He was a man who gave us songs that celebrated our Canadian identity.
He sang about boys getting “stinko on a Sudbury Saturday night” and gave us a few backbreaking reasons not to visit Tillsonburg, Ontario. He celebrated our national sport in song.
He also sang with affection about his country and especially about the bright red mud of his home province of Prince Edward Island.
Stompin’ Tom Connors was a much-loved Canadian icon who sang the beautiful truth about our country and its inhabitants. His twangy, yet deep voice was always instantly recognizable and was the source of a tourism commercial that will forever be stamped in the minds of many Maritimers. Try as we might many of us will never forget the number … eight-double-zero, five-six-five, seven, four-two-one.
Over the years, he travelled to venues large and small across the country. He wore out the bottom of his boots as he stomped in rhythm with his songs.
He was rough around the edges and some called him cranky, but that was just another character trait that endeared him to a nation.
His death leaves a hole in the Canadian music scene that can never really be filled.
Sure, there will be other truly Canadian artists that will entertain and inspire us …but there will never be another Stompin’ Tom.
For us, ketchup will always love potatoes.
