Dief Will Be the Chief Again
Encyclopedia
Dief Will Be the Chief Again was a 1975 song by the Canadian folk band Stringband
. A "tongue in jowl" tribute to former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
, the song was briefly popular in Canada when it premiered. Diefenbaker, who was often nicknamed "The Chief", initially expressed his delight at the tribute, but later cooled to the song.
title fight with Bob Rae
, who would later become premier of Ontario. After Ali regained his title after a gap of many years by winning the bout, Rae commented that with Ali's victory, other events from the late Fifties and early Sixties could now recur: Floyd Patterson
could now defeat Ali, Marilyn Bell
could swim Lake Ontario
again, and Diefenbaker could again be Prime Minister. Bossin was inspired to write the song.
According to Bossin in a CBC interview, the song, which he described as "very Canadian", is written from the viewpoint of someone with a complex character, and who mixes hope and nostalgia. The song's lyrics look nostalgically back at 1957, when Diefenbaker became Prime Minister, but in the chorus states that when Diefenbaker is Chief again, a dollar will be "worth a dollar again", an apparent reference to the devaluation of the Canadian dollar which cost Diefenbaker's Progressive Conservatives dearly in the 1962 election.
program "As It Happens
". The CBC was flooded with calls, and the next night, put on a segment about the response which included a phone interview with Diefenbaker, who was at home recovering from illness. The 79-year-old former Prime Minister stated "I must say that as a connoisseur of good music I was simply delighted ... It gave me quite a lift to listen to it." The song received some radio play, especially around Diefenbaker's hometown of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, but did not become a hit. Bossin could find no label willing to publish the song, which was thought to have little interest in the United States.
Diefenbaker eventually cooled to the song. When Bossin's mother learned of Diefenbaker's changed attitude, she called her son, "Honey, I think he's on to us." In a final interview before his 1979 death, Diefenbaker stated that he had no comment about it. Bossin indicated that he had no idea why The Chief had come to have reservations about the song.
Stringband
Stringband was a Canadian folk music ensemble, fronted by Bob Bossin and Marie-Lynn Hammond. Founded in 1971, Stringband recorded four studio albums between 1973 and 1978, and was an active touring ensemble through 1986...
. A "tongue in jowl" tribute to former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
, the song was briefly popular in Canada when it premiered. Diefenbaker, who was often nicknamed "The Chief", initially expressed his delight at the tribute, but later cooled to the song.
Genesis
In 1974, Stringband songwriter Bob Bossin was watching the Muhammed Ali–Joe FrazierJoe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
title fight with Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, who would later become premier of Ontario. After Ali regained his title after a gap of many years by winning the bout, Rae commented that with Ali's victory, other events from the late Fifties and early Sixties could now recur: Floyd Patterson
Floyd Patterson
Floyd Patterson was an American heavyweight boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion. At 21, Patterson became the youngest man to win the world heavyweight title. He was also the first heavyweight boxer to regain the title. He had a record of 55 wins 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by...
could now defeat Ali, Marilyn Bell
Marilyn Bell
Marilyn Bell Di Lascio is a retired long distance swimmer, born October 19, 1937, in Toronto, Ontario. She was the first person to swim across Lake Ontario and later swam the English Channel and Strait of Juan de Fuca.-Swimming career:...
could swim Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
again, and Diefenbaker could again be Prime Minister. Bossin was inspired to write the song.
According to Bossin in a CBC interview, the song, which he described as "very Canadian", is written from the viewpoint of someone with a complex character, and who mixes hope and nostalgia. The song's lyrics look nostalgically back at 1957, when Diefenbaker became Prime Minister, but in the chorus states that when Diefenbaker is Chief again, a dollar will be "worth a dollar again", an apparent reference to the devaluation of the Canadian dollar which cost Diefenbaker's Progressive Conservatives dearly in the 1962 election.
Broadcast and reception
The band was broadcast performing the song on the CBCCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
program "As It Happens
As It Happens
As It Happens is a long-running interview show on CBC Radio One in Canada. Its 40th anniversary was celebrated on-air on 18 November 2008. It has been one of the most popular and acclaimed shows on CBC Radio; it is also distributed in the United States by Public Radio International.The bulk of the...
". The CBC was flooded with calls, and the next night, put on a segment about the response which included a phone interview with Diefenbaker, who was at home recovering from illness. The 79-year-old former Prime Minister stated "I must say that as a connoisseur of good music I was simply delighted ... It gave me quite a lift to listen to it." The song received some radio play, especially around Diefenbaker's hometown of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, but did not become a hit. Bossin could find no label willing to publish the song, which was thought to have little interest in the United States.
Diefenbaker eventually cooled to the song. When Bossin's mother learned of Diefenbaker's changed attitude, she called her son, "Honey, I think he's on to us." In a final interview before his 1979 death, Diefenbaker stated that he had no comment about it. Bossin indicated that he had no idea why The Chief had come to have reservations about the song.