Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - IFYCRMM analysis

charlene · 01-29-2008, 10:26 AM

more thoughts about IYCRMM:
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6398

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

If You Could Read My Mind

by
Gordon Lightfoot
Album: Sit Down Young Stranger Released: 1970
US Chart: 5 UK Chart: 30
Get the Ringtone Listen/Buy @ Amazon Get the Sheet Music
See what personality types like this in the Song Profile
View Lyrics
Rate This Song

Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
Written in 1969, the song has been recorded more than 100 times, first by Lightfoot himself for Sit Down Young Stranger. The album was not a commercial success, but after the song reached #5 on the US singles chart in 1971, the album was renamed after the song and re-released, reaching #12 in the pop charts. (thanks, Eric - Sandusky, OH)
This song was used in the Canadian feature film Paperback Hero in 1975.

Other recordings include those by Carroll Baker, Glen Campbell, The Bells, Johnny Mathis, Liza Minelli, Barbara Streisand and Andy Williams. Instrumental arrangements have been recorded by Herb Alpert, John Arpin, James Last, The Boss Brass and others. (thanks, Ian - Calgary, Canada, for above 2)

This song is part of the Series 1 soundtrack for Channel 4 TV's Trigger Happy TV which is a quick-fire comedy show featuring prank calls and celebrity gags. (thanks, Sue - Woking, England)

Johnny Cash covered this song on his last album before he died: American V: A Hundred Highways. (thanks, John - Portland, OR)

People who dig this song also like "American Pie" "Hallelujah" and "We Didn't Start The Fire"
More songs by Gordon Lightfoot
More songs covered by Johnny Cash
More songs used in TV shows
More songs used in movies

Comments:
It's such a soft-sounding song that even my Basset hound would fall asleep while listening to it. In fact, she would do that while a whole Gord's CD is being played, the music is that relaxing.
- Julia, Knoxville, TN

Joep - That part of the song, as I interperet it, is the narator speaking of how he wishes their relationship would be... note the following lyrics, "...but for now love lets be real...", he wishes their relationship could be like it is in the movies, but back to reality, life isn't a glamorous, or as easy as it is in the movies... Of course that's only my oppinion, I could be wrong.
- Vincent, Detroit, MI

dark rainy winter nights in Portland Oregon. The heater on. My mom playing this song til she wore it out.
- Heather, Los Angeles, CA

I talked to Gordon after a concert at the Front Row Theater near Cleveland in the 1980's. During the conversation he stated that he liked to write his music while drifting alone in a boat. I mentioned that a phrase in the song reminded me of Abbott & Costello movie where Costello whas a ghost trapped near a wishing well. Gordon confirmed that that moview was the inspiration for the song's phrase. - Bill Walker, Massillon, Ohio
- William, Massillon, OH

I've long found it fascinating that particular sounds (i.e. music) can evoke emotional responses in humans. This particular song makes me feel melancholy every time. It's quite a different phenomena than a song reminding you of a time and place; this one came out before I was born. I agree with Gordie from PA, it is a masterpiece of unaccompanied guitar with a beautiful evocative lyric.
- Marlon, Edmonton, Canada

This song is about the projection of the false self. The three way script is a triange of sorts. There's her, there's his false self that he shows to others, and the real self that he keeps hidden from others as well as himself. It's very deep actually. I'm pretty sure it has to with a personality disorder, such as Borderline. In the interior, he is a tortured soul, and will remain that way until he can connect with his real self. Until then he will not be able to truly connect with another. And will relive the same story over and over again. Because he connot maintain the projection forever. He will never be set free unless he can connect to his real self. The "movie" is a metaphore where he is the hero, but it is NOT real. It's really very sad. I hope this helps.
- Glenn, Huntington, NY

