Song is about the École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal in 1989, and centres on the mother of one of the victims as she prepares for her daughter’s funeral.
The band have not been able to find the original recording. The version on Saskadelphia, a live performance in Montreal in 2000 on the day...
We'd like to do a song now about the identification process
It's called "Montreal"
She used to like lavender pantsuits
Long black velvet gloves
Smiles across crowded rooms
To the only boy she ever loved
Don't you worry
Her mother's gonna make her look good
Don't you worry
Her mother's gonna make her look good
She didn't like leopard coats
Or tall thin millionaires
Kissing everybody on New Year's Eve
Or sending men to elеctric chairs
Don't you worry
Her mother's gonna make hеr look good
Don't you worry
Her father's gonna make her look good
[?] the chance to explain
Ah well, don't you just explain
Come on, explain away
[?]
The snow is so merciless
Poor old Montreal
In spite of everything that's happened
Yeah, in spite of it all
Don't you worry
Her mother's gonna make her look good
Don't you worry
Her father's gonna make her look good
Because a coward won't die alone(?)
[?]
Montreal was written by Rob Baker & Gord Downie & Johnny Fay & Paul Langlois & Gord Sinclair.
Montreal was produced by Don Smith.
The Tragically Hip released Montreal on Fri May 21 2021.