Hockey Song

by Amy DeWitt | Jan 1, 2018 | Tis' The Season

Hockey – Jane Siberry

Today, I want to talk about Hockey, not the sport, but Jane Siberry’s Hockey song. Winter time and the frozen river, Sunday afternoon. They’re playing hockey on the river, Rosie… Hockey is the 3rd track on her 1989 album called Bound by the Beauty. A few weeks ago, as I was writing about Joni Mitchell’s song, River, another song about ice skating, on a frozen river, came to mind. It’s funny how songs, with shared settings, can paint such a vivid picture in our minds, and yet have such different messages and meanings like Hockey song.

In this Hockey song, the scene that Jane Siberry paints with her lyrics can be felt.

You can imagine the frozen river and feel the cold, snow, and ice. It seems like you can hear the puck being hit with the sticks, and see the kids, and the game, complete with camaraderie and tension. Due to the mention of Jean Belliveau and Maurice (Rocket) Richard I had to look them up and find out who she was talking about. She incorporated history and a bit of trivia for Canadian Jeopardy. Yet, the song imparts a much deeper substance than just an afternoon hockey game, at least it does for me.

Hockey tells of a run of the mill, cold Sunday afternoon complete with kids and dogs.

It’s not the usual lazy Sunday afternoon. Rather, an afternoon filled with so much activity. It’s hockey with rubber boots used as goal posts, and that sweater you got from a catalog. She depicts a normal winter’s day. With this in mind, I know it’s those kinds of days that stay with you for the rest of your life. You just don’t realize it at the time. Jane Siberry compels you in such a vibrant way to make sure to make the most of what feels so commonplace. She gently implores the listener, “Don’t let those Sunday afternoons Get away get away get away get away Break away break away break away”.

This is just a song about kids and a hockey game. Yet, it’s so much more. This Hockey song has the power to reminds me not to let ordinary days just pass by unclaimed and unnoticed. It makes me want to sit up and take notice of the seemingly mundane moments of everyday life.

As children, we don’t always realize it when living in the moment is happening, and memories are being made. Yet, when we get older, and we roll back those vivid days of games played and what seemed, at the time, like everyday activity, we recognize what was really happening. This wonderful Hockey song serves as a grand plea to never let the seemingly ordinary and familiar get away from us. LIVE in EVERY moment.

Hockey

Winter time and the frozen river, Sunday afternoon
They’re playing hockey on the river, Rosie…!

He’ll have that scar on his chin forever
Someday his girlfriend will say, ”Hey, where…?”
You might look out the window… Or not

You skate as fast as you can ’til you hit the snowbank
(that’s how you stop)
And you get your sweater from the catalog
Ah, walking home, Rosie…!

Don’t let those Sunday afternoons
Get away get away get away get away
Break away break away break away break away

This stick was signed by Jean Belliveau,
So don’t f***in’ tell me where to f***in’ go
Ohh oh Sunday afternoon

Someone’s dog just took the puck
He buried it. it’s in the snowbank
YaYa..Your turn

They rioted in the streets of Montreal
When they benched Rocket Richard, it’s true

Oh, don’t let those Sunday afternoons
Get away get away get away get away
Break away break away break away break away

The Sun is fading on the frozen river, the wind is dying down
Someone else just got called for dinner, Rosie!
Hmmm Sunday afternoon

Bound by the Beauty – Jane Siberry

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Sports Song Playlist

1. Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A.

2. Centerfield by John Fogerty, Centerfield

3. The Boys of Fall by Kenny Chesney, Hemingway’s Whiskey

4. Not As Much As Football by Mojo Nixon, Whereabouts Unknown

5. Love TKO by Teddy Pendergrass, TP

6. Surfin’ U.S.A. by The Beach Boys, Surfin’ U.S.A.

7. Country Nation by Brad Paisley, Moonshine in the Trunk

8. Shootin’ Hoops by G. Love, Oh Yeah

9. Right Field by Peter, Paul, and Mary, No Easy Walk to Freedom

10. The Ball by James Otto, Days of Our Lives

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4 Comments

Bob on January 12, 2018 at 12:45 am

It is funny how one song can lead you to another.
- Amy DeWitt on January 14, 2018 at 5:58 pm
  
  Hi Bob! Thanks for reading. So many songs have been written through the years, and yes it’s interesting how one song can lead to another and another. At some point, it’s almost if all songs are connected. I hope to explore that idea at more length in the future.
Steve on November 11, 2019 at 3:20 pm

Loved reading this piece – I absolutely adore this song, and glad to see it touches others too. One of my all-time favourite lyrics, and a song that deserves a much bigger audience.
- Amy DeWitt on November 18, 2019 at 5:26 pm
  
  Hi Steve,
  I appreciate you taking the time to read the post and comment. I have loved this song too, from my first listen.
  I hope others find the blog and find the song!!