises that lack substance are leading people astray.
You have us crawling round in circles 'stead of walking straight ahead
Your promises are confusing and cause us to be indecisive and unable to move forward.
And I remember what you passed for truth turned out lies instead
I remember that your so-called truths ended up being lies.
Yes, I remember what you said (lies, lies, lies)
I remember that what you claimed was true was actually false.
I made you a promise for a new tomorrow
I promised to create a better future for you.
I made you a promise to share our youth
I promised to involve the younger generation in the decision-making process.
I promised you security through our aging
I promised to provide security throughout old age.
But when I made the pudding, love, I left out all the proof
But when it came time to prove these promises, there was nothing substantial to back them up.
I seem to recall you mentioning the word trust
I recall you mentioning trust.
I seem to recall you mentioning devotion
I recall you mentioning devotion.
Made it sound like god's gift had landed on your doorstep
You described the solution as being the best possible thing that could have happened, like a divine blessing.
Gave you more like two steps back than any evolution
The solution I provided ended up setting us back instead of moving us forward.
My empty promises were filling up your head, I have us
My hollow promises were leading us to a sense of confusion and uncertainty.
Crawling round in circles 'stead of walking straight ahead
Instead of moving forward and making progress, we were constantly going around in circles and not achieving any goals.
And I remember what you took for truth turned out lies instead
I remember that what I promised turned out false.
Promise, promise, here's a little promise, it's love that I'll keep for sure
As a new promise, I promise to deliver on love.
Said, promise, promise, here comes a promise, it's love that I'll keep for sure
Reiterating the promise to deliver on love.
I know you're through with broken promises, yes
I understand that you're fed up with empty promises.
I know you're through with broken plans and broken dreams
I understand that you're tired of plans that don't come to fruition and dreams that never become reality.
I know you're through with broken promises, yes
I understand that you've had enough of false hope and unfulfilled promises.
I know you're through, you're through with broken promises
I understand that you are done with empty promises that lack substance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carey Willetts, Joel Pott, Steven Roberts, Timothy Wanstall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Xtian
on Guildhall Witness
Well done. John Mann is so, so, so, so very missed.