Another reference is made to a house made of stone is in Gord's Harmony album. I've got to check which one, but its there in lyrics. I wonder what that house was in reality or... metaphorically ? dunno. tell you the tryth, in the song on SUNDOWN lp I like the strings orchestration as much as anything. Anyone ?
"turn around, don't look down, there's a man behind you with a gun".... wew..... that song is a real potpourri of non-sequiter's...but I love it ! - geodeticman (Steve) used 2 b mapman in '01

I've lost patience. I have tried to explain my position and ideas relative to lightfoot and his music from the purchase of my first album in 1967 until now. I wanted to discuss technobabble v. lightfoot's consistent, yet sincere, concern about ecology and the environment. In fact, he was a forerunner on so many issues; racial equality, peace, the disgrace of war, etc. Steve, cut the techno BS, go back to 1967, listen to the 19 albums prior to Harmony, and you'll have a wonderful sense of the man, the poet, the artist, who is, without question, not only the father of Canadian folk music, but an influence upon Dylan, Rush, and Buffet.

GeoMan, in response to your comment on Gord's lyrics "..turn around, there's a man behind you with a gun...", although I'm no expert here, and anyone can jump in here and correct me, but, was this part alluding to the incident where Gord was robbed at gunpoint in Los Angeles?

[ February 22, 2006, 01:02: Message edited by: Sheryl ]

Wow, you know, I've never made that connection Sheryl, but it's a real possibility.
Walls, lighten up on the new guy. Remember, he's had a brain injury, and that changes the way his brain works. He's in the process of making new pathways for his thoughts, something that someone who has never had a brain injury just does automatically.
...And on top of that, he's an enthusiastic Lightfoot fan. He'll eventually fit right in here

Weren't those lyrics "man with a gun" written well before that incident in LA? (during the recording of DSR)

[ February 27, 2006, 02:38: Message edited by: marc in maine ]

Sheryl, thanks for the comment on house made of stone. I've in fact thought of the connection possibly with his being robbed at gunpoint while recording Dream Street Rose; as you point out marc, correctly i think, the time difference would not have jived. In House on Sundown, the lryics were recorded circa '72 - '73, whereas DSR was somewhere around 1980? (wasn't it ?) . I read of the hold-up taking place after a long day of laying down DRS's tracks IN LA too, and him being awfully shaken-up. Who could blame him ? Cathy - thanks for the kind comments. Marc - I'd give my right leg to see Maine in the fall. Are "Whispers of the North" audible in the winter up there ? Also, has this forum spoken of the Jame Brolin show called "Hotel" in the 80's when Gord played a Rhinestone Singer who had a drinking problem and sought his son's forgiveness ? Interesting, too, that the storyline must have struck some painful chord's in GL where some rough parallels may have existed to himself perhaps and the personal demons he spoke openly of fighting in the seventies. If I remember right, in this HOTEL room I recall he was attacked, perhaps further drawing somewhat skewed parallels to the robbery in his room during DSR sessions. Am I remembering this correctly ? -- peace to all of you and my thanks again to kindnesses shown - cathy, sheryl, marc, silverheels, iron, and the rewst, - I will be following up on the personal questions you've askded of me, please be patient and I will answer each of you. Silverheels, as you kindly put - I DO have some new friends in here, and am greatful. Your Q in particular about what DID happen to me I will also answer, but clue mein to the level of detail you'd rather hear, as when I speak of these things it becomes a catharsis of sorts, and

Where are you in Maine, Marc? I'm way up North in Presque Isle.

Oh yeah. Whispers Of The North are audible up here... in the form of freezing cold North winds.

Cathy re your reply whispers of the north. LOL oooh boy I know that cold wind too, albeit lower latitude, but perhaps higher altitude. I grew up at just under 10,000 feet just outside the easter'ly bounds of Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, where my folks had a house near Long'S Peak. nothing like the smell of wet wool and down drying in a snowcave (trying to cool - and dry - off after digging it despite outside sub-zero temps and recovering inside much warmer cave) . "soon i will go forth ... to that wild and barren land where nature takes it's course" - what a great song. It's my "snowshoeing song" when I am getting psyched up the night before going through gear, etc. stay warm up there Cathy, thanks for the reply :)
- steve geodeticman

Steve - Geo-man,
you tell as much or as little as you want to.It's your success story. :)

Cathy,Geo-man: My home, in the foothills of Poland Spring, is nestled on a gental knoll of oaks, maple and beech. It's quite a firey sight, every autumn, to be coming home to each day after work. Like a tall flower garden. God is good.
Home at six this morning, t'was a long nights work. Stepping out the truck, nothing but a North Wind whistle, bristling through tall hemlock. Chick-o-dee songs bidding me good morning, sounds of pitter-patter inside my door. I love you daddy...

Now that's an awesome way to come home, Marc.

Cathy, When I was a kid I used to go up your way at least once a year to visit my grandparents in Saint Quentin, NB. Unforgettable farm country! potato barns! and the smells of that earth are heavenly! We'd take Rt 1 to Mars Hill, Fort Fairfield, Limestone and on to Van Buren. Stop at customs and grab some liquor and cigarettes. Rt. 17 to Saint Quentin was wild country. Coyote, fox and bobcat were seen often. My fondest memories are listening to the jigs in the kitchen till after midnight. Local relatives popping in and out. My father, his mandolin, uncle from Rimouski, his fiddle, grandfather blew the torpedo, uncle, the spoons, grandmother getting everybody else off their can and on the floor. We laughed and teased all night long! Lord, I wish I could relive those days!! My appreciation for music feeds off of those times. I really need to start learning to play an instrument(s), at least for the sake of my family. Do you or anyone else have memories to inspire you to music?

[ February 28, 2006, 03:54: Message edited by: marc in maine ]

Marc - I am taking an English class would you write my essays? Is your job writing? Beautiful description.

Thank you, brink. I got carried away. My job is to keep machines running, and my head clear when I leave.

Oh yes, all kinds of memories. My mother's side of the family was a very musical bunch. Every one of them played at least one stringed instrument. They'd gather at our house every Friday or Saturday evening, and a big jam session would go on for hours and hours. My uncle Sonny played banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and harmonica. Mom played dobro. Jim played a Les Paul. My grandparents also joined in on guitar. It went on until the wee hours of morning, with people stopping in at all hours of the night. That's mainly what got me interested in playing the guitar, and by age 8 or 9, I could pretty well keep up with them. It's really one of my favorite childhood memories.
I know all the towns you mentioned... except San Quentin. I'll have to look on a New Brunswick map.