Relevance of Gord's old songs today

[Sheryl]

Today I was listening to "Lightfoot! The Way I Feel" and when "Pride of Man" came on, I really listened to the lyrics, and was surprised at how topically relevant it is today. Take a listen again and let me know what you think.

[Auburn Annie]

It's Gord's cover of Hamilton Camp's song, lyrics below:


Turn around go back down go back the way you came
Can't you see the flash of fire ten times brighter than the day
And behold the mighty city broken in the dust again
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again

Turn around go back down go back the way you came
Babylon is laid to waste Egypt's buried in her shame
Their mighty men are beaten down the kings are fallen in the ways
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again

Turn around go back down go back the way you came
Terror is on everyside though the leaders are dismayed
Those who put their faith in fire in fire their faith shall be repaid
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again

Turn around go back down go back the way you came
Shout a warning to the nations that the sword of god is raised
On Babylon that mighty city rich in treasure wide in fame
It shall cause thy towers to fall and make it be a pyre of flame
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again

Thou that dwell on many water rich in treasure wide in fame
Bow unto a god of gold thy pride of might shall be thy shame
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again

And only God can lead the people back into the faith again
Thy holy mountain be restored thy mercy on thy people Lord

************************************************
Maybe she means 9/11 in the "On Babylon that mighty city rich in treasure wide in fame
It shall cause thy towers to fall and make it be a pyre of flame" lines?

[vlmagee]

Yes, many people have noted the eerie aptness to 9/11. You can listen to a clip of songwriter Hamilton Camp's original recording of the song, which is on Paths Of Victory, at his website at www.hamiltoncamp.com . Camp's interpretation is not unlike Lightfoot's, while the popular cover by Quicksilver Messenger Service was something else entirely!

[ November 10, 2005, 05:28: Message edited by: vlmagee ]

[Sheryl]

Thanks, Annie. I didn't know it was a cover. Anyway, Watchman, just reading through the lyrics you can find parallels in today's news. I thought I heard "terrorist" when, in fact it was "terror is..." In any event, it's still apt. Spooky.

[musky_man]

I remember several years ago I asked him to give it a try at a TO concert -- he tried a few lines but could not recall all the lyrics -- good of him to give it a go though.

[Sheryl]

Hey Musky, good to see you back!! Glad you asked him that... yeah, I'm sure anyone would have a hard time remembering a song they haven't sung much for over 30 years... He's a champ -- he tried!

[sngwrtr525]

I've had the SUMMERTIME DREAM compact disc in the car cd player for a week now, mostly because of the original recording of "Edmund Fitzgerald", arguably the best one. But the song of his that I wish to God he would take out of mothballs is "Protocol". Talk about timely!

[Sheryl]

I have a friend from Holland - her favorite GL song is Protocol.

[Borderstone]

What a great topic here. It never occoured to me that "Pride Of Man" and "Protocol" were so paralell to the overseas conflict.

If you changed the lyrics to "Black Day In July" and its month to October,the Paris riots aren't much different than that 1960s event. Only they lasted 1/2 a month almost.

"Wild Srtrawberries" was recorded at the time of the L.A. riots and gang violence,it still is relevant a mere 12 years later.
(Not sure if that means it's good or bad that it is still relevent.)

[New 12 String Mike]

Perhaps it is as much the timelessness of Gord's songs that appeals to us.

I remember someone telling me that Lightfoot's time was passing back in the mid 70's. By that, the individual meant the last of the 60's "folk music." Much of that stuff may seem dated to some, but there is a freshness that still lives in much of Gord's music to me.

As I get older, I find new things in the songs. Not just in Protocol and others on social points, but many of his "relationship" songs too. It is a testament to his writing that he could touch on things that would range over a listener's maturing.

He still scrapes my head clear. His time hasn't passed and that's why we're still with him too.