The only criterion we used in doing cover material was we wanted to do songs that we wished bands would play when we went out. We were doing Yardbirds and Rolling Stones cover songs-which is not any big deal, but where we were from, all we were getting were Top 40 bands.

Gord Downie

I kind of love walking around with something nobody else knows about in my back pocket.

As we move towards resolution and understanding and greater serenity in all aspects of our life, love's pretty elemental and that's nice to know. I think rock 'n' roll is the same. I don't pretend to understand it; it feels confusing and frightening and wonderful.

Gord Downie

War Men Love

I have no illusions of the future. Or maybe it's all illusion. I don't know. I've always been ready for it.

Gord Downie

Future Ways Way

It's time to listen to the stories of the Indigenous; we are blessed as a country to look to the wisdom of a really old country.

Gord Downie

Wisdom Time Us

We're not building a nuclear reactor here. We're not drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean with no plan in case something goes wrong. This is making music, this is melodious air and people can hear what goes into it.

Gord Downie

Music Wrong Wit

I'm agile.

Gord Downie

Agile

Life's too short for bad coffee.

Gord Downie

Life Too T

Acting is like lifting a 400-pound feather. It's a feather, how hard could it be? And yet, you go to lift it and it's heavy. For that reason, I love it, because it's very hard and difficult and challenging and obviously I want to learn more.

Gord Downie

Love You Want

It will take 150 years or seven generations to heal the wound of the residential school.

Gord Downie

Years Year Wound

Canadians can be funny.

Gord Downie

Funny UN Fun

We were interested in making a long career out of this, rather than being 'Canada's Newest Hitmakers.' It seems to work, and it trickles down to every aspect of the band.

Gord Downie

Work Car West

Rock 'n' roll is not unlike love. You find it oddly strangely comforting that no matter how old you get, when it comes to matters of the heart, you're always 15 inside.

Gord Downie

Love Art You

Canada is not Canada. We are not the country we think we are.

Gord Downie

UN Try Think

I write lyrics. putting words and melodies to my songs. That's a real challenge, I take it on vigorously.

Gord Downie

Write Words Word

I work every day. I write every day. I walk around in silent conversation with my latest unfinished songs.

Gord Downie

Work Write Wit

I used to run the band hockey pool - regular season and playoffs. I would write weekly reports, which were meant to demoralize and diffuse enjoyment for others.

Gord Downie

Men Write Would

I grew up on the lake and spent most of that time outdoors. As a musician, I travel widely around the country and talk to a lot of people, from all walks of life. That experience, combined with my rock and roll roots gives me something of an affinity for the underdog. In many ways, the environment is also the underdog - so, it's an easy fit.

Gord Downie

Travel Time Music

I want my kids to be good. I want them to be safe and have a great, long life. And take what they need from me and leave what they don't. Definitely leave what they don't.

Gord Downie

Life Great Good

If you're aiming for a hole in one, and you get one, you feel lucky - but at the same time you can justifiably say, 'Well, I was aiming for the hole anyway.'

Gord Downie

Time You Well

To be honest, I think affiliation is anathema - if you're a rock 'n' roller, you're a lone wolf.

Gord Downie

You Wolf To Be Honest

I'm interested in doing anything that teaches me something.

Gord Downie

I'm a dancer. It's what I love to do more than anything.

Gord Downie

As you get older, you mellow, but there's a natural propensity to watch what you say, 'cause you learn that you want more time and space to craft what you want to say because you're less likely to want to say impetuous things, or things that aren't thought-out properly.

Gord Downie

I'm a music fan - I love meeting other musicians, I love talking to other musicians - and what greater opportunity to take advantage of whatever standing we might have to try and attract people? To say 'We don't know you, but we love you, and will you come play with us?' Sometimes they actually do.

Gord Downie

In Canada, the major centers to play are very few and far between. Bands that are traveling in Canada really have to travel between gigs.

Gord Downie

Our sound is nothing like the Doors.

Gord Downie

I think I'm a dancer in terms of what I do onstage.

Gord Downie

Being a dad, and being in a rock band, it's harder than it looks. But we tried. And we try.

Gord Downie

The Sadies have toured with the Hip probably more than any other band. I got to know them pretty well and loved their sets.

Gord Downie

You know, I've been hit with a Greb boot in the face and I've been spat on. And my kids light up when they hear these stories. It really takes their minds off their troubles.

Gord Downie

What would be great is if everyone who bought a record got a comp ticket to a show.

Gord Downie

If you work hard enough I don't think it's possible to just repeat what you're doing.

Gord Downie

You know, Prime Minister Trudeau's got me. His work with First Nations. He's got everybody. He's going to take us where we need to go.

Gord Downie

The only criterion we used in doing cover material was we wanted to do songs that we wished bands would play when we went out. We were doing Yardbirds and Rolling Stones cover songs-which is not any big deal, but where we were from, all we were getting were Top 40 bands.

Gord Downie

When you're opening for someone, there's no pressure.

Gord Downie

I've always kept a notebook in my pocket, I've always written stuff down since I was a kid.

Gord Downie

To become a country, and truly call ourselves Canada, it means we must become one.

Gord Downie

Music brings people together. So my function in anything I do is to help bring people closer in.

Gord Downie

I haven't written too many political lyrics. Nor have I written any pro-Canada lyrics, any kind of jingoistic, nationalistic cant... That stuff doesn't interest me and I don't even know if I could write that if I tried because I don't really feel it.

Gord Downie

I always like to have a glimmer of hopefulness, even in collapse.

Gord Downie

I've always liked R.E.M. because, like so many things I like, they exude a warmth; I like to think that we do, too.

Gord Downie

Even as a kid, I don't think I bought into a lot of the mythology about Canada.

Gord Downie

I think the health of our water is tied to a lot: the health of our communities, hence our economy, the health of our basic human rights.

Gord Downie

We used to tie a skipping rope to a pitchfork and try to spear big carp. We never got one. My kids love that story, very 'Lord of the Flies.'

Gord Downie

If I'm to be an 'ist' then, like Bobby Kennedy, I'm probably more of a free market capitalist than an environmentalist. Rather than wanting to tell people to be less bad, I'm saying let's make it fair across the board and stop subsidizing the big heavy-polluting fat cats, let's make it a level playing field.

Gord Downie

We did reach a wider audience with 'SNL,' but it's hard to know what attracts people to your band in the long run.

Gord Downie

Ultimately with our band, it's word of mouth. It seems to be the largest cause of The Hip outbreak - if we can align ourselves with a virus.

Gord Downie

I like hanging with my family and helping them on their way however I can. There's a new tragicomedy every half-hour, there is laughter, there are tears, and it's all real. They are endlessly entertaining, they have given me so much, they've given me a chance to 'see' things again.

Gord Downie

I stand in support of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations and all Canadians who find themselves with no voice in our present version of democracy, who are trying to come up with the entry fee that gets them a seat at the table where their pollution future is being discussed.

Gord Downie

Bob Rock taught me a lot. His friendship has taught me a lot about what you should expect from a recording session and, more importantly, how you shouldn't expect anything less than absolute joyousness. You should feel great. You should feel 14 to be doing it. It's true and it's rare.

Gord Downie