The song is a tribute to Gord Downie, a Canadian rock singer with the band The Tragically Hip who died in October of 2017 after announcing his diagnosis with inoperable brain cancer and undertaking a farewell tour with the band in 2016. Raine Maida has stated in interviews that the song is a recolle...
[Verse 1]
He came on like a mountaineer
Exploring beauty through the syllables and cheers
And there was something different in the air
Something magical, the crowd was unprepared
And he was long and lean, he held that stage
And Jenny looked at me with reverence on her face
And she said we left our bodies there that night
'Cause the music shook our souls and saved our lives
[Chorus]
Tonight we radiate
The lines have been erased
And I can't leave this place
Leave this place, leave this place
[Verse 2]
Now, this ain't New York or Berlin
It's just a small town bringdown
Kind of happening, conviction etched upon his face
Like Lenny Bruce or some fucked up William Blake
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
[Chorus]
Tonight we radiate
The lines have been erased
And I can't leave this place
Leave this place, leave this place
[Bridge]
Tonight we radiate
Tonight we radiate'
[Chorus]
Tonight we radiate
The lines have been erased
And I can't leave this
I can't leave this place
[Chorus]
Tonight we radiate
The lines have been replaced
And I can't leave this
I can't leave this place
[Outro]
He came on like a mountaineer
Exploring beauty through the syllables and cheers
And there was something different in the air
Something magical, the crowd was unprepared
Ballad Of a Poet was written by Raine Maida.
Ballad Of a Poet was produced by Jason Lader.
Our Lady Peace released Ballad Of a Poet on Fri Feb 23 2018.