What is your favorite Lightfoot Song & Why?

(topic originated by Wes Steele)

Now we get to pick our new favorite song! I'll start. My favorite song right now, today, at this moment is Only Love Would Know on Waiting for You. WFY is one of my favorite albums and this song is my favorite song on the album. It's sweet, its pretty, it's romantic, it's tender -- you get the picture, a great love song. AND I especially love the way his voice sounds in this song. I could listen to it all day.

chris

p.s. Glad the discussion board is back up and running. My only problem is that the picture of Gordon in the upper left hand corner of the screen is half blank. Anyone else seeing the same thing?

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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

Wouldn't you know it. When I was sent back to the board the picture was restored. As Gilda Radner used to say (was it as Lisa Lupner?).... Never mind.

chris

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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

"It's Worth Believ'n". I can't put the details in, but that song paralleled my life at that time. A relationship was ending and I was questioning myself. There even was a shore, sand, and all the doubts about myself, just like in the song, in this relationship.
I think it has a beautiful melody. I have never gotten tired of it.
Yes, it sounds like a sad song, but it has gotten me "over the hump" knowing that GL has seemed to have gone through the same thing that I went through.
The song is done rather well.

Thanks Florian for posting this again. When I have some more time I have another question to put out to all my friends. Miss you guys...will be back more often, soon.

Thanks again...Great Web Site Florian....

Wes,

"when you reach the part where the heartaches come, the hero would be me, but hero's often fail."

[This message has been edited by Wes Steele (edited January 27, 2000).]

Too bad the previous posts to this topic were lost. There was an impressive list.

My favorite is Go My Way from Summer Side of Life. When I was 11, a musician friend of the family who was a huge GL fan sang this song and I was introduced to Gordon Lightfoot. I've been a fan for the past twenty + years and collected many of his albums (more recently, CDs)but it wasn't until a few years ago that I purchased Summer Side of Life and actually heard Gord sing the song that drew me to him.

I would have to say I don't know my favorite GL song. There are so many that I could call my favorites, but right now I will say Hi'way Songs. Its just a great song to drive to. I spend alot of time driving. I first heard this song when I got his box set. tomorrow I'll probably have a new favorite, so I'll have something else to talk about.

Good question. While I can't narrow the listing down to one favorite I'll list a few particulars.

If You Could Read My Mind-The first Lightfoot song I ever hear and one that remains in my consciousness.

Minstrel Of The Dawn-This one strikes a real emotional chord in me for some reason. Especially the lines "jangle and dangle as the old guitar sings" and "like me and you, he's trying to get into things more happy than blue". Which is one of the great things Gordon Lightfoot does, writing songs with universal themes that everyone can identify with.

Cold On The Shoulder-This is another one that hits me emotionally hard. Gordon sings about the innocence that is lost as we go through life.

Rainy Day People-A song about true friendship.

Sundown-One time I was in a relationship where I knew my girlfriend was deceiving me. I could relate very easily to this song at the time.

Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald-Heartwrenching, one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Period



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Look into his shiny eyes and if you see a ghost don't be surprised......Listen to the strings. That jangle and dangle while the old guitar sings.

The lake it is said never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come early.

I've loved Gordon since a kid in the 70's. All of 'em; "If You could Read My Mind"; "Sundown"; "Carefree Highway" " The Wreck...".... it wasn't until I picked up Gord's Gold, and some of his others that I understood. Its easier for me to say that maybe, there are one or two that I'm not crazy about, instead of spending the day listing each one of my favorites.
Gordon!!!!See you in Keene, New Hampshire.
Paul from Rhode Island...

