Lyrics Help: Ballad of a Poet

Hugh23 · Post by **Hugh23** » 5/23/2018, 10:21 am

I have always been a big The Tragically Hip fan, so I was naturally drawn to this song. Please tell me what the lyrics are to this part (it isn't published in the CD lyrics insert):

I said New York or Berlin
It's just a Small Town Bringdown, kinda happenin'
With conviction etched upon his face
Like Lenny Bruce or some fucked up ....... ?????

I don't why this line is missing in all lyric sites and the CD insert.

Post by **faninor** » 5/23/2018, 12:39 pm

William Blake, I think.

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » 5/24/2018, 1:34 pm

I hear William Blake too. Poet/painter, so i think the lyric fits.

Also, I hear the lyrics as;

This ain't New York or Berlin
It's just a Small Town Bringdown (burn down?), kinda happenin'
he had conviction etched upon his face
Like Lenny Bruce or some fucked up William Blake

I see some some sites suggest the line is not "like lenny bruce", but "Like any verse from some fucked up William Blake". Not sure I agree with that, but it's hard to hear.

Hugh23 · Post by **Hugh23** » 5/25/2018, 3:13 pm

Thanks for the help and corrections. I like the William Blake reference. I looked him up and I agree his philosophy and writings fit the theme of the song according to what I read.

Post by **xjsb125** » 5/25/2018, 4:30 pm

Just FYI if you look up the audio only tracks on their YouTube page, the lyrics are in the description for each song.

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » 5/25/2018, 8:14 pm

xjsb125 wrote:Just FYI if you look up the audio only tracks on their YouTube page, the lyrics are in the description for each song.

The line in question is missing from the YouTube page.

OLPManiac · Post by **OLPManiac** » 6/2/2018, 12:47 pm

The line is missing also on lyrics booklet.. :-)

Hugh23 · Post by **Hugh23** » 6/12/2018, 7:23 am

I'm only guessing, but I think that line was left off on purpose. The only reason I can think of is Raine knew his kids and other younger fans would read the lyrics insert and see him swearing. (lol)

I know a lot of OLP lyrics, but I can't think of any other songs Raine uses a swear word. Does anyone else know of other examples?

Post by **xjsb125** » 6/12/2018, 12:45 pm

Dirty Walls, Hello Oskar, Happiness and the Fish, and Dreamland are a few right off the top of my head.

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » 6/13/2018, 9:50 am

Supersatellite too.

I'm still convinced he says "fuck pipe" in Birdman.

Hugh23 · Post by **Hugh23** » 6/16/2018, 11:14 pm

Thanks, I'm going to listen to those songs again.

OLPManiac · Post by **OLPManiac** » 12/9/2018, 6:45 am

Today I was listening to this https://youtu.be/K8R_UhoTIv8 and I read the description, it seems that they put the full lyrics...there is the controversial verse:

"This ain’t New York or Berlin
It’s just a "Small Town Bringdown", kind of happening
Conviction etched upon his face

Like any verses from some fucked up William Blake
He was cloaked in denim head to toe
He traded words like souvenirs in stereo
Something different about this night
Cause it was happening right before our eyes"

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 12/10/2018, 9:42 am

Maybe it’s just me, but since day one I’ve heard the lyric as:

“Like Lenny Bruce or some fucked up William Blake”

Driven · Post by **Driven** » 12/10/2018, 3:57 pm

Yeah I’d be shocked if it’s not Lenny Bruce

ClumsyMonkey.net

Lyrics Help: Ballad of a Poet

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