The band's blend of punk-inflected folk rock with literate, witty, introspective lyrics have made them one of the most popular bands on the Canadian music scene.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, The Weakerthans have produced four full albums with a variety of unusual subjects; a couple of songs are sung from the point of view of John's cat Virtute (Ver-tu-tay). The Weakerthans are popular in their home city of Winnipeg; their song "One Great City!" expresses their love/hate relationship with the problems and attitude of Winnipeg. No matter their methods, though, one thing is clear: The Weakerthans are not afraid to venture into lyrical styles uncharted by their contemporaries. On their third album, Reconstruction Site, Samson penned three songs, "(Manifest)", "(Hospital Vespers)", and "(Past Due)", in Shakespearean sonnet form.
One origin story for the band's name, as quoted in the liner notes of Fallow, is a line from the 1992 film The Lover: "Go ahead, I'm weaker than you can possibly imagine." The band's name may also refer to a Ralph Chaplin quote from "Solidarity Forever": "What force on Earth can be weaker than the feeble strength of one?" The band alludes to this line in the song "Pamphleteer" from the album Left and Leaving.
The band last released an album, Live at the Burton Cummings Theatre, in 2010.
Since 2015, the band has been on hiatus.
Elegy for Gump Worsley
The Weakerthans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a goalie, player, athlete period
Smoke, half-ash, stuck in that permanent smirk
Tugging jersey around the beer gut
"I'm strictly a whiskey man"
Was one of the sticks he taped up
And gave to a nation of pudgy boys in beverage rooms
Favorites from Plympton's list
Of objects thrown by Rangers fans
Soup cans, persimmon, eggs, a folding chair and a dead rabbit
The nervous breakdown of '68 and '69
After pant-crap flights from LA, the expansion
A shrink told me to change occupations, I had to forget it
He swore he was never afraid of the puck, we believe him
If anyone asks, the inscription should read
"My face was my mask."
The Weakerthans' song "Elegy from Gump Worsley" is a poignant tribute to Lorne "Gump" Worsley, a former NHL goaltender who played for several teams, including the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Minnesota North Stars. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Worsley's persona, both on and off the ice. The first verse describes Worsley's appearance, noting that he looked more like a father than an athlete, with a cigarette in his mouth and a constant smirk on his face. The second verse highlights Worsley's drinking habits and his tendency to share his old sticks with young fans. The final verse references both Worsley's bravery as a player and his struggles with mental health.
The line "He looked more like our fathers" is a nod to the fact that Worsley did not fit the typical mold of a hockey player, with his unathletic physique and casual demeanor. The reference to his half-smoked cigarette is a callback to a famous photo of Worsley that captured him smoking between periods of a game. The line "My face was my mask" speaks to Worsley's bravery as a player, as he refused to wear a protective mask until late in his career, even after suffering multiple injuries.
Overall, "Elegy from Gump Worsley" is a heartfelt tribute to a beloved hockey player who is remembered for his skill, his courage, and his unique personality.
Line by Line Meaning
He looked more like our fathers
Gump Worsley was not your typical athlete; he was older, and his demeanor resembled that of a father figure.
Not a goalie, player, athlete period
Though Gump Worsley was indeed a goalie, he was not the conventional, stereotypical athlete that comes to mind.
Smoke, half-ash, stuck in that permanent smirk
Worsley was often seen smoking cigarettes, with one hanging from his lips; he had a permanent smirk, embodying his down-to-earth nature.
Tugging jersey around the beer gut
Gump wore his jersey tight around his belly, which was indicative of his love for a cold beer.
"I'm strictly a whiskey man"
Gump's drink of choice was whiskey, which he proudly proclaimed.
Was one of the sticks he taped up
He used whiskey to stick his hockey sticks together since he did not like the way traditional tape felt when he held the stick.
And gave to a nation of pudgy boys in beverage rooms
Gump's unique style of taping his stick with whiskey caught on, and he taught this technique to young hockey players across the country in bars and other places where they would gather to drink.
