Canada's Best Songs. Every One Is Listening. And Every One's Awake.

The heights of perception and depths of empathy required

to touch souls with the healing comfort of music 

would seem to have been distributed to the sons and daughters of our country most generously.

In honour of a very different & difficult Canada Day...

Here. Have some of this.

These are the best of the greats.

Made with glowing hearts.

Listen live 5-7 p.m. Friday @ Radio Regent

and 9 p.m. Tuesday and midnight 

Wednesday @ Blues & Roots Radio

Barrett's Privateers ~ Canada's 150th Birthday ~ Our 17 Best Songs ~ Sixth Post

The story of Barrett`s Privateers and their fictitious ship with the ironic moniker, The Antelope, has borne innumerable keggers and bellow-fests around the world into the raptures of song with its dual refrain and lengthy narrative. Our national personality is expertly expressed through Stan Rogers` rollicking melody and delicious phrasing. The attention to detail and aloof sarcasm of the stoic narrator qualify him as an iconic Canadian Ishmael, a character fitted to the literary tradition of Robert Service or Yann Martel. The explicitly populist and pacifist nobility of his spirit is wagered and sacrificed against the promise / curse of American gold. Drawing from recent news, The Antelope might be a telling metaphor for our current ship of state.