Canada said an emotional goodbye Saturday night.
The Tragically Hip played what is expected to be their final show, wrapping up their "Man Machine Poem" tour at home in Kingston, Ontario. Gord Downie, the band's iconic lead singer, has terminal brain cancer.
The concert was broadcast nationally on CBC and NHLers were tuned in, much like the rest of the nation - including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in attendance.
— The Tragically Hip (@thehipdotcom) August 20, 2016
Recently retired Brad Richards was emotional right off the bat:
1 minute in and I wanna cry....@thehipdotcom
— Brad Richards (@BRichards_1991) August 21, 2016
Sam Gagner got in on Canada's ultimate trending topic on Twitter:
#Fav7HipSongs
— Sam Gagner (@89SGagner) August 21, 2016
Wheat Kings
Bobcaygeon
New Orleans is Sinking
38 Years Old
Little Bones
Fiddler's Green
Grace, Too@thehipdotcom
Logan Couture watched from home:
Teddy Purcell said what everyone in the North has been saying throughout the tour:
Gord is the man.
— Teddy Purcell (@teddypurcell16) August 21, 2016
Former forward turned broadcaster Jeff O'Neill let a photo do all the talking:
— Jeff O'Neill (@odognine2) August 21, 2016
Like millions of Canadians over the years, Marc Methot shared The Hip with those closest to him:
Having all the boys over and Watching this legend perform..#TheHip pic.twitter.com/TCTPTYtF8C
— Marc Methot (@MarcMethot3) August 21, 2016
James Neal put it perfectly:
This is how you put a bow on an incredible life and career. #TheHip will forever be the soundtrack of my youth! #TheFarm
— James Neal (@jneal_18) August 21, 2016
At the band's final show in Toronto, Downie said goodbye.
"I'll see you down the road somewhere," he said, writes Stephen Marche in The New Yorker. "I love you."
The feeling is clearly and undoubtedly mutual.
Thanks, Mr. Downie.
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