Lately I've been really liking "Marie Christine," "Don't Beat Me Down," "The Gypsy," and "The Last Time I Saw Her."

Lately I've been really liking "Marie Christine," "Don't Beat Me Down," "The Gypsy," and "The Last Time I Saw Her."

Evenin' all:

The Song that Touches Me Most Tonight ("favorite" just seems wrong.):

"Looking at the Rain"

The Rez

. . . how could he know of Cindy-So-Long-Ago?

Tatoo is a great song because it reveals so much
in what is said. It has elements of defeatist self pity like so many country songs and yet there is a triumph of love amid the tragedy conveyed in the song. The failure of the night, the druncken indiscretion of wandering back into the parlor actualy becomes a sacred meditation upon the permanence of love and friendship The Tatoo didn't cost much but it blumes on forever like true love. You can't purchas it. When you have it you are stuck with it, even when you are drinking too much and wandering into tatoo parlors. The song has a good melody as well and starts out like a last ditch letter to a lost friend. Whatever you think of me I'm still your friend so other than nothin whats new. You don't know how many times I have wanted to say just that to a lost friend whom I still love.

Tatoo is a great song because it reveals so much
in what is said. It has elements of defeatist self pity like so many country songs and yet there is a triumph of love amid the tragedy conveyed in the song. The failure of the night, the druncken indiscretion of wandering back into the parlor actualy becomes a sacred meditation upon the permanence of love and friendship The Tatoo didn't cost much but it blumes on forever like true love. You can't purchas it. When you have it you are stuck with it, even when you are drinking too much and wandering into tatoo parlors. The song has a good melody as well and starts out like a last ditch letter to a lost friend. Whatever you think of me I'm still your friend so other than nothin whats new. You don't know how many times I have wanted to say just that to a lost friend whom I still love.

Ah you are wrong Bella, there are many of us that love that song. Gord has been playing it in his concerts lately, sounds fantastic! Little Barry does a great job on the percussion.

Ah you are wrong Bella, there are many of us that love that song. Gord has been playing it in his concerts lately, sounds fantastic! Little Barry does a great job on the percussion.

"On Susan's Floor" and Gord's story.

That Gord didn't write it (Shel Silversteen and another gentleman whose name I can't get right now) makes no difference at all.

For Gord there was a "Susan."
For Shel there was a "Susan."
For me there was a "Susan"

To be bold, if a young musician didn't have a "Susan" that would be a sorrow.

Still, it is Gord's version that introduced me to the song which describes so perfectly the Scufflin' Days of Dreams.

Just one more night on that long-ago floor - even now for this old man - would be a form of Heaven.

The Rez

Song For A Winter's Night has always been one of my very favorite Gord tunes. It is 104 out here in the good old LV desert today and I was listening to this song on the way to work! Love those sleigh bells. Also adore "Circle of Steel."

Song For A Winter's Night has always been one of my very favorite Gord tunes. It is 104 out here in the good old LV desert today and I was listening to this song on the way to work! Love those sleigh bells. Also adore "Circle of Steel."

I just had to post the lyrics to this song. It is so beautiful.

Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
High windows flickerin’ down through the snow
A time you know
Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round
Everybody’s in step with the season
A child is born to a welfare case
Where the rats run around like they own the place
The room is chilly, the building is old
That’s how it goes
The doctor’s found on his welfare round
And he comes and he leaves on the double

Deck the halls was the song they played
In the flat next door where they shout all day
She tips her gin bottle back till it’s gone
The child is strong
A week, a day, they will take it away
For they know about all her bad habits

Christmas dawns and the snow lets up
And the sun hits the handle of her heirloom cup
She hides her face in her hands for a while
Says look here child
Your father’s pride was his means to provide
And he’s servin’ three years for that reason

Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
High windows flickerin’ down through the snow
A time you know
Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round
Everybody’s in step with the season

I just had to post the lyrics to this song. It is so beautiful.

Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
High windows flickerin’ down through the snow
A time you know
Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round
Everybody’s in step with the season
A child is born to a welfare case
Where the rats run around like they own the place
The room is chilly, the building is old
That’s how it goes
The doctor’s found on his welfare round
And he comes and he leaves on the double

Deck the halls was the song they played
In the flat next door where they shout all day
She tips her gin bottle back till it’s gone
The child is strong
A week, a day, they will take it away
For they know about all her bad habits

Christmas dawns and the snow lets up
And the sun hits the handle of her heirloom cup
She hides her face in her hands for a while
Says look here child
Your father’s pride was his means to provide
And he’s servin’ three years for that reason

Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
High windows flickerin’ down through the snow
A time you know
Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round
Everybody’s in step with the season

I've only been reading this topic for a few months, and I've already realized tat it would be impossible to say what my favorite Lightfoot song is. There are just too many great ones. I might be able to name 10 or so on any given day, but the next day half of them might be different. I propose narrowing the criteria a bit: What's your favorite CHEERFUL G.L. song? I can only think of a few offhand; Summertime Dream, Hangdog Hotel, Cotton Jenny, Beautiful? Most of his songs are about the traditional Country music topics: Cheating, Love Lost, I Wish I Would Have Done That Differently, with a few about shipwrecks too :) So why is his music so superior to most country stuff? Just pure talent and passion, I guess. Not wearing a big cowboy hat onstage might be a help. too......

I've only been reading this topic for a few months, and I've already realized tat it would be impossible to say what my favorite Lightfoot song is. There are just too many great ones. I might be able to name 10 or so on any given day, but the next day half of them might be different. I propose narrowing the criteria a bit: What's your favorite CHEERFUL G.L. song? I can only think of a few offhand; Summertime Dream, Hangdog Hotel, Cotton Jenny, Beautiful? Most of his songs are about the traditional Country music topics: Cheating, Love Lost, I Wish I Would Have Done That Differently, with a few about shipwrecks too :) So why is his music so superior to most country stuff? Just pure talent and passion, I guess. Not wearing a big cowboy hat onstage might be a help. too......

After my daughter was born, I was holding her in my arms, searching my mind for a special lullabye, and suddenly, although I had not listened to it in as many as 10 years, the tune and the words to "Fine as Fine Can Be" came rolling out, so easily.

It was there...waiting in my heart, I guess...for the right moment and place in time to pull it out again. Even now, at 12, she sometimes asks me to sing it to her again...and for just a little while we share the magic.

Mouse

Wombat, Mouse, Skeeter, Bigfoot, et. al. (bad gag!) but it reminded me of that great song "All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir" Probably "Creatures," but I sing "Critters."

I still sing "Fine as Fine Can Be" to my sons (married w/ wives of their own.) I sing it to Mama. I sing it to Memories. Sometimes, I even sing it to just hear the words float and the melody soar. Often I sing it for people who never heard of Gord, just to see any reaction. Some do. Hope.

Regarding your suggestion of Cherrful farorites: Not a bad idea. Old Dan's Records gets me a-cloggin - especially that line about the "78s".

But, to me, I figure it's sorta like Pete Seger quoted from Eccesiastes: "To everything there is a season." Sometimes those seasons aren't Cheerful. Sometime the last thing a body wants to hear is Happy-Whoopie stuff. Other times - let 'er rip.

To limit Ecclesiastes balances would be a sorrow. Same-same Gord's touch.

As a writer of songs myself (albeit unsung) I've never understood (though it's true) how pain comes more vividly and easily than pleasure. The starving artist thing, perhaps.

But here's a cheerful one, for me, tonite - cause I've been blessed clean off my feet today. I sang for a jillion kids this morn on the radio out of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.

i'm still suffering from the Pure Joy of it.

Say goodnite, Gracie (Goodnite, Gracie)

The Rez

"Cotton Jenny" - anybody know her?

Hi All,

I'm a new member from downunder ... and I thought I'd post my two .... I can't split them ....

"Song for a winter's night" and "Daylight Katy".

They're closely followed by about another hundred odd masterpieces.

Mike

Welcome, Mike!! We have a few other Aussies here, too! Glad to "meet ya!"

[ June 13, 2005, 22:41: Message edited by: Sheryl ]

Thanks Sheryl !

For some background, I've been following his career since IYCRMM and have every (vinyl) album from "Lightfoot" thru to "GG Vol 2" .... and the obligatory duplicate set of every CD available.

Ahhh, another devotee!! So, have you found out yet about our weekly Fri. evening chats? Well, for you they'd be around 11:00 a.m. Sat. morning... check out John Fowle's chatroom advertisement topic thread. "See" you soon!

Intertesting comments about the writing of The Wreck. My brother was talking to one of his former band members a few weeks ago and this particular person told my bros that he considered GL almost a savant when it came to lyric writing -- apparently he could (can) write great lyrics unbelievably quickly ... I guess the comment about The Wreck (and Bitter Green too) would seem to support GL's great talent -- one that we have all come to know and love.

Sheryl,

Thanks ... shall have to drop by one morning soon for a communal chat .... sounds great !

