The Mrs. and I listened to the Canadian Railway Trilogy last night after we heard the news, and reminisced about seeing him in concert, just before COVID hit. I really enjoyed his music. And will continue to do so.
Bolding mine. Well played.
And thanks for getting us through the paywall.
One of my favorite memories from my freshman year of college is making new friends, who welcomed me to their room and their customs. One of them was to play a game of chess while listening to one of Gordon Lightfoot’s double albums. It was just the right length and soothing yet interesting, so much so that I had to buy that same album so I could play it in my car; it was on 8-track of course.
Perhaps the greatest lyric in any song, any genre:
“Sometimes, I think it’s a shame, when I get feeling better when I’m feeling no pain”
Speaking of Sundown (incredible track), the woman who he wrote that song about was also the woman who gave John Belushi his fatal speedball. Such a small and strange world. She was apprently also the inspiration behind The Band’s “The Weight”. Despite their tumultuous relationship, Gord remembered her well. “Cathy was a great lady. Men were drawn to her, and she used to make me jealous, but I don’t have a bad thing to say about her.”
For Christmas of 2019, I received a ticket to a Lightfoot concert scheduled for the Brown County Music Center in Nashville, Indiana, in March 2020. Of course, by the time that month rolled around, COVID had descended. The performance was delayed three times before finally hitting the stage last May. When Gordon came on stage, he triumphantly exclaimed to the audience, “I bet you’re glad you held on to those tickets!” Indeed, I was, and I’m glad I finally got to see him in person after being a fan for over half a century.
Having grown up in suburban Cleveland (for which the ship “left fully loaded”), I have a connection to one of the 29. Bruce Hudson went to my high school and graduated a few years before I did. The Band Boosters instituted a scholarship in his memory to be awarded annually to a graduating senior who had participated in the instrumental music program, and my mother (who was on the committee entrusted with selecting the winner) solicited my assistance in reading the application essays to determine which was the most impressive.
A few years back, I had a low-key but persistent earworm, lasting maybe six months, of “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” except to the tune of “Stairway to Heaven”, and I couldn’t remember the proper tune. Then one night, I had a dream with background music in it, and I woke up and thought to myself “I know I didn’t come up with that tune myself; what was it?”. And then after a minute or two I realized, and the earwyrm was finally slain.
I remember being puzzled by Lightfoot’s songs from the 1960’s. I knew him from his 70’s hits Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind and Carefree Highway.
It took awhile but I learned to appreciate his folk songs.
My favorite Lightfoot song is Shadows.
I have enjoyed listening to some of the songs mentioned in his thread. I did not actually realize he was such a talented lyricist. Thanks.
Following yesterday’s posts, this song has been on my mind all day.
The parlor now is empty
There’s nothin’ left to say
My father has departed
My mother’s gone to pray
There’s rockets in the meadows
And ships out on the sea
The answer’s in the forest carved upon a treeJohn loves Mary, does anyone love me?
I never thought I could act this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
Who among us, if we’re being honest, hasn’t looked at themselves in the mirror and thought that.
The same goes for me. I’m only now noticing that his lyrics are powerful. I’ve been mostly a fan of his Edmond Fitzgerald song, but for the others because I didn’t really pay attention to the lyrics some songs were just meh for me. But now I am gaining an appreciation for them. Thanks to the posters here for pointing out their favorite songs.
Especially If You Could Read My Mind, and just today learning that it was inspired by his divorce. Wow.
And, @outlierrn , definitely true.
This is my favorite Gordon Lightfoot song:
Song For A Winter’s Night - YouTube
And the NY Times has a good article; the gift link should get you past the paywall
I’ve searched for his lyrics from time to time and of course there are many sources, but I just today found his list of songs on his website. Many of you (all?) may already know this but to a GL relative newbie like me, if you click on the song title here it will yield his lyrics. Clicking on the album name yields its song list and a song clip — and it looks like every album a song is on is provided. That’s pretty cool. Sometimes a song’s explanation is included.
Seeing this full list shows how many songs he’s written!
