In all my 35 years in Vancouver I have only heard one song that to me represents not only Vancouver but much of the rest of BC. I have been thinking about this because CBC Radio 2 is pushing its Great Canadian Song Quest. It is a contest where the general audience can suggest places in our provinces and then the best Canadian talent will be hired to compose songs for them, 13 original songs in all for all of Canada.
The song that to me is quintessential Vancouver and in just about every area of our province where it rains is Art Bergmann's Hawaii. Today it poured and some streets in the city flooded. It is obvious that summer is over, fall is here and the corresponding rains have arrived. I could not get Bergmann's tune out of my head as I walked in the rain. I had forgotten to pack an umbrella.
Hawaii
Bergmann 1980, SOCAN 1979 Quintessence Records
Let’s go to fuckin’ Hawaii
Get drunk in the sun
I wanna lay on Waikiki
Get a tan on my buns
Runnin’ from the rain
Thousands on the run
Makin’ like the rich
Heading for the fun
Let’s go to fuckin’ Tahiti
Lounge on the beach
Those native girls are so pretty
Swayin’ to the native beats
Runnin’ from the rain
Thousands on the run
Makin’ like the rich
Heading for the fun
2 AM
Economy Air
747
Drunk to the roof
Worked all summer
Saved my money
So I can warm
Let’s go to fuckin’ Miami
Loungin’ on the beach
I got my neighbour kid, a real cutie
Cheaper than a Georgia peach
Runnin’ from the rain
Thousands on the run
Thinkin’ like the rich
Heading for the fun
Let’s go to fuckin’ Las Vegas
Blow a wad in the Sun
I wanna stop for a party
Before I’m back under the gun
Runnin’ from the rain
Thousands on the run
Makin like the rich
Heading for the fun
2 AM
Economy Air
747
Drunk to the roof
Worked all summer
Saved my money
So I can be warm
Let’s go to fuckin’ Hawaii
Let’s go to fuckin’ Hawaii
Runnin’ from the rain
Thousands on the run
Makin’ like the rich
Heading for the fun
The tune is fast, furious and catchy. The lyrics represent a lifestyle that has not changed much in the years that I have been here. Those that can, go somewhere in the dark rainy month of January. Those that might not be able to, work hard during the year to save enough money to escape our dreary weather.
I have my doubts that anybody will ever top Hawaii for representing the wet soul of Vancouverites and Lowermainlanders. Why compose a new song for Vancouver when we have the best ever right now?
Hawaii
