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Remembrance Day

from Canada 2 by Paris Street

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about

This song is based on a vacation I took 10 years ago with 2 friends. We flew from Tampa, Florida to Winnipeg, Manitoba, then took another plane to Thompson, Manitoba, then took a 14-hour train ride to Churchill. All so that we could see some polar bears.

At a Wendy's in Winnipeg, I saw a donation box by the cash register with a bunch of red, plastic poppies. I asked the cashier about them. She said they were for Remembrance Day.

lyrics

She enjoyed my Churchill poems
Their imagery, meter, and tone
But - to her - the best thing was
How she factored in each and every one

The story of the northbound train
The antics that the cars contained
A fourteen hour ride
Underneath the stars and northern lights

Past the tree line, towards the place
Where the wind destroys your face
As the ice forms on the bay

Earlier in Thompson bars
Buying drinks for pool hall stars
At 55 degrees
The latitude that weakened Gordon's knees

Stumbling back to our hotel beds
As the lights danced overhead
Giving us a complete sense
Of our total insignificance

And everyone so generous
The cab drivers and Thompson drunks
Happy to lend a hand to us

Red plastic poppies on display
Pinned to a nation's chest - they say
It's for Remembrance Day

Trudging through the ice and snow
In boots too big and borrowed clothes
Too cold for my Florida bones

Past the tree line, towards the place
Where the wind destroys your face
As the ice forms on the bay

Red plastic poppies on display
Pinned to a nation's heart - they say
It's for Remembrance Day

We were bummed out on the last leg
Of our flight back to Winnipeg
So sad to see the story end

Red plastic poppies on display
Pinned to a nation's chest - they say
It's for Remembrance Day

credits

from Canada 2, released November 1, 2011
Written and performed by Carl Polgar

If you somehow want a lengthier explanation about the story behind this song, go here: paris-street.com/2011/11/01/explaining-remembrance-day/

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Paris Street Sacramento, California

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