My gut feeling is that it will never come to pass, considering Lightfoot's penchant for privacy, and his desire to work today rather than reflect on yesteryear. But, let's just say......

Lightfoot decides to write an autobiography. What do you think would be an appropriate title ? It certainly doesn't have to be one of his song titles, or variations of such. That said, I'd go with It's Worth Believin'

I'd think he'd probably favour going with something plain and simple and humble like "Ordinary Man"

but he couldn't go too wrong re-using A Painter Passing Through, eh?

(and yeah, i think he should actually throw the "eh" in there, lol)

I'd think he'd probably favour going with something plain and simple and humble like "Ordinary Man"

but he couldn't go too wrong re-using A Painter Passing Through, eh?

(and yeah, i think he should actually throw the "eh" in there, lol)

How about "In My Fashion"

How about "In My Fashion"

So many choices, but I'd take his motto, found in the Songbook liner notes: "ever onward" - describes his attitude towards his work and life, no?

So many choices, but I'd take his motto, found in the Songbook liner notes: "ever onward" - describes his attitude towards his work and life, no?

He always impresses me in concert with his regular

• "Well All Right"s
  and
• "Are You Ready"s?

the latter especialy in the Soundstage 1979 video
But as a sometime Newspaper report once put it perhaps
"If You Could Read His Mind" would be suitable?

He always impresses me in concert with his regular

• "Well All Right"s
  and
• "Are You Ready"s?

the latter especialy in the Soundstage 1979 video
But as a sometime Newspaper report once put it perhaps
"If You Could Read His Mind" would be suitable?

Oooooooooh....that's very, very good. It has the potential to be a 'thread killer'.

"One Grateful Guy from Orillia"

While a book publisher/agent etc. might like the "If You Could Read His Mind" title, I for one find it unimaginative and too obvious and over-used when it comes to Lightfoot and cringe when I see it in the newspaper as a header for an article about him..

"One Grateful Guy from Orillia"

While a book publisher/agent etc. might like the "If You Could Read His Mind" title, I for one find it unimaginative and too obvious and over-used when it comes to Lightfoot and cringe when I see it in the newspaper as a header for an article about him..

Yes agreed about IYCRHM but surely you meant to quote:-
"One Grateful Guy from Orillia,Ontario,Canada"!!

Or just possibly and I simply hate the idea behind this snippet of the lyrics of
My Little Love:-
"I'm a poet and I'm better off dead."
In that mould much betterand more positive would of course be Salute's
"You got a lot more livin' to do
And a lot more lovin' too"

[ July 13, 2007, 10:35: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

Yes agreed about IYCRHM but surely you meant to quote:-
"One Grateful Guy from Orillia,Ontario,Canada"!!

Or just possibly and I simply hate the idea behind this snippet of the lyrics of
My Little Love:-
"I'm a poet and I'm better off dead."
In that mould much betterand more positive would of course be Salute's
"You got a lot more livin' to do
And a lot more lovin' too"

[ July 13, 2007, 10:35: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

lol
maybe he could add his postal code too???
lol

lol
maybe he could add his postal code too???
lol

Very Droll but what a great idea

Very Droll but what a great idea

I bet his regular concert attendees would like "uh ONE two three four..."

LOL - but I have to say that sounds enough like Lawrence Welk to confuse the unfamiliar.

LOL - but I have to say that sounds enough like Lawrence Welk to confuse the unfamiliar.

For autobiography (if the guy asked me) I might say something like ALL I'M AFTER, geez, now that I think about it, it'd be hard to not sound pretentious titling your own autobiography wouldn't it!..
I like IT'S WORTH BELIEVIN..
I suppose A PAINTER PASSING THROUGH might make the most sense since, in a way, that's what the song basically is isn't it.. his own story the way he cares to relay it..

Titling A biography might be a different animal though..
I probably would choose RIVER OF LIGHT myself..
Maybe ENDLESS WIRE..
A PAINTER PASSING THROUGH..

I hope someone sits down and is able to get an authorized gig writing the book while all the players involved are still here to tell the story..

It would take a few years to do..

Maybe Barry Harvey or Rick is listening in here..

cuz hey fellas..
if not now, then when..
etc..

[ July 13, 2007, 14:28: Message edited by: RJ ]

I'll volunteer :D

I'll volunteer :D

I've actually thought about it too..
I think I could write it alright..
the hard part for me would be sitting down across from most of these guys and thinkin, "That's Gordon Lightfoot and Rick Haynes sittin there talkin to me!"..
I'd prob'ly crumble under the pressure and ferget to turn the tape recorder on (which I would only then discover when I got back to my hotel room in downtown Toronto after the guys just told me the most amazing stuff for 4 1/2 hours)..
etc..
;-(

Maybe a little team of Corfiders could volunteer etc..

[ July 13, 2007, 15:04: Message edited by: RJ ]

Actually I chatted with Rick one Sunday morning in the breakfast room of the (can't remember now) Blookity-Blook-something hotel in Aurora after a Saturday night gig there a few years ago, and he was the warmest most lovely guy you'd ever meet..
I tried to get all uptight and nervous and everything, and he wouldn't let me..
He was just too cool..

I have an idea....

Since RJ and CHar both write so well, maybe they could work together on it. Lightfoot said in his interview with CHar that he collected a lot of stuff that he doesn't know what to do with. You guys could help him get it organized, and in the process would come the stories behind them.

Whaddaya think ?

[ July 13, 2007, 21:38: Message edited by: charlene ]

I'll tell you what I think. there may well be a queue for this task and I suspect the person claiming the pole position is a young Lady near London who I sometimes get to chat with on AOL Instant Messnger, when she is not in some last minute panic or getting a phone call that is. she is frequently on line either as BrunaZanelli or silverheels7. for both screennames I have to say that she has selected extremely disturbing and overly noisy entry sounds that literally scare the wotzit out of me and I wish she would adopt something a lot less climatic!!!
A Public Health announcement and warning from
John Bt

I'll tell you what I think. there may well be a queue for this task and I suspect the person claiming the pole position is a young Lady near London who I sometimes get to chat with on AOL Instant Messnger, when she is not in some last minute panic or getting a phone call that is. she is frequently on line either as BrunaZanelli or silverheels7. for both screennames I have to say that she has selected extremely disturbing and overly noisy entry sounds that literally scare the wotzit out of me and I wish she would adopt something a lot less climatic!!!
A Public Health announcement and warning from
John Bt

Sir John, sometimes you can be such an ol' f***, but I do love ya. :D
I shall have to change my entry sounds. We do not want your wotzit being scared to death, right? Susan would never forgive me. ;)

"I'd rather press on"

Entry Sounds ?
oh my...
the mind reels...

Entry Sounds ?
oh my...
the mind reels...

I can take a hint. My original post is in John Fowles response. Am I the first non-bot to be censored, and have their identity stolen ?

Ron/non-bot - you have been returned to your former glory..
;)

I have been seriously sleep deprived this week and had just had a small, unscheduled nap..got up and checked in here..and that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
lol

here's my reply in the proper post.

Whaddaya think ?
hmmm...
I think it would have to be someone he picks because he's comfortable with that person and trusts them.
Someone he may already know that has interviewed him before and he liked what he read.
There are a couple of Toronto journalists who have done some fabulous pieces on him here in the Toronto papers.
And of course whoever was chosen would have to agree that he would have last say on everything..
lol

If he wanted to do it on the phone I'd be happy to accept the long distance charges from Toronto to Whitby..
and for a face-to-face event his office/house is only 45 minutes away.
Heck - he could even come out here - just for a change of pace!

The rest of the band are all very personable and approachable from my experience and altho I'm sure they are full of amazing stories they may not want to give up any details...and perhaps The Man wouldn't want any one else's recollections in his book..
Char

Ron/non-bot - you have been returned to your former glory..
;)

I have been seriously sleep deprived this week and had just had a small, unscheduled nap..got up and checked in here..and that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
lol

here's my reply in the proper post.

Whaddaya think ?
hmmm...
I think it would have to be someone he picks because he's comfortable with that person and trusts them.
Someone he may already know that has interviewed him before and he liked what he read.
There are a couple of Toronto journalists who have done some fabulous pieces on him here in the Toronto papers.
And of course whoever was chosen would have to agree that he would have last say on everything..
lol

If he wanted to do it on the phone I'd be happy to accept the long distance charges from Toronto to Whitby..
and for a face-to-face event his office/house is only 45 minutes away.
Heck - he could even come out here - just for a change of pace!

The rest of the band are all very personable and approachable from my experience and altho I'm sure they are full of amazing stories they may not want to give up any details...and perhaps The Man wouldn't want any one else's recollections in his book..
Char

Thank you, and I'll buy your alibi. But only with a coupon.

Well....he obviously feels comfortable with you. It would be an enormous undertaking, but an eager audience would be waiting.

I understand the "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" mindset. I wasn't thinking of the nitty-gritty, but of a more expansive view with the musical landscape of the times serving as the backdrop, and with some inside anecdotes tossed about.

Or, as has been the designated prelude for "The Wreck" it is a rapid and whispered: "WHUN, two, three, four, five, six ...."

Or, as has been the designated prelude for "The Wreck" it is a rapid and whispered: "WHUN, two, three, four, five, six ...."

For the title I'd be partial to something like LET IT RIDE or CANARY YELLOW CANOE but whatever made the final cut it would have to have a big subtitle of something like THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GORDON LIGHTFOOT.

Because to sell books you have to attract the readers and even people who like his hits and might even read his book often cannot tie the song to the singer. If I had a nickel for each person who said "yeah I like that song - WHO did you say sung it ?" or variations of that theme I'd be rich.

So you might really have to go with IYCRMM or whatever is his most currently identified song. We know we'd all buy a few copies but it's gotta sell more than that.

Great topic - thanks.

Bill :)