This is one post in a series. Each post will focus on one song by the Canadian rock n’ roll band The Tragically Hip. I am a fan, not an expert. The thoughts expressed in these posts are my own, with the following two exceptions: I have drawn inspiration and knowledge from a book entitled The Never Ending Present by Michael Barclay. I have, also, learned much from a website dedicated to Hip fans entitled The Hip Museum. I will give credit to either source when applicable.
This song is based on the true story of a polar bear named Gus. Gus was a featured attraction in the Central Park Zoo in NYC. After years in captivity, Gus began displaying signs of mental and emotional distress. King of the Tundra no longer, this majestic creature languished under the constant gaze of those who never knew he was in such pain. In this song, I swear Gord’s voice has an extra growl-like quality to it. I have always admired how the Tragically Hip so willingly gave voice to those unable to speak for themselves.
“Whats troubling, Gus? Is it nothing goes quiet?
Is that what’s troubling you, Gus? The mere mention of the name
Used to be enough to make every bird stop singing.
Is that what’s troubling you, Gus? No one is afraid.”
This song comes from The Hip’s ninth album called In Between Evolution. It was produced by a man named Adam Kaspar who helped produce some of Pearl Jam’s early albums. This helps to explain why this seemingly odd song choice has such a rocking sound. While this song is specifically about a polar bear in a zoo, the symbolism of having such a strong beast appear so weak and defeated correlates perfectly with the mood of America after 9/11. That the U.S. could suddenly be made to seem so vulnerable was apparent to citizens and non-citizens alike, just as the depressed mood of Gus the Polar Bear became apparent to everyone, too. The Tragically Hip did not start out to be a political band but when the mood struck and the situation called for it, Gord Downie and the boys sure knew how to make their point sound like a thousand growling bears.
In this post, as in all others in this series, your comments on this song are most welcome. Feel free to talk about the lyrics, the musicianship, the subject matter of this song, your thoughts on zoos and/or animal rights……whatever your heart desires. Thanks for reading this post about Gus, the Polar Bear from Central Park by The Tragically Hip.
A link to a video of the band performing this song live can be found here. ***The lyrics version can be found here…(look in the comments section of this video for the lyrics).
The link to the official website for The Tragically Hip can be found here.
The link to the Central park Zoo in NYC can be found here.
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