“As you get older, you mellow, but there's a natural propensity to watch what you say, 'cause you learn that you want more time and space to craft what you want to say because you're less likely to want to say impetuous things, or things that aren't thought-out properly.”

Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer, poet, and activist

Gordon Edgar Downie was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer, poet, and activist, best known as the singer and lyricist of The Tragically Hip. He fronted the band from its formation in 1984 until his death in 2017. Downie became closely associated with Canadian rock through his work with The Tragically Hip, where he helped shape the band’s voice and public identity. Beyond music, he was also active as a writer, poet, and activist, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Canadian music history.