Track Focus Thursday: I Can't Hide This Anymore

Hi Blue Rodeo Fans,

Today's Track Focus Thursday will take a look at I Can't Hide This Anymore, from the 2016 album 1000 Arms. A medium fast straight ahead country shuffle at 105 beats per minute, ICHTA features an interesting call and answer in the chorus between Jim and Greg, some cool Rickenbacker playing by Colin Cripps is his wild western sequined suit, and a stellar mandolin solo by Jimmy Bowskill...

And Bazil Donovan and Glenn Milchem don't get enough love for consistently laying the ground work for Blue Rodeo's sound. Listen to Glen's lively shuffle with brushes and Bazil's bouncy counterpoint on the bass. Plus Michael Boguski's organ fills are just so tasty! What a great band!

House of Strombo

Jim talks with George Stroumboulopoulos during a live taping of House of Strombo...

George: Whaddaya gonna play now?

Jim: It's called "I Can't Hide This Anymore," so this is another new one.

George: What's this one about?

Jim: This one's about a broken relationship that needs to be severed.

George: So not even fixed.

Jim: No... (George and the audience laugh) no. I hope I make that abundantly

clear! (More laughter) Time index 10:27, then Blue Rodeo plays...

The Lyrics

I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE

I GIVE UP, YOU WIN THE WAR

ALL MY MEMORIES' A BLUR

BUT I REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE

AND I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE

BLUE WAS THE COLOUR OF YOUR

DRESS THE NIGHT WE MET

I HELD YOUR HAND AND WALKED

YOU DOWN THE ROAD

FULL MOON SHINING UP ABOVE

I HEARD MYSELF TALKING

BUT I WAS FALLING AND

FALLING AND FALLING

I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE - HOW CAN I HIDE?

I GIVE UP, YOU WIN THE WAR - YOU WIN THE WAR

ALL THE CRUEL THINGS WE SAID

WELL THEY’RE STUCK INSIDE MY HEAD

AND I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE

NOW AND AGAIN

I THINK BACK TO BETTER TIMES

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH

I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE FINE

NOW I SEE YOU SMILING

WITH YOUR FRIENDS

A SMILE I NEVER SEE

OH HONEY WE’RE STALLING

AND STALLING AND STALLING

I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE - HOW CAN I HIDE?

I GIVE UP, YOU WIN THE WAR - YOU WIN THE WAR

WE’VE BOTH GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO

THAN SIT AROUND AND SEE THIS THROUGH

I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE

OH RAIN COMING DOWN

FALLING LIKE PEARLS FROM THE SKY

OH ME I’M LATE COMING ‘ROUND

YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT

I WAS SUCH A FOOL

RUNNING AROUND SO BLIND

I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE - HOW CAN I HIDE?

I GIVE UP, YOU WIN THE WAR - YOU WIN THE WAR

ALL MY MEMORIES' A BLUR

BUT I REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE

AND I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE

WE’VE BOTH GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO

THAN SIT AROUND AND SEE THIS THROUGH

AND I CAN’T HIDE THIS ANYMORE

One More Time

And to finish off, one more live version from CBC First Play Live...

A great song, perfect to get up and dance to but with lyrics that belie the happy music. I love a good dichotomy. One more reason that Blue Rodeo has won the hearts of so many fans, far and wide.

-Dave Brinton, True Rodeo

Sources: Bluerodeo.com, YouTube, Wikipedia, Signalhfx.ca, The Sound Cafe, and other sources as linked to.