Hello!
I would say "Softly" has been my fav. for a while. Although I'm not the cheatin' kind I can almost picture what she looks like. I can visualize the whole song as if it were real. I can almost see her lips in the shadows and that perfume.....Not many songs can yank you into a dreamworld. This one does it for me. The other one I like is "Beautiful" which I attempt to sing to my wife!

like many of you, I have countless favorite GL songs. I think that my favorite album would have to be Sundown. There are many great songs that have real musical character. I'm talking about songs like Seven Island Suite, Is There Anyone Home, and The Watchmans Gone, among others. I also like Summer Side of Life. I love 'Miguel.' There all great!

"...But that was so long ago that I can scarcely feel the way I felt before, and if time could heal the wounds, then I would tear the threads away, that I might bleed some more..."

GL

[This message has been edited by potter (edited March 29, 2000).]

Gordon Lightfoot has so many good tunes that I could never pick one but among my guitar playing friends Steel Rail Blues is pretty much on everybodys list. I mean the original version not the one on Gord's Gold. A lot of players like Alberta Bound also.I've always enjoyed Redwood Hill, Brave Mountaineers and 10 Degrees and Gettin Colder to play on guitar. I was very ill one winter and confined to bed for 10 days the only thing I could do was listen to a radio. I was 14 years old at the time . A local station played If You Could Read My Mind a couple of times a day and that was a time I looked forward to and I forgot about my pain for those few minutes when that song played. That was my inroduction to Gordon Lightfoot.Christian Island is another one of those songs that takes me away to another place and paints pictures in my mind so srongly that I feel transported to the place Gord is singing about and I'm onboard ship with him sailing down the western wind and liking the mood I'm in. Brave Mountaineers makes me feel like a young boy again and the scenes Gordon describes are very much like my own childhood. The run of great albulms from Summer Side Of Life,Don Q.,Old Dan's,and Sundown is so strong that few other singer-songwriters come close except fellow Canadiens Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and the great body of work Elton John put together in the 70's and Bob Dylans run in the 60's. Gordon Lightfoot is truly one of the greatest as singer,songwriter,performer and what a natural God given voice! I saw many concerts in the 70's at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pa. but my favorite was 75 or 76 I can't remember for sure. I think it was the tour to promote Cold On The Shoulder and I witnessed something at Gord's show that I had never seen before. During any show the police or security guards would look bored out of their minds or dead serious about being the authority figures in charge. At that show I actually saw them listen and respond to Gordon Lightfoot like he was their grandson stopping by to sing a few tunes. They were just mesmerized by his performance as we all were. I remember telling my friends that it felt like we were all in this big living room and Gordon was giving a private concert to some old friends. I guess that's what it was. I remember a fan had done an oil painting on a huge canvass and presented to Gordon during the show. Also,Gordon brought his daughter out to sit on the piano bench with him while he sang Fine As Fine Can Be to her. It seemed like she was about 10 years old at the time but my memory might be off there. What I do remember is it was my favorite Syria Mosque show. They tore down the Mosque some years ago but they're not getting that show from me, I'm gonna carry that one with me till I'm tore down. It's the Same Old Loverman signing off for now. I could go on and on about the man and his music but so could you so I'll Go My Way.

Kenton,
Can I just say that was a great post! I have the same memory of hearing IYCRMM and being transfixed and sort of coming of age in the 70s with Gordon Lightfoot and all that great music and the great concerts. I never saw him play the piano in concert. Maybe some day. Some of my favorite songs come off the Cold on the... album with the beutiful piano playing. Your post really took me back. Thanks.

chris

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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

My favorite Lightfoot song would be,"If you could read my mind" Because the mind is so deep and complex, yet it does have all of lifes answers. Yet we spend so much times asking silly questions and arguing over slight misunderstandings.It would be so much easier if we all knew exactly what was on the other persons mind.

To the above post:

It would be no fun then....

Wes

Don Quixtoe- if you've every actually read the enough of the book (I did the entire unabridged version) this song seems to capture a good portion of the overall mood of the entire book, its uncanny. The part about 'shouting across the ocean to the shore till he can shout no more' and 'in vain to search again' are the most obvious elements, but its a lot more than that.

