IYCRMM - Blog Posting-Loretta Sassaman
 

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Spin That 45 visits “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot -

I saw that Gordon Lightfoot performed at the Emerald Queen Casino on June 26th. It’s crazy that alot of the younger generation don’t even know who Gordon is. Especially my own kids and I’ve taught them just about all they should know of the who’s who in music.
“If You Could Read My Mind” was the first time I’d heard of Gordon Lightfoot. Yet he had been putting out records since the mid-60′s. And had many notable artists recording his songs such as Peter, Paul and Mary, Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio and even Elvis Presley. It would be several years before “If You Could Read My Mind“ was released. When it was in late 1970, it later went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1971.

Back in the early 70′s a kid myself, there was something about the song that truly touched that soul of a 9-year-old girl. Seeing his name on the calendar for Emerald Queen, kind of caused a commotion of memories to come flooding back to present. And yet, I’ve heard this song so many times over the years.
To me, Gordon is truly the epitome of what is considered “Light Rock” or “Easy Listening.” I would go as far to say that he may have set the standard. When I think about the lasting impression that Gordon Lightfoot has had on me and my influences of music, I’d have to say that he instilled a love of acoustic, new age and folk music, such is what became a label with the 80′s / 90′s record label; Windham Hill Records and all the great artists that came from that company, like Alex de Grassi, Michael Hedges and founder William Ackerman.

Going back to this song, it could be said that a 9-year-old child has no idea what a song so deep like this could mean. But somehow, I knew it was a sad song. I remember crying when I’d listen to it. Maybe it was because at that time, my own life was full of chaos. Parents constantly fighting, drugs, sadness and wishing things could be different.
At the time, there was something about the music that was so captivating. I felt that Gordon’s voice was a comforting sound, like a father reading a bedtime story because to me, the lyrics read like a bedtime story. As I’ve grown to understand the lyrics, I can see that Gordon is being very direct in talking about the end of his marriage, which is what the song is about.
Even today as I did back then, there are still parts of the song that continue to pull at my soul. The guitar consistent in playing so beautifully, while the singer singing his heart but never having to raise his voice to convey how he feels. The strings of the orchestra going deep inside me, pulling me in like a siren, and I feel the waves of the water moving me to an fro.

I read that Gordon wrote the song in A major and used a subtonic chord progression, which would denote that feeling of strangeness and mysticism. That’s probably why it made such an impression on me back then. The chords probably reminded me of those old movies I’d watch from the 40′s and 50′s. Very true, even though it is part of the song. . . “just like an old time movie.”

As a songwriter, Gordon may have been dealing with his issues through his music. It seems he battled his demons in his songwriting, which includes his style of playing. There is so much feeling he lets out in his fingerpicking style, which sounds so delicate while he sings of something so sad and full of remorse. For this article, I didn’t want any research to thwart any memories from my own past, so I didn’t really look for anything.

Although “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot is part of the soundtrack of a life that was so harsh for me, it is one of my absolute favorite songs. And you know what, I have never had the privilege of seeing Gordon live. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s one of those things where memories should remain just memories. At this writing, I guess I don’t want to be that close to revisiting my past.

But then, who knows. Maybe it wouldn’t be that way at all. : )

Loretta Sassaman a freelance writer, music reviewer and an all around music enthusiast as well as a vocalist and musician. Her reviews and thoughts on music can be found on her website Spin That 45. She has contributed to Inside MusiCast and manages other websites as well as groups & pages on Facebook

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