How the hell can I do a Maple Leaf March without the Canadian treasure that was the Tragically Hip?
This may be their best known song in Canada. It is considered one of their greatest. Like almost every Hip song, it went nowhere in the States. In this case, it might be a good thing. Let me explain.
In the early 1990s, there were a series of antisemitic riots in Toronto, when members of the Neo-Nazi group the Heritage Front engaged in a street fight with a group calling themselves Anti-Racist Action. A lot of Americans would never associate such violent antisemitism with Canada - and yet, it really happened, and this was the second time (there were similar outbursts in 1933).
These riots didn't happen in Bobcaygeon - which was chosen just because it rhymed with "constellation" - but the video makes clear reference to them, and the themes of the song reference them so directly.
At any rate, Bobcaygeon relished the reference in the song, hosting a large viewing party for the Hip's farewell concert.
This was not Bobcaygeon. This was Kingston. But trust me - Bobcaygeon was watching.
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