Don Quixtoe- if you've every actually read the enough of the book (I did the entire unabridged version) this song seems to capture a good portion of the overall mood of the entire book, its uncanny. The part about 'shouting across the ocean to the shore till he can shout no more' and 'in vain to search again' are the most obvious elements, but its a lot more than that.

I have to go with NewRhythm on this one. I do every song in the catalog and Softly is by far the one that does it for me. He's right, from a mans' point of view your damn lucky if just once in your life you can experience this kind of a love or event. Thank God there are women in the world who have the kindness of heart to give a man this, even if it only happens once, he'll carry it with him the rest of his life.

Rob Wells

"Whispers the breeze in her passing..."

I have to go with NewRhythm on this one. I do every song in the catalog and Softly is by far the one that does it for me. He's right, from a mans' point of view your damn lucky if just once in your life you can experience this kind of a love or event. Thank God there are women in the world who have the kindness of heart to give a man this, even if it only happens once, he'll carry it with him the rest of his life.

Rob Wells

"Whispers the breeze in her passing..."

My favorite GL song is
Seven Island Suite.
He really hits the heart of matters
there.
Could listen to it over & over.

WRECK OF EDMUND FITZGERALD.
I've always heard the song while growing up, just never really paid any mind to it. Then one night I was watching a documentary on PBS on the Fitzgerald, and Gord's song was playing throughout the documentary. I was really in tune to the ship and how the crew and captain felt while going through the ordeal. Gordon was able to capture that feeling and put it into words and rhyme with the right mix of twangle and jangle. Since that night, Gordon Lightfoot has been top on my list of favorite artist. I'm still learning about him and his music, but the more I learn, the more I relate, understand, and appreciate. Thanks for the opputunity.
P.S.
When or will Gord ever come south (New Orleans, Baton Rouge area)?
thanks - Earl

WRECK OF EDMUND FITZGERALD.
I've always heard the song while growing up, just never really paid any mind to it. Then one night I was watching a documentary on PBS on the Fitzgerald, and Gord's song was playing throughout the documentary. I was really in tune to the ship and how the crew and captain felt while going through the ordeal. Gordon was able to capture that feeling and put it into words and rhyme with the right mix of twangle and jangle. Since that night, Gordon Lightfoot has been top on my list of favorite artist. I'm still learning about him and his music, but the more I learn, the more I relate, understand, and appreciate. Thanks for the opputunity.
P.S.
When or will Gord ever come south (New Orleans, Baton Rouge area)?
thanks - Earl

Too many to mention them all but:
'Sit Down Young Stranger' by far the best out and out folk song.
'Redwood Hill' I think the best of the country style songs.
'Seven Island Suite' not sure which category this fits into but this is my overall favourite - for now anyway.
My favourite album must be 'Sundown' all great songs with much variety.

Too many to mention them all but:
'Sit Down Young Stranger' by far the best out and out folk song.
'Redwood Hill' I think the best of the country style songs.
'Seven Island Suite' not sure which category this fits into but this is my overall favourite - for now anyway.
My favourite album must be 'Sundown' all great songs with much variety.

I am a firm believer in the dynamic and everchanging Lightfoot favorite, but I just realized that I really really love "The Watchman's Gone". Sometimes when I hear that song, I am just totally surprised that radio stations don't play it constantly. Mr. Potter had a really good point in another discussion forum, when he mentioned an all Gordo radio station. Wow, that would be amazing! Further, I have to agree with "A Painter". "Seven Island Suite" is truly an amazing piece of literature, set to brilliant music! I was recently asked by some young Lightfoot fans, "This music is great, but what would you call it?" Naturally I responded, "It's just the genius known as Lightfoot", but the question prompted deeper thought. as "A Painter" points out, he bridges many types of musical artistry. While I'd classify him by and large as a folk artist, his greatness certainly transcends boundaries.

"As I leave you in the sunset
Got one more nothi' I'd like to say
'You don't know me
A son of the sea am I'"
-GL

I am a firm believer in the dynamic and everchanging Lightfoot favorite, but I just realized that I really really love "The Watchman's Gone". Sometimes when I hear that song, I am just totally surprised that radio stations don't play it constantly. Mr. Potter had a really good point in another discussion forum, when he mentioned an all Gordo radio station. Wow, that would be amazing! Further, I have to agree with "A Painter". "Seven Island Suite" is truly an amazing piece of literature, set to brilliant music! I was recently asked by some young Lightfoot fans, "This music is great, but what would you call it?" Naturally I responded, "It's just the genius known as Lightfoot", but the question prompted deeper thought. as "A Painter" points out, he bridges many types of musical artistry. While I'd classify him by and large as a folk artist, his greatness certainly transcends boundaries.

"As I leave you in the sunset
Got one more nothi' I'd like to say
'You don't know me
A son of the sea am I'"
-GL

My favorite song today is Rainbow Trout from, I believe, from Cold On The Shoulder.

'She said, please, please, I've lost my way, the current is too strong. In the name of love kind sir I pray, in the name of love.'

GL

My favorite song today is Rainbow Trout from, I believe, from Cold On The Shoulder.

'She said, please, please, I've lost my way, the current is too strong. In the name of love kind sir I pray, in the name of love.'

GL

Yarmouth Castle is a great one. I can really feel that old rusty boat catching on fire. Has to be one of my favorites although I'm pretty hooked on the whole new album(Painter Passing Through)

It's nice to read all these great posts!

Potter,
I'm with you on Rainbow Trout. I could listen to that over and over and over... COTS is one of my favorite albums. When I hear it I always wonder what kind of mind could come up with such a song. The line about that goes all dolled up like a blue eyed pup looking for something to spill... also great.

chris

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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

I like pretty much everything, of course...but I thought I'd mention some of my particular favorites, especially the ones that no one else has mentioned yet. I really, really like the songs In A Windowpane and Apology from Sunday Concert. I'm in this incredibly complicated relationship with someone right now, and at various points, the lines
"wanting someone to be with me in the light of this uncertain time
waiting by the window for the man inside to please make up his mind"
(from In A Windowpane) and the lines
"But I could not go inside
I heard the sound of laughter
and the rustle of her hair upon his skin"
(from Apology)
really reasonated with me. I also really like "Walls". And anything from Don Quixote or Dream Street Rose will always remind me of riding around in the car with my mother when I was a little girl...we bought everything on records, and dad made a tape with one album on one side and the other one on the other, and it lived in our car for months. I can make a semi-credible attempt at singing pretty much anything off those albums...well, except for Auctioneer....never did quite catch all the lyrics in the chanted part...I swear, singing along with Gordon Lightfoot tapes all these years is probably why my voice is so low now....

Oh, I also very much like the song "Affair On 8th Avenue" I'm not entirely sure why, but the lines
"how long, said she
can a moment like this
belong to someone
what is wrong, what is right
when to live or to die
we must almost be born"
really seem to stick in my head....I'm not entirely sure what they mean, but they stick there all the same. Why is it so easy to remember Gordon Lightfoot lyrics and so diffcult to remember my PIN number? *sigh*.

My favorite GL song is "Minstrel of the Dawn." I was 13 years old the first time I heard it, about 17 years ago. It was the first song that hit me right between the eyes as far as lyrics go. The freedom it describes is something I have craved and pondered for many years. Since then, music and song lyrics, all different kinds, have been the bridges that connect all the parts of my life. For every experience I've had, good and bad, there are song lyrics that help me to understand my life better. Many of Gordon's songs have helped me in this way. "Minstrel of the Dawn" was the first. I've been reading a great deal lately about Woody Guthrie - does anyone know if "Minstrel" was written about anyone in particular? It could've been written about Woody. He was a great champion of songs that help us to understand our world. At any rate, I love this song, and it makes me think about true freedom every time I hear it. The freedom of "just wanting life and nothing more."

