As we get set to turn the volume to 11 on Canada Day, it’s only fitting that we offer a little classic Canadiana for your listening/viewing pleasure. And who can forget the Calgary-based trio The Stampeders – perhaps the only band that could use the word macaroons in a song and get away with it?

The band – Rich Dodson, Ronnie King, and Kim Berly – stampeded through the early to mid ‘70s with a string of hits including “Carry Me,” “Wild Eyes,” “Oh My Lady,” “Hit the Road Jack,” and, of course, their signature hit “Sweet City Woman.”

A unique pop song with a banjo as it’s primary instrument – “my banjo and me, we got a feel for singin’,” as Dodson sang – and it’s French chorus, the song was the Stampeders’ only No. 1 (in Canada) and helped the band win a Juno in 1971 – a year they also opened for Sonny and Cher at the CNE in Toronto.

The song also got Dodson inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

A staple of the ‘70s, “Sweet City Woman” has more recently appeared in an Adam Sandler movie, and an episode of “Better Call Saul.”

The Stampeders are still touring across Canada – summer dates are listed on their web site.

Lyrics

Well, I’m on my way to the city lights
To the pretty face that shines her light on the city nights
And I gotta catch a noon train, I gotta be there on time
Oh, it feels so good to know she waits at the end of the line

Sweet, sweet city woman
I can see your face, I can hear your voice, I can almost touch you
Sweet, sweet city woman
Oh, my banjo and me, we got a feel for singin’, yeah, yeah

Bon, c’est bon, bon, bon, c’est bon, bon
Bon, c’est bon, bon, bon, bon, bon
Bon, c’est bon, bon, bon, c’est bon, bon
Bon, c’est bon, bon, bon, bon, bon

So long, ma, so long, pa
So long, neighbours and friends

Like a country mornin’ all smothered in dew
Ah, she’s got a way to make a man feel shiny and new
And she’ll sing in the evenin’ old familiar tunes
And she feeds me love and tenderness and macaroons