Ghost you cannot see -emotional disconnection

jelliott43 · 11-13-2008, 10:05 AM

Hi Everyone,
I can hear the collective groan as predictably a Newby brings up the subject of "If you could read my Mind".
Please do not be too hard on me as that song brought me to this site. Now as a result I know that GL wrote this song which I
have listened to most of my life. I did not know that a month ago.
Also I have listened to many more of GL's songs since I registered especially Sundown,Beatiful,Early Morning
Rain,Wreck of the Edmund FitzGerald (PS - Does anyone know who Edmund FitzGerald was ??). Also I found a site which
discusses the meaning of lyrics (there are 213 GL titles on there at http://www.songmeanings.net/. So I will have future fun
going through the titles.
I retired a few months ago and as my son has grown up and gone out to work, I now get to play videos/songs
on YouTube without shouts of 'Get off my Computer" and "stop playing that old sad music"
Anyhow I was listening to "If you could read my Mind" a few weeks ago when the possible meaning of the
lyrics crossed my mind.
If a really strong and important emotional link between 2 people weakens for one of them like a mobile phone
signal fading, then the other party becomes like a "ghost" that they cannot see. The physical person is still there but the
emotional insight has gone, And that person becomes isolated (a prisoner) emotionally until the other person reconnects to
them again.
Anyone else got the same take on the Lyrics ? Did GL ever reveal if there was a personal tradedy behind the
lyrics. I remember reading the Leonards Cohens "Famous Blue Raincoat" was written after his wife has an affair. Strangely
this song always had a similar emotional impact on me as "If you could read my Mind".

jj · 11-13-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelliott43

"stop playing that old sad music"

lol, welcome!

yeah, i was working in the garage last night and found my dusty old music blaster, plugged it in and pushed CD play button...I guess GG2 was in there all these years so on came If it Should Please....my 4 year old goes, "hey, i like this beat!"....I tell him it's GL....he looks up and goes, "i didn't know gorden litefoot played any happy music?"

not sure if lyrics have been discussed here before, lol

char, help?

spocksbrain · 11-13-2008, 10:27 AM

Hi,
If You Could Read My Mind, or IYCRMM as it is known for short around here, is one of Lightfoot's greatest commercial and artistic achievements. I don't believe anyone has ever gotten bored discussing the tune on this forum.

I'm glad you have discovered the wonderful world of music that Gordon has spent 50 years in the buisness writing and recording. He is an amazing songwriter, with an incredible ability to stir all kinds of feelings.

IYCRMM was written during the period of Gordon's first divorce, so I'd say your interpretation is pretty much dead on. There have been others who have interpreted the song in different ways, such as Art Bell (talk show host) who felt it might have literally been about the ghost of the persona's dead wife. But, in general, most people feel it is about lost love, a break-up.

As far as Edmund Fitzgerald, there was the ship that Gordon wrote about that was launched in 1958 and went down near White Fish Point in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. Then there was the executive she was named after, Mr. Edmund Fitzgerald. I cannot recall exactly who he was or why the ship was named after him, but somewhere in the back of my mind I want to say he was a big shot in the insurance industry.

There are many good lightfoot resources on the internet. One is operated by Valerie Magee. It is www.gordonlightfoot.com . Another is operated by Wayne Francis. It has an extensive synopsis of Lightfoot's career and work. It is www.lightfoot.ca . I hope you find what you are looking for here. This is a great community. Lightfoot fans are generally level-headed, thinking people, who enjoy the art of good music (not to say I have not had some differences with some, but we all share that common love for the man's work). Good reading!

charlene · 11-13-2008, 11:08 AM

some previous chatter about the meaning:

http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread...ning+read+mind

and an interview with Gord:
http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread...iycrmm+meaning

KHester · 11-13-2008, 05:58 PM

Hi,
Welcome to the group. Any question is a good question. You're going to have quite an enjoyable journey getting to know Gordon's music. There are so many gems that are unknown to the general public. You'll be listening and a line will just blow you away. You mentioned IYCRMM, if that was Gord's only song he would be remembered for it alone. It's my favorite. But then there are so many others also. Sundown, Rainy Day People, Carefree Highway, For Loving Me, Shadows, Early Morning Rain, The Fitz. and the list goes on. You had some questions on the "Fitz", most of them can be answered on this site. The "Fitz" is just on of Gordon's songs about ships. Many of us like another song about a ship, that was based an a true incident better, "The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle".
As for web sites,check the Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Channel on youtube, there you will find many of Gordon's songs put into video stories with production that will have you saying wow...

Kevin

Nightingale · 11-13-2008, 11:52 PM

Hi jelliot43,
Welcome and I hope you enjoy yourself here.

