38 Years Old

"38 Years Old"
Single by The Tragically Hip
from the album Up to Here
Released	1990
Genre	Folk rock
Length	4:18
Label	MCA
Writer(s)	The Tragically Hip
Producer(s)	Mark Howard
The Tragically Hip singles chronology
"Boots or Hearts" (1990) "38 Years Old" (1990) "Trickle Down" (1990)

"38 Years Old" is a song by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released as a single from the band's second studio album, Up to Here. The song was written in Memphis during their recording of the album.^[1]

It is a fictional account of the real-life escape of 14 inmates from Millhaven Institution in the band's hometown of Kingston, Ontario on July 10, 1972.^[2][3] The date of the event and the number of escapees mentioned in the song are historically incorrect ("12 men broke loose in '73..."). This was done for the purpose of rhyming with the next line of the song ("...from Millhaven maximum security.") The song peaked at No. 41 on the Canadian RPM singles chart.^[4]

The song is featured in the 2006 Canadian comedy film Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, and also appears on the film's soundtrack.

References

1. "The Tragically Hip - Up to Here - Archive: Song @ Album Notes - Record Info and Credits". thehip.com. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
2. The Montreal Gazette (1972-07-12). "Escaped convicts thought contained in 10-mile square". Retrieved 2015-01-05.
3. The Montreal Gazette (1972-07-17). "Search area expanded for Millhaven cons". Retrieved 2015-01-05.
4. "Top Singles - Volume 52, No. 2, May 26, 1990". RPM. Retrieved 2010-09-18.