Favorites from Plympton's list
Bill Plympton was a hockey enthusiast who wrote a list of objects that fans have thrown onto the ice at Rangers games, some of which were favored by Worsley.
Of objects thrown by Rangers fans
Fans of the Rangers hockey team had a tendency to throw objects onto the ice during games, much to the amusement of Worsley who enjoyed seeing what would come next.
Soup cans, persimmon, eggs, a folding chair and a dead rabbit
Some of the strange objects that were thrown onto the ice at Rangers games included various food items, furniture, and even a dead animal.
The nervous breakdown of '68 and '69
During the years of 1968 and 1969, Worsley experienced a nervous breakdown as a result of the stress associated with travel and being a professional athlete.
After pant-crap flights from LA, the expansion
The stress associated with traveling on less-than-perfect flights out of Los Angeles, which was an expansion team at the time, was a contributing factor to Worsley's nervous breakdown.
A shrink told me to change occupations, I had to forget it
Worsley sought out professional help for his breakdown, but was advised to leave his profession as an athlete behind, which he did not want to do.
He swore he was never afraid of the puck, we believe him
Gump Worsley's confidence in his ability as a goalie was unshakable, and his peers had no doubt that he was being truthful in his claims.
If anyone asks, the inscription should read
In the event of his passing, Worsley wanted to leave behind one final message as a part of his legacy.
"My face was my mask."
Gump Worsley was not interested in using a traditional mask that covered his face to protect himself from the puck during games; he believed that his face was all the protection he needed.
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gryffin
on Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure
It had something to do with the rain
It was a rainy day when Virtute left
Leaching loamy dirt
The dirt becoming muddy and wet due to the rain.
And the way the back lane came alive
The rain bringing life to the back alley and making it more vibrant.
Half moon whispered go
Personification of the half-moon; Virtute believed it told her to leave
For a while I heard you
The cat heard its owner's footsteps for a brief period.
Missing steps in the street
The owner was upset and confused, stumbling while walking in the street, looking for her.
And your anger pleading
The owner's anger begging for something; perhaps Virtute's return
In an uncertain key
The owner's tone being unsure and lacking confidence.
Singing the sound that you found for me
Virtute's owner is calling out her name in an attempt to find her
When the winter took the tips of my ears
In winter, Virtute lost the tips of her ears to the cold
Found this noisy home
The cat found a new place to live.
Full of pigeons and places to hide
The new place was abundant in pigeons and had many good hiding spots.
And when the voices died
When everything became silent.
I emerged to watch abandoned machines
The cat came out of hiding to look at the machines that had been abandoned.
Waiting for their men
The machines were waiting for someone to come and use them.
To return, I remember the way
The cat remembers how the owner would look for her and she misses him.
I would wait for you
The cat used to wait for her owner to come back.
To arrive with kibble
The owner used to bring kibble for the cat to eat.
And a box full of beer
The owner used to have beer with him when he came back home.
How I'd scratch the empties
The cat remembers how she used to scratch the empty beer cans and bottles for hours to entertain herself.
Desperate to hear
The cat was desperate to hear the familiar sounds of her owner's presence.
You make the sound that you found for me
Virtute longed to hear her owner say her name, to be acknowledged by the person who left her alone for so long.
After scrapping with the ferals and the tabby
After fighting with other cats in the area.
Let you brush my matted fur
Allowed the owner to groom her matted fur.
How I'd knead into your chest while you were sleeping
The cat remembers how she used to knead into her owner's chest while he slept.
Shallow breathing made me purr
The cat would purr while feeling her owner's shallow breathing and being comforted by it.
But I can't remember the sound that you found for me
The cat can no longer remember the name her owner gave her, and it makes her sad and confused.
I can't remember the sound that you found for me
Reinforcing the fact that the cat can no longer remember her name.
I can't remember the sound
The cat can't seem to remember anything about the owner's voice and it vexes her.