Favorite songs, huh? Almost too many to name, but here are a few that come to mind:
Looking at the Rain
Carefree Highway
Ordinary Man
Cabaret
If You Could Read my Mind
Railroad Trilogy
Rainy Day People
The Way I Feel
Affair on 8th Avenue
etc., etc.

Favorite songs, huh? Almost too many to name, but here are a few that come to mind:
Looking at the Rain
Carefree Highway
Ordinary Man
Cabaret
If You Could Read my Mind
Railroad Trilogy
Rainy Day People
The Way I Feel
Affair on 8th Avenue
etc., etc.

The Circle Is Small~

It's just another example of how Mr. Lightfoot can expand the bridge of generations.

It's a timeless hurt song one inwhich is no less heartfelt today as it was when it was written.

The Circle Is Small~

It's just another example of how Mr. Lightfoot can expand the bridge of generations.

It's a timeless hurt song one inwhich is no less heartfelt today as it was when it was written.

Lately one of my favorites has been Marie Christine. I always smile when that song comes on. Always.

Lately one of my favorites has been Marie Christine. I always smile when that song comes on. Always.

As predictable as it may be, my absolute favorite is "If You Could Read My Mind." That is the song that first got me interested in Lightfoot.

But, as almost everyone else has done in response to this topic, I will list a few more favorites, as it is too difficult to choose just one song.

The Mountains and Maryann - Perfect matching of lyrics and melody. Best song of the UA era.

Saturday Clothes - Lightfoot is the best writer of songs with major seventh chords, and this one illustrates that well.

Miguel - Love the ascending melody of the section that goes "To cross the border, to swim the river..."

Ordinary Man - Ah, but he's "NOT your ordinary man"(!) Great song.

Can't Depend on Love - This song is so good that I've never even tried to figure out what this song is about lyrically. The lyrics are imprinted on my brain from listening to it so much, but I don't necessarily need to know what it's about. If the song were about ringworm it would still be great.

Seven Island Suite - Lightfoot is also the master of writing songs in "sections" that can't always be categorized as verses, choruses, or bridges. After hearing this song, who needs songs with verses, choruses, and bridges?

Now and Then - "Once inside we found a curious moonbeam doing dances on the floor." Lines like that are enough to make aspiring songwriters go find real jobs. Why? Because they'll never write a line like that, and it's too depressing to keep trying.

She's Not the Same - "She lights the sun and conjures up the rain."

I think I'll leave it at that. Sorry if that's a bit too long.

[ October 22, 2006, 14:49: Message edited by: Winter's Claw ]

As predictable as it may be, my absolute favorite is "If You Could Read My Mind." That is the song that first got me interested in Lightfoot.

But, as almost everyone else has done in response to this topic, I will list a few more favorites, as it is too difficult to choose just one song.

The Mountains and Maryann - Perfect matching of lyrics and melody. Best song of the UA era.

Saturday Clothes - Lightfoot is the best writer of songs with major seventh chords, and this one illustrates that well.

Miguel - Love the ascending melody of the section that goes "To cross the border, to swim the river..."

Ordinary Man - Ah, but he's "NOT your ordinary man"(!) Great song.

Can't Depend on Love - This song is so good that I've never even tried to figure out what this song is about lyrically. The lyrics are imprinted on my brain from listening to it so much, but I don't necessarily need to know what it's about. If the song were about ringworm it would still be great.

Seven Island Suite - Lightfoot is also the master of writing songs in "sections" that can't always be categorized as verses, choruses, or bridges. After hearing this song, who needs songs with verses, choruses, and bridges?

Now and Then - "Once inside we found a curious moonbeam doing dances on the floor." Lines like that are enough to make aspiring songwriters go find real jobs. Why? Because they'll never write a line like that, and it's too depressing to keep trying.

She's Not the Same - "She lights the sun and conjures up the rain."

I think I'll leave it at that. Sorry if that's a bit too long.

[ October 22, 2006, 14:49: Message edited by: Winter's Claw ]

pussywillows,cat tails It reminds me of someone very special. Every time I hear that song I have tears of joy in my eyes. I wonder where he is now. (that special someone)

pussywillows,cat tails It reminds me of someone very special. Every time I hear that song I have tears of joy in my eyes. I wonder where he is now. (that special someone)

"The House you Live In" anyone?

"The House you Live In" anyone?

Nice choice.

Nice choice.

completely agree!

Pinkie and Rosy agree too.
(My cat and dog).

Pinkie and Rosy agree too.
(My cat and dog).

El Gato Grande ; I think I have read in this forum that " The House You Live In " was a favourite of Gordon's Mum. It may be an urban myth, but if not it puts you in esteemed company. It's in my top few ...