On the TV...while I don't think it's a great song title, that version is what sticks with me and is why it's always hit home with me
Toronto is a place where many young talented actors (and singers) from small towns and distant provinces would flock to try 'give it a go'...conversely, many home bred dreamers would head over the border, Hollywood or the Big Apple or say, Nashville bound to try live out that dream...family, friends, loved ones perhaps left in the dust but all still hoping to see a name in the credits, or voice on the radio, perhaps or a face on the tv
i always thought the line 'was she drinking champagne when she made up her mind' was superb
i thought might be about the parting of ways with someone such as Cathy Smith
as for the pre-studio recording change, i think On the High Sea sounded better than Seas....unless he'd also changed the preceding line to 'bees'
one of my fave 'groove' tunes along the same theme (the theme that I perceived anyhow) is this toe tapper:
YouTube- If Hollywood Don't Need You - Don Williams
the Burt line always made me chuckle....then one day out on the east coast, a small town local said to me,
'you're from Toronto, eh?, hey, if you see Gord Lightfoot say hello for me!'
lastly, i think Gord smirks when he introduces On the TV, not as a joke but becuase of the irony of him playing the tune on the television...you can sense his overall discomfort in general
i've seen folks who can really ham it up and perform in front of crowds without a bead of sweat on the palms, but when you have that red 'recording' light come on (the one on top of the large motion cameras), it's deer in the headlights look/dry mouth time
