Greg Keelor spent the entire evening contemplating his thoughts on Donald Trump. Blue Rodeo was gearing up to perform “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” at Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre on Saturday, a song from 1993 with a freshly significant lyric: “Out in the middle of Lake Ontario.” Keelor pondered the idea of using this moment to criticize the U.S. president, who recently issued an executive order renaming the body of water “Lake America.”
In an interview on August 31, the singer-songwriter revealed that although he had the urge to lash out at Trump and call him derogatory names, he chose a different approach. Keelor believed that the song itself would convey the message without the need for many words. He anticipated that reaching that specific line would elicit a powerful response from the audience, and his prediction was accurate.
During the performance, Keelor encouraged the approximately 16,000 attendees to sing “Lake Ontario” with confidence and ownership as they gazed upon the actual lake in the background. The crowd enthusiastically belted out the line, and a map of Lake Ontario was displayed on screens behind the band, a visual element specifically requested by Keelor.
This moment quickly gained viral attention as Trump’s initiative to rename the shared Great Lake between Canada and the U.S. continued to draw international interest. Keelor expressed surprise at the overwhelming emotional reaction from the audience and noted that the line now holds a deeper significance.
He criticized Trump’s name change as “insulting” and reflective of the president’s behavior, which Keelor described as ignorant and childish. Despite his negative views on the matter, Keelor found a sense of unity in the controversy, emphasizing Canadians’ resilience and refusal to be undermined.
Lake Ontario holds a profound meaning for Keelor beyond its geographical designation, as he wrote the song while exploring Port Hope, Ont., where he felt a spiritual connection to the water and the surrounding environment. He emphasized the lake’s historical significance predating modern countries and borders, underlining its power as a symbol of unity and heritage.
Keelor highlighted the Executive Order’s impact on the symbolism surrounding Lake Ontario, emphasizing the Indigenous people’s ancient relationship with the lake. He expressed dismay at Trump’s presidency and the corporate compliance in adopting the name change, emphasizing the importance of maps as representations of identity and history.
Blue Rodeo has curtailed its U.S. tours due to the prevailing political atmosphere, with Keelor mentioning a potential for smaller, impromptu performances in the future. The band sees their song as a rallying cry for Canadians against perceived injustices, hoping to channel the current national mood into positive energy.