Jimmy Rankin was the principal songwriter as well as a lead vocalist and guitarist for The Rankins. In 2001, a year after his brother and band-mate, John Morris died in an automobile accident, Jimmy released his first solo record, Song Dog. Song Dog is a remarkably upbeat blend of folk-rock and pop reminiscent of the Jayhawks and fellow Canadians, Blue Rodeo. Rankin won numerous accolades and nominations including a Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Solo Artist - Adult Contemporary, numerous ECMAs and two Juno nominations.
Four years of hard work!This month of May we celebrated four years on the air. We continue working on the dissemination of this wonderful instrument, thank you for participating in our story!
'Twas a [C]brisk autumn day they [Am]remember it well [F]Tripper went strolling [C]along He was merely a boy his [Am]mom's pride and joy So [C]sure he could do no[F] wrong Running [C]down to the river then [Am]up by the tracks [C]Pretending he was Jesse[F] James With his [Am]father's old hat, a [C]stick for a [F]gun [C] Tripper walked [G]home in the [C]rain
Such a [C]glorious sight Fresh [Am]flowers in bloom In the [F]spring when the ice takes to [C]thaw But it's a rough wretched road a [Am]man has to go [C]Living outside of the [F]law For a [C]dark dirty cell was [Am]Tripper's own hell [C]Survival was his battle [F]cry If [Am]drinking don't kill me or a [C]villainous [F]gun [C]He said I'll [G]live 'til I [C]die
Chorus: [Em]Mother dear I'm in [Am]trouble here Far [F]away in the distant [C]West [Em]I've laid down on [Am]stony ground I'm not [F]feeling all the [G]best
[C]Cold wind on the river and [Am]rain on the road Every [F]light in the house burning [C]strong Somebody's saying a [Am]sad rosary [C]Wondering where Tripper went [F]wrong 'Cause he [C]met his own maker to a [Am]grim undertaker Took a [C]knife too deep in the [F]lung In a [Am]dim parking lot his [C]very last [F]thoughts Were the [C]days he went [G]strolling [C]along
Chorus: [Em]Mother dear I'm in [Am]trouble here Far [F]away in the distant [C]West [Em]I've laid down on [Am]stony ground I'm not [F]feeling all the [G]best
'Twas a [C]brisk autumn day they [Am]remember it well [C]Tripper went [G]strolling [C]along