Some Polaris Prize judges were overheard arguing  Gord Downie’s last record. One said it was unfair to nominate him because he wasn’t living, one said it was just another white guy, one said it was a great record and that was reason enough to support it,  one said something incoherent about Jake Gold and Kevin Drew, one said Gord was famous enough and the prize should go to discovering artists….they went on and on trying to control the narrative.

As it turns out,  Gord got the last word when on the same record, he placed a song about trying to put a baby to sleep and concluding you never know if you truly can control anything

I held you
I rocked you to sleep
It’d take a long time
Eventually you’d go
And I’d try to get out
Of the rocking chair
With you in my arms
I’d get you to your crib
Slowly lower you down
And pull my hands away
As if from a bomb
Then I’d step away
One step at a time
The floors were full of sounds
All the creaks for time
Then I’d get to the door
Open it carefully
Trying back out of the room so quietly

When I’d got to the door
Closed to within an inch
That’s when you’d come awake
As if you’d been watchin’ me
Watching me the whole time
As if you waited to see
If I truly intended
Just to let you be
Just to leave
Just to leave you alone

(from Bedtime)