20 years ago, Gord Downie reflected on music, songwriting and how poet Al Purdy inspired Coke Machine Glow

This archived interview from 2001 aired on Sept. 18, 2021.

Coke Machine Glow, the first solo project by the late Canadian rock musician Gord Downie, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021. A reissue expanded the project into a triple album and accompanying poetry audiobook entitled Coke Machine Glow: Songwriters' Cabal.

Downie was the lead singer of the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. He was a singer-songwriter, poet, actor, philanthropist and activist. He died at age 53 in 2017 after being diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma in 2015.

In 2001, he spoke with Shelagh Rogers about music, poetry and how the Coke Machine Glow album and accompanying book of poetry came to be.

Poetry versus songwriting

"Writing poetry is kind of freeing. Ultimately, when you're trying to put words to music, it gets fairly mathematical in a hurry. It becomes a challenge to write to the music. 

Writing poetry is kind of freeing.

"You're constantly running back and forth from 'the meaning department,' from 'the good-sounding word department,' and checking in on each department to see if everything's OK."

'Finding the Secret Path': Capturing Gord Downie's final year

6 years ago

Duration 4:55

Before his passing, Gord Downie took this country on a profound journey. Now, one year later, Gord's brothers take us through his final year full of passion and emotion, and share what it was like to be right by his side the entire way.

'Meeting' Al Purdy

"I picked up a tape of Al Purdy reading his poems in a delete bin, and I walked up to the desk to buy it for $2 and the guy said, 'You know he died today?' And I was like, 'Wow.'

The day that happened, it gave me a strange permission. That day, I thought, 'I want to do this.'

"I slapped it on my car and then I started 'reading' great things from him. His voice is pretty etched in my memory. It's a great, indelible voice.

"The day that happened, it gave me a strange permission. That day, I thought, 'I want to do this.' I read a quote about him talking about why he wrote poetry. He said he writes poetry like a spider spins webs and probably much for the same reason to support his existence. That was my permission. That was good."

• What it was like working with Gord Downie on his final solo recording

Pushing the limit

"It's a challenge trying to make words rhyme and ultimately serve the song, to maybe push the melody a bit and allow yourself to be pushed. I happen to work with some guys that are supportive in that regard — we make music together in a cooperative environment.

It's a real challenge trying to make words rhyme and ultimately serve the song.​​​​​​

"For me, it's pretty great. It's always been intimate."

Gord Downie's comments have been edited for length and clarity.

Watch | Gord Downie's Secret Path In Concert on CBC Gem: