Meaning of 'The Bastard'

by The Tragically Hip

Interpretation

The song "The Bastard" by The Tragically Hip is about a difficult decision that needs to be made. The lyrics describe how the singer sees someone and falls in love with them. Although everything seems to be going well, he is faced with the challenge of choosing between two options. He describes this decision as "the bastard of it being, having to choose".

The text also contains a reference to Billy Sunday, an American preacher. This could indicate that the decision lies between worldly temptations and religious devotion. The singer describes how the sun envelops the plane with radiant rays, which could suggest that he recognizes the significance of this decision.

There is also a mention of "purple Italians" and a pool in the mountains. These lines could be metaphorical and suggest that the singer is being distracted by external influences and temptations.

At the end of the text, the singer emphasizes again that the decision is "the bastard" and that he must choose between a "flickering fuse" and an overwhelming power.

Overall, the song lyrics express the difficulty of an important decision and emphasize that sometimes it is painful to choose between different options.