This song looks back on the band's career. It expresses how they
compromised themselves and started to lose their identity but regained
it over the years through different experiences... a type of rebirth.
"There are ideals you leave behind only to return to later". - Tom Cochrane
"This is my own 'My Way', and has become the Tom Cochrane and
Red Rider signature song. We've tried this song everywhere else in the
live set and we've learned that it just has to end the show. Leaving it
out of a live show is like walking on stage without one arm. The song
dissects the rites of passage I think most men go through from 17 to our
30s. I was so paranoid at 25 about dying and leaving nothing behind -
no kids, no legacy, no real work or music of value. I became almost
desperately ambitious. 'Boy' reflects back on all that. Later, with
family and kids and a bit of success, my priorities changed. This song
was recorded in Wales, and it was the best recording experience of our
careers to that point, pure magic! I mean, till then the recording
process had been like spending months at a time in the dentist's chair.
This was our declaration of independence from a very uncomfortable
management deal and even though we were almost broke and destitute after
parting company with Bruce Allen, we were happy and creatively alive
again. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And no man is an
island. Without friends like Deane Cameron, who became President of EMI
Music Canada, and Tim Trombley, who headed the A&R department at the
time, we couldn't have made it to the next level." - Tom Cochrane