I’ve never been to Winnipeg, except one time in October 2003, changing planes at the airport, on my way to Victoria for a government conference.
All I know is that it’s damn cold there in the wintertime, being out on the open prairie. Back east, we jokingly call it Winterpeg. Also back east, my life changed dramatically in the years that followed that conference, when I connected with fellow poet, Bonnie Adams, here in Ottawa, and formed a deep spiritual friendship that continues to this day.
As with so many, a song or songs mark key events in our lives, that stay with us seemingly forever, if only in the subconscious, until awoken when those tunes are played again at a later date.
A song that always comes to mind when I think of Bonnie and me, is Prairie Town by Randy Bachman. On cold winter nights, when we happened to be together, Prairie Town became an anthem of sorts, while we supported one another through various personal challenges. Of course, Bonnie, originating from the Edmonton area, also on the plains, immediately connected with the tune in a multitude of ways, made even stronger with the country version, popular music in western Canada. Despite being an easterner, even I found myself seduced by the song, because it’s just sooo Canadian. I’m sure some in Newfoundland would feel the same way.
The other key point that makes Prairie Town so successful is that Bachman teams up with none other than the legendary Neil Young, to do the song in both Hard Rock and Country versions. The latter also featuring Margo Timmins from the Cowboy Junkies on backing vocals. All three performers originated in the Canadian prairies, including Winnipeg, where the song takes place.
Born and raised in a prairie town
Just a kid full of dreams
We didn't have much but an old radio
Music came from places we'd never been
Growing up in a prairie town
Learning to drive in the snow
Not much to do, so you start a band
And soon you've gone as far as you can go
Winter nights are long, summer days are gone
Portage and Main, fifty below
Springtime melts the snow, rivers overflow
Portage and Main, fifty below
Portage and Main, fifty below
All the bands in a prairie town
Try to outdo the next in line
Learning records out of Liverpool
Dreams of England on their minds
On thе other side of Winnipeg
Nеil and The Squires played the Zone
But then he went to play
For a while in Thunder Bay
He never looked back and he's never coming home
Winter nights are long, summer days are gone
Portage and Main, fifty below
Springtime melts the snow, rivers overflow
Portage and Main, fifty below
Portage and Main, fifty below
Just a band from a prairie town
Sometimes we'd drive from coast to coast
One call from LA and we'd pack and fly away
But in our hearts we're always prairie folks
Looking back at a prairie town
People ask me why I went away
To fly with the best, sometimes you have to leave the nest
But the prairies made me what I am today
Winter nights are long, summer days are gone
Portage and Main, fifty below
Springtime melts the snow, rivers overflow
Portage and Main, fifty below
Portage and Main, fifty below
You'd stay inside and rock and roll
Portage and Main, fifty below
Portage and Main, fifty below
Portage and Main, fifty below
Portage and Main, fifty below
You'd stay inside and rock and roll