Yes it does! Thanks Brad! I'll appreciate the song even more next time I hear it!
- Joep, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Joep, I've always heard that a three way script is a movie about a love triangle, in this case, it would be one woman and two men. "Enter number two" means that the second man has entered the picture, thus the woman has fallen in love with another man. This could explain the line "I don't know were we went wrong but the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back". It seems that the narrator in this song is heartbroken because his lover has found another and he just cannot forgive her. Don't know if this is right, but it seems to make sense to me. Only Gord knows the true meaning of this song, but in my opinion, it seems to be about heartbreak and trying to move on. Hope this helps Joep.
- Brad, Wendell, NC

Could someone explain this part to me? Who gets burned in a three way script Enter number two A movie queen to play the scene Of bringing all the good things out in me
- Joep, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Question: Is it -can- or -can't- on: "I could never be set free as long as I am a ghost that you ____ see." >>> - If I am a ghost that you can see, then I am not a ghost but every time you see me you will re-state me as a ghost and I will never be set free. - If I am a ghost that you can't see, then I will remain a ghost and will never be set free. I am very puzzled here and I have found conflicting versions on just these words.
- rudycito, Fort Lauderdale, FL

This is about a love gone sour. The use of the ghosts is about what was past. I've always loved this song. Mary, Yuma, AZ
- Mary, Yuma, AZ

Not nearly enough props are being given here. Anyone who ever sat down with a guitar and a pen and paper would make a deal with the devil to come away with this masterpiece.
- Gordie, Philadelphia, PA

Johnny Cash covered this for his first post-mortum album, American 5: A Hundred Highways. Like most of Cash's covers, it seems a little more personal.
- Eric, Milltown, IN

The song also plays at the end (and over the credits) of the 2003 Val Kilmer movie, "Wonderland." Strangely, the song fits with some of the themes of the movie. Particularly, the following: When you reach the part where the heartaches come, The hero would be me,But heroes often fail, And you wont read that book again, Because the endings just too hard to take.
- louis, youngstown, OH

Also, relative to "Wonderland," supposedly John Holmes used to sing the song to his girlfriend, Dawn, and that's why the song is used in the movie.
- louis, youngstown, OH