I did a cover of ‘Song for a Winter’s Night’ a couple of years ago - posted here as a humble tribute to a truly great artist. Song for a Winter's Night - Gordon Lightfoot cover - YouTube
Now, I’ve heard the story via Fred Smith, lead guitarist for Leisa Way and the Wayward Wind, that this song was actually written in a hotel room in Cleveland, OH, in the middle of a July thunderstorm. I haven’t heard that tale verified other than Fred telling it…
Mel Tormé wrote “The Christmas Song” on a blistering hot July day to take his mind off the heat, so there’s a precedent 
Another good article. Thanks! This leads to two song lists below, with some overlap:
■ The 10 essential songs in that article
■ GL’s 9 tunes that he plays at every concert (with explanation)
For the 10 essentials I include the links from the article and add links to the lyrics. I then do the same for the 9 every concert list.
As I see more of his lyrics I continue to be blown away by them. In his life I never appreciated them but thankfully, at his death, that opportunity has been provided.
I used https://is.gd to shorten the URLs. They are all safe. I created them all.
The 10 essential songs, NY Times
(Gordon Lightfoot Song Lyrics - Alphabetic for lyrics)
➤ https://is.gd/GML001 — “For Lovin’ Me” (1966), lyrics @ https://is.gd/lkzpKE
➤ https://is.gd/GML002 — “Early Morning Rain” (1966), lyrics @ https://is.gd/DqMUy7
➤ https://is.gd/GML00c — “Did She Mention My Name” (1968), lyrics @ https://is.gd/7KuhXN
➤ https://is.gd/GML004 — “Black Day in July” (1968), lyrics @ https://is.gd/XQFDLo
➤ https://is.gd/GML00e — “If You Could Read My Mind” (1970), lyrics @ Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind - Song Lyrics
➤ https://is.gd/GML006 — “Sundown” (1974), lyrics @ Gordon Lightfoot: Sundown - Song Lyrics
➤ https://is.gd/GML007 — “Rainy Day People” (1975), lyrics @ https://is.gd/j986Kl
➤ https://is.gd/GML008 — “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976), lyrics @ Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot Song Lyrics & Annual Events
➤ https://is.gd/GML009 — “The Circle Is Small” (1978), lyrics @ https://is.gd/RnAIP4
➤ https://is.gd/GML010 — “Harmony” (2004), lyrics @ https://is.gd/dwty1B
From Gordon Lightfoot - Songbook Liner Notes / Poems — lightfoot.ca, in the song notes for “If You Could Read My Mind”.
There are about nine tunes I play every concert, and this is one of them. (Editor’s note: The others, in case you wanted to know, are “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Early Morning Rain,” “Don Quixote,” “In My Fashion,” “Beautiful,” “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Sundown,” and “Carefree Highway.”)
◆ YouTube, and lyrics, Gordon Lightfoot’s 9 tunes
(Gordon Lightfoot Song Lyrics - Alphabetic for lyrics)
➤ https://is.gd/GML00e — “If You Could Read My Mind” (1970), lyrics @ Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind - Song Lyrics
➤ https://is.gd/Tfp9jp — “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”, lyrics @ https://is.gd/mUYC85
➤ https://is.gd/GML002 — “Early Morning Rain” (1966), lyrics @ https://is.gd/DqMUy7
➤ https://is.gd/waf3wH — “Don Quixote”, lyrics @ https://is.gd/CPlKS3
➤ https://is.gd/f5yMt9 — “In My Fashion”, lyrics @ https://is.gd/dPvxBr
➤ https://is.gd/7ROtKR — “Beautiful”, lyrics @ Gordon Lightfoot: "Beautiful" - Song Lyrics
➤ https://is.gd/GML008 — “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976), lyrics @ Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot Song Lyrics & Annual Events
➤ https://is.gd/GML006 — “Sundown” (1974), lyrics @ Gordon Lightfoot: Sundown - Song Lyrics
➤ https://is.gd/EHPCEu — “Carefree Highway”, lyrics @ Gordon Lightfoot: Carefree Highway - Song Lyrics
Gordon changed the lyrics on Early Morning Rain.
I got accustomed to hearing it on Gords Gold. I like to sing along.
I was tripped up hearing the original version from the album. It’s only a few words but still noticeable if you’ve memorized the other version.
I read later all the songs on Gords Gold were rerecorded. It’s understandable that after years of playing that Gordon would tweak a few things.
That’s beautiful. Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing!