Gordon Lightfoot Forums - If You Need Me

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- - If You Need Me (http://www.corfid.com/vbb//showthread.php?t=13853)

I have been listening to this song this morning and have to say that his voice in this song is worth a listen if you have not listened to this song in awhile. Actually, I can't think of a song where his voice sounds better.

"If you want to know for certain
What is written in my soul
Where my wildest dreams unfold
Like an endless stream
If you need me
Show me a way to walk tall
Cause I've not seen anything at all
Until I met you"

That is pure poetry and it doesn't get any better than that.

Yes...Poetry! I really think Gord is a fantastic poet, that's what I love about his music.

Too Many Clues in this Room would make a good poem.

Are you trying to make me cry??? :))

How about; "I'M NOT SAYIN'".

Steve

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As long as I'm a ghost; that you can't see.

This is a good song and again that perfectionist Gord had to have the music that went together so sweetly with these lyrics. A good one.
GSS

One of my fav's Watchman...I think "The Pony Man" needs to be mentioned in this thread given it's poetic value.

[This message has been edited by classicmixdj (edited May 22, 2003).]

All songs that Gordon has written are poetry,with the possible exception of the "rockers". If it's easy going or somewhat light & uptempo with his acoustic guitar,you can't get any more poetic than that. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif I know his next CD (album) will be even more-so,given all he's been through. I'm looking forward to it. It's been the B! Catch ya on the flipside of Sundown! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Borderstone

classicmixdj,

Absolutely! "The Pony Man" is great. "If You Need Me" grabbed me the other day and still has a hold of me.lol It's weird how you listen to a song for years and it does little and then all of sudden it grabs you out of left field. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

In english class earlier this year, I wrote a poem that was based on "Race Among The Ruins". It was about a thief and a robber.

Thats what I call A+ material!

TheWatchman,

"If You Need Me" has always been one of my fav songs...and yes...you are right...it's one of those that comes up out of nowhere to grab your attention. Gordon, is the best there ever was and the best there will ever be. Here's to his good health.

[This message has been edited by classicmixdj (edited June 04, 2003).]

yes, indeed. Come back soon, Gord. We miss you.

Played "IYNM" twice on the way to work this morning...(I only have cassette in my van). I'm not sure if there is any chrome oxide left on the tape due to frequent play. It's a personal compilation tape with all Gord songs. Seems like I've heard the first chords of "Hey You" a thousand times before I hit the rewind button for another dose of "If You Need Me". Funny, how some songs can really haunt a person.

LOL Yep, I know what you mean. I would pay a ton of money to get a copy of only Gord's vocals from the studio on his albums from Sundown all the way to East Of Midnight.

There is a very beautiful post about "If You Need Me" by "Donaldfluffy" on page 8 of the "Favorite Lightfoot Song and Why" thread--it touched me almost as much as the song. It's about how Gord's music helped a ghetto kid from Michigan when he was growing up. I'll never again be able to listen to this one without thinking of that message. Somebody replied at the time that he should send it in snail mail to Gord's office; I hope he did.

Here is that post from Donaldfluffy. Very nice and I hope Gord got that one...

quote:Originally posted by Donaldfluffy on January 23, 2002:
Gordon, I hope that you actually read some of this stuff. I can't tell you how your music has been instrumental in my life.
It was your music that helped a ghetto kid from Michigan get through some of the worst times any kid could imagine. When everyone else was listening to funk, your words touched me and made me dream of a different world...a world of fantasy and oceans.

I took your music as a challenge to grow. Because of your music, this ghetto kid went to the university of Michigan and from there to law school. Beyond that, I listened to you every night for 8 years of college, and found the inspiration to go on. I know that it sounds silly, but you helped me get into my dream school-Harvard. And every night I studied while listening to you. I graduated with highest honors.

I now own my own law firm, and I now raise my children on your expressions. You are more than a msician. You are a muse.

My favorite song of yours, among so very very very many, is " If you need me". The words in this simple song are soft and inspirational. I have a wife that I been with and have loved for 23 years, since the first moment I ever laid eyes on her while i high school. This song says what it is for a man to love a woman. And more, it says what he needs from her in order to grow as a man, to develop, to unleash everything within himself...with her as his muse. This song is deep. I wonder who she was who inspired you to compose this song. My My, how she cut into you so seriously.

As I listen to it, as I have since it was first released those many years ago, I still wonder, what woman placed such a dagger in your heart forcing you to compose such sincere, simple and deep lyrics. This is not an "A" side song, but it has "A-plus" inspiration.

Thank you for your gift of song and dreams to us the lowly listener. I have grown up these 40 years on you. As a black male, I can truly say you touch, and reach, and impact in ways that ghetto boys like me who with the inspiration of your songs, have gone on to become the dreams and goals that your words helped to create.

This is the song I was listening to when I thought I heard a harp in the background...not "Hey You" as I had posted previously!

Sun lights up the seasons
Blue eyes light up the night

These are the lines where you can hear the harp...well, I think it's a harp?