Photo - Norm Hacking
  

Norm Hacking's lyrics, poetry,
"Race Track Hack" columns
and other prose on this site


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All work © Norm Hacking
(August 1, 1950 - November 25, 2007)

Lyrics and Sounds / Book / Poems /
"Race Track Hack" columns / Other Prose

NORM's LYRICS and SOUNDS!

Selected lyrics include Norm's eight original songs on Orange Cats Make the Very Best Friends, CD by Norm Hacking and Kirk Elliott ("Cats"; released December 2002). Some are also on One Voice: A Tribute to Norm Hacking, Vol. 1 ("Tribute") or Skysongs... A Writer's Collection ("Skysongs"; full lyrics are in the 2001 reissue CD booklet) or the December 2005 spoken word CD I Am the Night ("Night"). In addition, partial lyrics of songs are included on this site in Norm's "Looking for Christmas" article (7 songs) and in the tribute to Lloyd Landa ("Songwriters Song"). All songs are registered through SOCAN.

Click on the song title for the lyric page.
NEW - links to mp3 sound files, followed by available albums containing each song, with ** indicating the sound file source; there are also mp3 links on those pages.

BOOK

Norm's song became the beautifully illustrated When Cats Go Wrong book - it even includes a CD single of the song - listen to part of the song!!! (published by Raincoast Books in October 2004, U.S. release in March 2005)

POEMS

Norm usually included one or two original poems in his performances, and his Skysongs CD includes a spoken version of "Can't Help But Love". Here is one poem, included on his spoken word CD I Am the Night.

I Have Imagined You

NORM the JOURNALIST - "Race Track Hack"

While Norm is widely recognized as a songwriter and poet, his writing skills took him into a second career as a journalist.

Norm wrote a monthly "Race Track Hack" column for Toronto-based Taxi News from February 1992 until a few weeks before his death in November 2007. These slice-of-life musings have been very popular with readers, and Norm often incorporated one or two of these into his performances of music and poetry. He recorded two (indicated below) on his spoken word CD I Am the Night. His most current column was always posted at www.taxinews.com/racetrackhack.html and Taxi News may reprint some favourites there. The tribute to his close friend Lloyd Landa, written just after the August 2000 death of his close friend and very talented songwriter / musician, includes a quote from the moving "Songwriters Song" (oft performed, but unrecorded). Selected favourite columns are now on this website (watch for more to be added):

Mar 1996 - Who is Race Track Hack? by Syd The Cat
Sept 1998 - A Reminiscence with Friends [about Syd]
Apr 1999 - The Cat Came Back
Sept 2000 - My Friend Lloyd [Lloyd Landa]
July 2002 - Some Stories for July 1st [Norm's grandparents and uncle]
May 2003 - Dates with the Dead Pt 1 - Lunch with Bogie
June 2003 - Dates with the Dead Pt 2 - Dinner with Marilyn (on Night CD)
July 2003 - Catman [how Norm came to write songs about cats]
Aug 2003 - May I Reflect?
Oct 2003 - About Angels
Dec 2003 - Maybe One More (on Night CD)
Feb 2004 - Big Hearts
Apr 2004 - For Rick Fielding
June 2004 - A Folk Singer's Riches [Norm's career start]
Sept 2004 - Author, Author! [Norm's journey to When Cats Go Wrong book publication]
Feb 2005 - Celebrity Status [career success leads to new grade 2 student fans]
Jan 2006 - One Last House Call [in memory of Hunter S. Thompson] added July 2008
Aug 2006 - Kim and Ben [great advice to recently wed son Ben and daughter-in-law Kim]
Sep 2006 - Vigil [Norm keeps vigil with his mother Kathy O. in the hospital]
Oct 2006 - A Song at Midnight [a beautiful gift from mother Kathy O., still in hospital]
Nov 2006 - Never Goodbye [Norm shares memories of Kathy O. after her passing on Oct. 4]
Aug 2007 - A Small Celebration [A beautiful birthday gathering celebrates Kathy O.'s life]
Feb 2008 - A Writer Recycled [Valentines: pun-filled blues song for Taxi News, school days; written in 2007, published posthumously]

Other Norm Hacking prose on this site

The Toronto Star published a major feature article Norm wrote, "Looking for Christmas: A Songwriter's Journey" (Sunday, December 19, 1999), describing snapshots of Christmas experiences and incorporating quotes from many of his songs.

Norm's moving prose also shines in his open Stubborn Ghost album dedication letter to his about-to-turn-seven son Ben, printed in the liner notes in his critically acclaimed 1988 Stubborn Ghost album (vinyl). It reveals his thoughts on being a songwriter and musician and the value of his musical friendships. A photo of young Ben with Norm accompanies the text.

In January 2005, Norm wrote a thoughtful response to grade 2 students' letters to the author after their teacher used his "When Cats Go Wrong" book in class. His letter reveals for all of us his thoughts on cats, himself (and being an individual) and writing.

Last update July 18, 2008

Lyrics and Sounds / Book / Poems /
"Race Track Hack" columns / Other Prose

 

   
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