The Rankins come from a family of 12, all of whom would entertain the neighbours musically every third weekend as part of a ceilidh.
Five of the siblings began performing professionally in 1989. The Rankins released their own independent cassettes The Rankin Family (1989) and Fare Thee Well Love (1990) featuring original songs and a combination of traditional jigs, reels and Celtic folk songs. Their television debut was on the CBC variety show On The Road Again in 1989.
Their most successful album was EMI's re-release of Fare Thee Well Love in 1992, which went quadruple platinum, selling over 500,000 copies; the title track was one of the year's biggest Top 40 hit singles in Canada.
The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, 6 Juno Awards, 4 SOCAN Awards, 3 Canadian Country Music Awards and 2 Big Country Music Awards.
On September 17, 1999, the group issued a press release stating that they would no longer perform as a group in order to pursue independent interests and careers.
John Morris Rankin was killed in a car accident in Cape Breton on January 16, 2000.
Jimmy Rankin has continued to write songs and has released two solo albums: Song Dog (2001) and Handmade (2003).
In November 2006, it was announced that the four surviving Rankins — along with John Morris's daughter Molly — would be releasing a new album and reuniting for a cross-Canada concert tour.
On June 3, 2012, Raylene Rankin appeared on CBC Radio's The Sunday Edition where she spoke about her decade-long struggle with cancer. She died on September 30, 2012 at the age of 52.
Discography
* The Rankin Family (independent, 1989)
* Fare Thee Well Love (independent, 1990)
* Fare Thee Well Love [CD re-issue] (Capitol, 1992)
* The Rankin Family [CD re-issue] (Capitol, 1992)
* North Country (EMI, 1993)
* Endless Seasons (EMI, 1995)
* Grey Dusk Of Eve (EMI, 1995)
* Collection (EMI, 1996)
* Do You Hear...Christmas (EMI, 1997)
* Uprooted (EMI, 1998)
* Souvenir:1989-1998 (2003)
Weddings Wakes and Funerals
The Rankin Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just rolled in from new found land
Signal hill, howling wind
Let's see
Dark black rum and fishing boats
The wolf is always at your throat, sadly
I dreamed one night of an old dance hall
The prompter called, proudly
But it ended in a fearful brawl
The old man said "That's it, that's all"
Loudly
I found myself on a dead end road
Struggling with one heavy load and toll
When I saw him dancing in the wind
I knew right then that it must have been the ghost
Of Charlie Joe
Everybody dance
I drifted off to a county cell
Sweet songbirds and wedding bells ringing
Then I arose to a funeral scene
Long black veils and limousines, shining
Weddings, wakes, funerals
It might be heaven and it might be hell
Depends
But there's one thing that I do know
You'll have your fill before you go
Amen
The Rankin Family's song "Weddings Wakes and Funerals" is a reflection on the cycle of life and the different events that mark it. The song begins with the singer returning from Newfoundland, where he has been drinking rum and watching fishing boats. The line "The wolf is always at your throat" suggests a sense of danger and uncertainty. The singer then has a dream about an old dance hall and a brawl that interrupts the festivities. This can be seen as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life and how even happy occasions can turn dark. The mention of "Charlie Joe" suggests that this is a memory from the past, perhaps from the singer's youth.
The song then moves on to a funeral scene, with "long black veils and limousines shining". This is a more somber event than the previous ones mentioned, and it hints at the finality of death. The repetition of the phrase "Weddings, wakes, and funerals" throughout the song serves to emphasize the cyclical nature of life, with each event leading inevitably to the next. Despite the uncertainty and darkness that the song evokes, there is a sense of acceptance and resignation in the final line "You'll have your fill before you go", suggesting that life is to be fully experienced, both in its joys and challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Weddings, wakes, and funerals
This song is about the cycle of life and how weddings, wakes, and funerals are a part of it.
I just rolled in from new found land
The singer is describing their arrival in a new place, possibly indicating a fresh start or change in their life.
Signal hill, howling wind
The singer is describing the landscape of the place they just arrived in.
Let's see
This line is possibly indicating a pause or reflection before continuing with the next thought.
Dark black rum and fishing boats
The artist is describing the imagery associated with the place they just arrived in.
The wolf is always at your throat, sadly
This line speaks to the constant struggle and fear that exists in life, even among the beauty and joy.
I dreamed one night of an old dance hall
The singer is describing a dream they had about a particular place.
The fiddler played
This line indicates the presence of music and celebration in the dream.
The prompter called, proudly
This line refers to the person leading or announcing the dance, and their joy in doing so.
But it ended in a fearful brawl
The dream ended in violence and conflict.
The old man said "That's it, that's all"
This line marks the end of the dream, and possibly indicates a lesson learned.
I found myself on a dead end road
The artist is describing a difficult or unfulfilling path in their life.
Struggling with one heavy load and toll
The singer is struggling with a burden, both physically and emotionally.
When I saw him dancing in the wind
The singer witnesses something unexpected and possibly mystical.
I knew right then that it must have been the ghost
The singer identifies the dancing figure as a ghost, indicating a supernatural presence.
Of Charlie Joe
The name of the ghost, possibly with a personal or cultural significance.
Everybody dance
A call to action for everyone to participate in the joys of life.
I drifted off to a county cell
The singer is describing a state of confinement or isolation.
Sweet songbirds and wedding bells ringing
The singer hears joyous sounds from outside their confined space, possibly indicating a longing for freedom and happiness.
Then I arose to a funeral scene
The artist describes waking up to a somber environment.
Long black veils and limousines, shining
This line describes the visual imagery of a funeral, including the traditional colors and symbols associated with it.
It might be heaven and it might be hell
This line speaks to the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, including the possibility of both good and bad experiences.
Depends
Possibly indicating a pause or moment of contemplation before giving the final thought.
But there's one thing that I do know
The artist is about to share a piece of wisdom or insight they are sure of.
You'll have your fill before you go
The singer is saying that everyone will experience the full range of life, including its joys and sorrows, before it comes to an end.
Amen
A traditional closing word for a prayer or statement of belief.
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulbarr8908
I first heard this album on the radio while driving in Northern Maine on my way to Canada. I fell in LOVE with the whole genre' of music at that time, and this specific album helped through a very bad time in my life.
@antonaidh
Thanks for listeneing Paul! I believe they had that effect on many, myself included.
@davidtipton3435
Amazing music, amazing family. Saw them live four times. Unforgettable.
@susanszewczuk
Beautiful I'm feeling closer to my blood family through these videos 😊🌈❤️🙏🏻😭✅
@antonaidh
I am very glad to hear it!
@Revi0us
Anyone know the Gaelic spoken at 3:25?
@antonaidh
I can't really make it out, you could ask Heather on FB, she might give you an answer.
@HeatherRankinMusic on FB
@Revi0us
@@antonaidh Thanks!