I like your thoughts on IYCRMM. I think they are very true to his meaning.
I also might add that part of the song is about learning to let go of the other half of that connection.
Sometimes, the person on the other end of the signal NEVER comes back...then what do you do?

You have to learn to let go...who wants to live the rest of their life on hold and continuously trying to 'redial' and see if the signal is still getting through?

Oh yeah, we can have a conversation about this song....lol.

jj · 11-14-2008, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightingale

You have to learn to let go...who wants to live the rest of their life on hold and continuously trying to 'redial' and see if the signal is still getting through?

hi, nightingale

yeah, it's a tough phase to go through and even tougher to observe others do the same...on the bright side, it can lead to some good lyric writing or other creativity, such as hurling paint at walls, lol

a fave lyric from Greg Keelor:
"You say the party's over but like a drunken fool I never know when to leave..."

Jesse Joe · 11-14-2008, 07:52 AM

Welcome to CORFID jelliott43, hope to hear many Lightfoot stories from you.

Nightingale · 11-15-2008, 02:28 AM

jj, it's kind of a sad truth that pain and suffering seem to bring out the creative element in human beings.
I guess that angst has to have a defined destination and expression in some way, or it implodes in on the mind that is creating it.

Hurling paint at walls...lol. I could go for that. Nice pass time

Love that Keelor lyric. The guy is awesome

charlene · 12-09-2008, 01:06 PM

please do not reply to the spam posts.

johnfowles · 12-09-2008, 02:19 PM

As far as Edmund Fitzgerald, there was the ship that Gordon wrote about that was launched in 1958 and went down near White Fish Point in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. Then there was the executive she was named after, Mr. Edmund Fitzgerald. I cannot recall exactly who he was or why the ship was named after him, but somewhere in the back of my mind I want to say he was a big shot in the insurance industry.
There are many good FITZ resources on the internet. [/quote]
The prime one is probably
http://www.ssefo.com/
Another is
http://www.attheoak.com/edmund.html
which has a nice
picture presentation heading its page

(A clickable thumbnail to the not so very large full sized picture to avoid RM getting apoplexic!!
and contains the following useful information amongst other things
"Gitche Gumee translates roughly to 'Big-Sea-Water.'"
I say again Strewth Ruth!!
"The Fitz was named after Mr. Edmund Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Board of Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company of Milwaukee, who retired in 1960. It was built by Great Lakes Engineering in River Rouge, Michigan and launched in June 1958. The owner was Northwestern Mutual and it was operated by the Columbia Transportation division of Oglebay Norton Company
I did once find this picture of the honoUred gent but cannot now refind the source

RM · 12-09-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlene

please do not reply to the spam posts.

Hmmmm......is that a Public Service Announcement ?

I couldn't find the spam in this thread.

Peter Bro10 · 12-09-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelliott43

I retired a few months ago and as my son has grown up and gone out to work, I now get to play videos/songs on YouTube without shouts of 'Get off my Computer" and "stop playing that old sad music"
Anyhow I was listening to "If you could read my Mind" a few weeks ago when the possible meaning of the lyrics crossed my mind.

first off, jelliott, welcome aboard! If you're a Lightfoot fan, you're in for a real treat or two!
I had to laugh aloud reading your post!
So, pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable... you're in good company here!

JJ ?, my 5 year old is a Lightfoot fan for sure! Her favorite is, I think, The Ponyman. She knows it almost by heart. We recite it as a bedtime poem of sorts.
Incidently, "If it should please you" has always been one of my favorite GL tunes for sure! What a terrific find!!!

charlene · 12-09-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM

Hmmmm......is that a Public Service Announcement ?

I couldn't find the spam in this thread.

that's cuz i already deleted it and the reply...

Peter Bro10 · 12-09-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlene

that's cuz i already deleted it and the reply...

Oh, now I am confussed!!!
Ghosts you can't see, and Spam too!

charlene · 12-09-2008, 06:17 PM

I can see them tho..
lol

Nightingale · 12-11-2008, 03:31 AM

Hiya Pam

Can ya hear me now??? Hope you are well and rested up from playing in the dirt in the Buckeye state

Nightingale · 12-11-2008, 07:59 PM

We're fine around here. I am getting ready for Christmas like everyone else is

It gets harder every year. I liked it better when all the kids in the family were little.

Mud encrusted boots...ick! Maybe it's time for a new pair?

Nightingale · 12-13-2008, 12:49 AM

Hey Pam, we all know that every lady needs more than one pair of ****kickers

Do you have any idea where your next assignment might be?

Yep, sigh... I wanna play with some toys and even the youngest wants a cell phone for Christmas this year.
Honestly, it makes me shudder...lol. These kids have no idea what real fun is.
Don't I sound old?


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