Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Hello everyone-

I was just on Wayne Francis' website and read a shocker.

At the Feb. 17, 2018 concert in Melbourne, Florida, the encore was "Too Many Clues in this Room."

I can't remember reading or seeing this song ever being performed in concert. I have not listened to this song in several years, buried at the end of the Summertime Dream album. But just listened to it again.

All I can think of with this song is that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, and that there are all kinds of signs and warnings out there. Beautiful 12-string rhythm from Gordon and fine Terry Clements guitar work on this song, with an exceptionally long instrumental then fade.

It must be Gordon Lightfoot's commentary on the south Florida school shooting on February 14. Always interesting when Gordon trots out a rare track from his deep catalog.

John- Minnesota

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Yes, I saw that too...

I agree with seafarer about this being Gordon's commentary...

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Wow! What an unusual choice for an encore! I agree with both of you. It sounds like it could very well be Gordon's commentary on this tragedy.

Gail

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

John see:-
http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showpost.p...9&postcount=23
therefore this is not included in the definitive list of songs never performed in public as listed in that thread

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

But still a gem! 1970s? I love when songs are pulled out of the vault.

Hoping for a May concert John😊

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

discussion about the tune:NEWSGROUP - 1998 - several thoughts-click on names to open the comments. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!ms...Y/bojkbgXREDMJ

CORFID. 2003 = http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=12929

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

I've been listening to it and can't figure out its meaning.

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

I think I correctly assumed that you had intended that URL to be a hyperlink??:-

http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=12929
(and that old Newsgroup thread was a superb read mostly due to the brilliantly researched ramblings of a plumbing expert!!)

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Clearwater and Orlando shows, but not the other FL shows. Sure was sorry I didn't get to go to Melbourne to hear "Too Many Clues." I believe I heard Rick say that they had NEVER performed that one, not even when it was new, but they'd been rehearsing it lately.
It's interesting to see which tunes get brought out of the vault. Gord has done this a lot over the years. I think we all have our own "wish lists," don't we? I'm sure lots of things have to be taken into consideration - the vocal range, the arrangement, the "presence" of the song onstage, etc. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Gord is mulling through the catalog and trying to pick our something. :)

Melissa

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Richard Harison (former Road Manager and Live Sound Engineer for Gordon) proferred this:

You asked me about "Too Many Clues," and I proffered a possible connection between
the writing and Nixon/Watergate -- where all the "clues" were eventually connected, revealing the "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" totality of the situation.
(The timing is right. Song recorded Dec. 1975 & obviously written before that. Nixon resigned August 1974.)
As I have said before--I have never asked Gordon about it.

I think the Trump White House and all the shenanigans going on there is a distinct parallel --
thus one reason why GL might have hauled this one out of the vault.
Also-- the concert was only days after the Parkland mass shooting.
No coincidence here!

(Washington Post reporters Woodward & Bernstein were told in 1974 by informer Deep Throat to "Follow the Money."
Ironically they are now once again working together and are telling CNN the same thing: "Follow the Money!"
Déjà Vu all over again.)

The very same sentiment was expressed by Hercule Poirot in 1974's "Murder on the Orient Express," when Poirot muses:
"Has it ever occurred to you that there are too many clues in this room?"
Each clue pointed to an individual--so there were too many clues. Thus the only solution to the case was that they were all
in on it.

————All The Best,
Richard

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

.....or perhaps Gord just likes the song and wants to sing it! :)

Not everything has to be political. It's a shame that so many things turn that direction and keep everyone stirred up. But, then again, I guess that's what keeps the talking heads......talking.

I'm just glad Gord still brings stuff out of the vault because it indicates that he's still trying to keep it fresh and intends to be doing this for awhile.

Me? I just want to enjoy the music. And I do! :)

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Why's that?

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

He played it again! May 7.

How do we get him to play it on June 17th in Geneva, NY? I'd love to hear him do this song live.

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Hey hope he plays it at your concert! Post if he does!

I'd love to hear it live. No concerts for me locally unfortunately.

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Is the August 13 concert in Ocean City, NJ a possibility for you?



Gail

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Ugh, no:( Almost any other week in the summer would have been fine. I was hoping for May-July. Are you going? I believe it is an outside venue. One of my favorite shows was the outdoor one in Aston PA a few years back.

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

We're going to the 8/13 show in Ocean City, NJ. We figured we'll spend a few days "down the shore" as a result.



We attended that concert in Aston, PA a few years ago. I had NO idea that there was an outdoor concert venue there! A good friend of ours attended the show with us. It was her first time seeing Gordon in concert, and she was very impressed with him & his band.



Gail

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

I didn't know about the venue in Aston either. Glad your friend liked the show! I was hoping Gord would come back there. It's an easy drive from here and the show/atmosphere was great!

That's great that you're going to the show in August. Enjoy the concert and some beach days:)

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

Several years ago I had the opportunity to asked Gordon directly if Too Many Clues was related to the Nixon white house shenanigans.

He got a kind of funny look on his face, as if he thought I was a bit loony and said something like, "If that was it means to you than that's okay."

Re: Melbourne, FL: Too Many Clues in this Room
 

That's strange how one would feel funny being asked about a song.