Laurie
watersedge7@yahoo.com

I have far too many favorite Lightfoot tunes. It depends entirely on my attitude and mood on a given day. Right now, I'm in the mood to hear "Restless." Beautiful song. One of the best of 1990s Gordon (and an excellent concert tune.

To Laurie: I have always been certain that the minstrel Gordon was writing about in Minstrel Of The Dawn is himself. Read through the lyrics with that in mind, and see if you don't agree.

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Valerie Magee

Laurie / Val,
I must admit, I always thought 'Minstrel' was about Gordon but now you've got me thinking - Dylan or Guthrie - perhaps? No, it must be about Him. Although D & G were both great song writers, I would not class them as Minstrels. Could they make the guitar sing (or ring)? I'm sure that if the song was about someone else, it would have got a mention in the sleeve notes - if it was about Him, it probably wouldn't.


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"some people join the party, and others say goodnight"

Further evidence re: Minstrel. Notice that he is also the "ghost" in If You Could Read My Mind, on the same album. Surely there is no doubt that IYCRMM is about him!

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Valerie Magee

Val,
Although I would love to agree with you, I'm not sure it's as simple as that. When writing songs it is very easy to fall into the trap of using words, a collection of words, or chord sequences that work well. Think about, or listen to:
"now it's midnight on the open sea and the moon is shining bright..." (Yarmouth Castle), then listen to "when it's midnight on the meadow and the cats are in the shed..." (Pony Man). Somewhat alike?
Proves nothing I know - except that re-cycling can't be bad!


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"some people join the party, and others say goodnight"

How about "Too many clues in this room"? I know that is an odd choice for favorite song, but the guitars sound scary to me. If I was a musician, I would love to play that tune.

At one of the many Gordon Lightfoot concerts I attended I was lucky enough to have procured front row center seats. When the people around me started to shout out names of songs as requests, I threw caution to the wind and requested that he sing, Hail Hero. I have only heard the song one time as it was the opening track to a movie of the same title. (With Michael Douglas as a young vet returning home from the Viet Nam conflict if I remember correctly.) To this day I am certain that Mr. Lightfoot heard me because he looked straight at me and gave me a very strange look...like, "Where in the world did you dig that up?" The movie ended with Wherefore and Why. Hail Hero, may not be my favorite GL tune and I am not even sure that he wrote it, but I would very much like to hear it again because I believe it is the one single recorded GL tune that I have heard only one time. I would love it if someone could shed some light on my dilemma.
...My favorite GL tune? Would have to say, Sit Down Young Stranger. I played it for a person who needed my help and in a small way it enabled us to connect.
"We treated him so badly
How could he wish us well" Kurt.

Hail Hero is discussed at length in another thread. The only place you will find it is in the movie soundtrack. The movie is long out of print, but copies are sold regularly at Ebay (they usually go for about $20). Lightfoot wrote the lyrics only.

He probably looked at you the way he did (I think that's called a "withering" look) because he thought you were nuts* to ask for that one. (He is not one to keep his feelings hidden). He has often said that he submitted three songs for that movie; and that they chose Hail Hero and left the two best for him. What were the other two? Why they were Sit Down Young Stranger and Don Quixote. (I have asked him for SDYS several times. He was doing it in concert in 1998, and he read my request and did it for me both times that I asked).

*I am NOT making fun of you at all. I like Hail Hero too!

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Valerie Magee

I'd have to say my favorite Lightfoot song is "Rainy Day People" off Gord's 1975 release "Cold On the Shoulder." This was the first song of his that I listened to (I heard it on an a.m. radio station) and it's the one that made me get out my uncle's old reel-to-reels and listen to more songs. Eventually I found myself buying the albums that I didn't already have on reels.