The Weakerthans – One Great City!

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Late afternoon, another day is nearly done. A darker gray is breaking through a lighter one. A thousand sharpened elbows in the underground. That hollow hurried sound of feet on polished floor, and in the Dollar Store the clerk is closing up, and counting Loonies, trying not to say, "I hate Winnipeg." The driver checks the mirror, seven minutes late. The crowded riders' restlessness enunciates that the Guess Who suck, the Jets were lousy anyway. The same route every day. And in the turning lane, someone's stalled again. He's talking to himself, and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase: "I hate Winnipeg." And up above us all, leaning into sky, our Golden Business Boy will watch the North End die, and sing "I love this town," then let his arcing wrecking ball proclaim, "I hate Winnipeg."

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Lyrics submitted by lakeoffire23

Track duration: 02:54


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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:"A thousand sharpened elbows in the underground"
    "That hollow hurried sound, feet on polished floor."
    Best 2 lines. The Weakerthans have damn good metaphors, that leave you with really clear imagery, and strong emotions.
    I love them dearly.
    Flag wait4supermanon March 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In case anyone is wondering, the Jets were an old NHL team that relocated to Poenix.
    Flag andboothon November 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The line "a thousand sharpened elbows in the underground" makes me laugh because it always reminds me of being at a show and sustaining injuries from other people's elbows. I know that isn't what it's referring to...just sayin'.
    Flag BeatOnTheBraton April 12, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The line "1000 sharpened elbows in the underground" is a reference to the underground mall in Winnipeg called Winnipeg Square, but nicknamed "the underground". This mall is directly underneath Winnipeg's downtown and major office buildings. The vast majority of people who go to the underground are uptight business people (hence 1000 sharpened elbows).
    Flag mysolaceon December 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:haah winnipeg deffinately does not have a subway.
    i still laugh at this song all the time because it just IS winnipeg.
    Flag oh;hodeson December 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Weakerthans record in Winnepeg, so maybe they hate it because they're always there?
    Flag pntlssjakeon September 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:queshiraz... I'd say it's about too many people crammed together poking each other with their elbows on the subway (assuming winnipeg has a subway!).
    Who doesn't hate their city? Vancouverites maybe...
    Flag illuminatedon August 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love his voice with especially in this song. And I agree about the "love for the city." That's what I kinda thought too, but what exactly is the "1000 sharpened elbows in the underground" refer too/mean? It puzzles me.
    Flag queshirazon December 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Word. Transcona for life....dawg.

    Anyways, pretty sweet song. I also really like the Golden boy / North End bit... But man, being in the North End just makes me depressed.
    Flag Mr_Crawon September 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:selkirk can kick winnipegs ass anyday! woot woot!
    haha inside joke...
    but seriously, one great song
    and yeah, the winnipeg folk fest is helluva party. I look forward to gettin thoroughly fucked up there every year!


    peace
    Flag deadeyeduckon September 25, 2006   Link

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