Pretty song...kind of mushy chick song...but i'd cover it
- frank, Morenci , AZ

01-29-2008, 10:26 AM	#2
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Re: IFYCRMM analysis - blog more thoughts about IYCRMM: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6398 Tuesday, January 29, 2008 If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot Album: Sit Down Young Stranger Released: 1970 US Chart: 5 UK Chart: 30 Get the Ringtone Listen/Buy @ Amazon Get the Sheet Music See what personality types like this in the Song Profile View Lyrics Rate This Song Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page. Written in 1969, the song has been recorded more than 100 times, first by Lightfoot himself for Sit Down Young Stranger. The album was not a commercial success, but after the song reached #5 on the US singles chart in 1971, the album was renamed after the song and re-released, reaching #12 in the pop charts. (thanks, Eric - Sandusky, OH) This song was used in the Canadian feature film Paperback Hero in 1975. Other recordings include those by Carroll Baker, Glen Campbell, The Bells, Johnny Mathis, Liza Minelli, Barbara Streisand and Andy Williams. Instrumental arrangements have been recorded by Herb Alpert, John Arpin, James Last, The Boss Brass and others. (thanks, Ian - Calgary, Canada, for above 2) This song is part of the Series 1 soundtrack for Channel 4 TV's Trigger Happy TV which is a quick-fire comedy show featuring prank calls and celebrity gags. (thanks, Sue - Woking, England) Johnny Cash covered this song on his last album before he died: American V: A Hundred Highways. (thanks, John - Portland, OR) People who dig this song also like "American Pie" "Hallelujah" and "We Didn't Start The Fire" More songs by Gordon Lightfoot More songs covered by Johnny Cash More songs used in TV shows More songs used in movies Comments: It's such a soft-sounding song that even my Basset hound would fall asleep while listening to it. In fact, she would do that while a whole Gord's CD is being played, the music is that relaxing. - Julia, Knoxville, TN Joep - That part of the song, as I interperet it, is the narator speaking of how he wishes their relationship would be... note the following lyrics, "...but for now love lets be real...", he wishes their relationship could be like it is in the movies, but back to reality, life isn't a glamorous, or as easy as it is in the movies... Of course that's only my oppinion, I could be wrong. - Vincent, Detroit, MI dark rainy winter nights in Portland Oregon. The heater on. My mom playing this song til she wore it out. - Heather, Los Angeles, CA I talked to Gordon after a concert at the Front Row Theater near Cleveland in the 1980's. During the conversation he stated that he liked to write his music while drifting alone in a boat. I mentioned that a phrase in the song reminded me of Abbott & Costello movie where Costello whas a ghost trapped near a wishing well. Gordon confirmed that that moview was the inspiration for the song's phrase. - Bill Walker, Massillon, Ohio - William, Massillon, OH I've long found it fascinating that particular sounds (i.e. music) can evoke emotional responses in humans. This particular song makes me feel melancholy every time. It's quite a different phenomena than a song reminding you of a time and place; this one came out before I was born. I agree with Gordie from PA, it is a masterpiece of unaccompanied guitar with a beautiful evocative lyric. - Marlon, Edmonton, Canada This song is about the projection of the false self. The three way script is a triange of sorts. There's her, there's his false self that he shows to others, and the real self that he keeps hidden from others as well as himself. It's very deep actually. I'm pretty sure it has to with a personality disorder, such as Borderline. In the interior, he is a tortured soul, and will remain that way until he can connect with his real self. Until then he will not be able to truly connect with another. And will relive the same story over and over again. Because he connot maintain the projection forever. He will never be set free unless he can connect to his real self. The "movie" is a metaphore where he is the hero, but it is NOT real. It's really very sad. I hope this helps. - Glenn, Huntington, NY Yes it does! Thanks Brad! I'll appreciate the song even more next time I hear it! - Joep, Rotterdam, Netherlands Joep, I've always heard that a three way script is a movie about a love triangle, in this case, it would be one woman and two men. "Enter number two" means that the second man has entered the picture, thus the woman has fallen in love with another man. This could explain the line "I don't know were we went wrong but the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back". It seems that the narrator in this song is heartbroken because his lover has found another and he just cannot forgive her. Don't know if this is right, but it seems to make sense to me. Only Gord knows the true meaning of this song, but in my opinion, it seems to be about heartbreak and trying to move on. Hope this helps Joep. - Brad, Wendell, NC Could someone explain this part to me? Who gets burned in a three way script Enter number two A movie queen to play the scene Of bringing all the good things out in me - Joep, Rotterdam, Netherlands Question: Is it -can- or -can't- on: "I could never be set free as long as I am a ghost that you ____ see." >>> - If I am a ghost that you can see, then I am not a ghost but every time you see me you will re-state me as a ghost and I will never be set free. - If I am a ghost that you can't see, then I will remain a ghost and will never be set free. I am very puzzled here and I have found conflicting versions on just these words. - rudycito, Fort Lauderdale, FL This is about a love gone sour. The use of the ghosts is about what was past. I've always loved this song. Mary, Yuma, AZ - Mary, Yuma, AZ Not nearly enough props are being given here. Anyone who ever sat down with a guitar and a pen and paper would make a deal with the devil to come away with this masterpiece. - Gordie, Philadelphia, PA Johnny Cash covered this for his first post-mortum album, American 5: A Hundred Highways. Like most of Cash's covers, it seems a little more personal. - Eric, Milltown, IN The song also plays at the end (and over the credits) of the 2003 Val Kilmer movie, "Wonderland." Strangely, the song fits with some of the themes of the movie. Particularly, the following: When you reach the part where the heartaches come, The hero would be me,But heroes often fail, And you wont read that book again, Because the endings just too hard to take. - louis, youngstown, OH Also, relative to "Wonderland," supposedly John Holmes used to sing the song to his girlfriend, Dawn, and that's why the song is used in the movie. - louis, youngstown, OH Pretty song...kind of mushy chick song...but i'd cover it - frank, Morenci , AZ