I didn’t know Murray McLauchlan had written a song by the same name when I wrote “Hard Rock Town” back in the 90s. I think his song is probably about Hamilton, while mine was written for the hard rock miners of northern Ontario. All the mining jargon and mine names are real.
Sudbury makes sense. The towns I was writing about are the tiny ones that grow up around mines. A lot of them disappear when the mine closes. The mine in Manitouwadge closed and the population dropped from 3,000 to less than a 1,000 – you can buy a detached house there for $50k, but you better bring the money with you.
My Dad started working as a miner when he was young.
He ended up going to the Haileybury School of Mines and learned to be a manager.
That song resonates with me
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A gorgeous piece John!
Thanks Vanessa
Great song John. I’ve got a copy of Murray McLauchlan’s book “Getting Out of Here Alive”. He says his song “Hard Rock Town” was about Sudbury.
Sudbury makes sense. The towns I was writing about are the tiny ones that grow up around mines. A lot of them disappear when the mine closes. The mine in Manitouwadge closed and the population dropped from 3,000 to less than a 1,000 – you can buy a detached house there for $50k, but you better bring the money with you.
That’s a great song John! Well played! 👏👏👏
My Dad started working as a miner when he was young.
He ended up going to the Haileybury School of Mines and learned to be a manager.
That song resonates with me
👏👏👏
Great song John!!!
Great song John. 👏👏👏👏