Cussing in GL songs

[WanderLust]

First off I think Lightfoot is one of the best song writers ever. I have fond memories of his music when I was a kid in the middle seventies. I do wonder why he chose to swear in two of my favorite songs. The Watchman's Gone and Seven Island Suite. It seems strange to hear this on the Sundown album after listening to Don Quixote. The cussing does not disturb me, but I think these two songs are the only ones. I think he must have been ornery about the social/economic issues in 1973.
Who would'nt have been! Any thoughts?

[gurko]

First off I think Lightfoot is one of the best song writers ever. I have fond memories of his music when I was a kid in the middle seventies. I do wonder why he chose to swear in two of my favorite songs. The Watchman's Gone and Seven Island Suite. It seems strange to hear this on the Sundown album after listening to Don Quixote. The cussing does not disturb me, but I think these two songs are the only ones. I think he must have been ornery about the social/economic issues in 1973.
Who would'nt have been! Any thoughts?

[Andy T.]

Also on the Sundown album he does say "I'll be damned" in Carefree Highway. The swearing didn't bother me either, and I didn't notice all of it anyway - due to the lack of lyric sheet, it was years before I caught what he was saying in Seven Island Suite. I have no idea what his motivations to write those lyrics though.

andy

[joveski]

you call that swearing?

compared to what some rap artists use today, thats nothing. its become everyday language

[WanderLust]

It was a departure from his usual style. Yeah morals have sure gone down the tube the last 30 years. Pretty hard to compare today's music to anything recorded back then. Could you even imagine an 'F' bomb on anything Lightfoot ever did? It would be completely embarassing and taint the great talent he is. He is a poet, musician and singer. Most of today's rap entertainers can't sing a lick or play an instrument. The video comes before the song. Such an image thing and lack of character.
Lightfoot's music stands on it's own. His songs put almost anything to shame today.

[gurko]

It was a departure from his usual style. Yeah morals have sure gone down the tube the last 30 years. Pretty hard to compare today's music to anything recorded back then. Could you even imagine an 'F' bomb on anything Lightfoot ever did? It would be completely embarassing and taint the great talent he is. He is a poet, musician and singer. Most of today's rap entertainers can't sing a lick or play an instrument. The video comes before the song. Such an image thing and lack of character.
Lightfoot's music stands on it's own. His songs put almost anything to shame today.

[fowlesjohn]

Originally posted by gurko:
Lightfoot's music stands on it's own. His songs put almost anything to shame today.

Welcome to the forum Gurko. I have to say that your summary of Gord and his music is spot on
but that you are really preaching to the converted here!!
You have reminded me of something from one of his 60's shows that I saw in Montreal
If I remember correctly he started a few bars of Oh Danny Boy stopped abruptly and said something like "No I have to sing all this original shit."
But in talking to him very often in the last six years or so he has never that I remember once used any cussin' words in a conversation
John Fowles
I’m gonna let it ride Here’s to the girls of London And the ones from Montreal
We never will forget them We still fantasize them all
from:-
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/gordon-...oot/61571.html

from:-

[ June 25, 2005, 21:09: Message edited by: fowlesjohn ]

[Auburn Annie]

Well, I expect he knows all the words and phrases that turn up in any top 40 "song" these days, and then some. But he was undoubtedly raised a gentleman and comes from an era when such words were generally not used in polite society. I have no doubt there have been times when he's let loose with a few - or several - choice words but apparently it's not habitual.

I myself am a heck and darn type; several years ago at a class reunion the word "damn" casually slipped from my lips and jaws fell all around me. They'd be calling the EMTs if I dropped the F bomb, LOL.

As for the use in songs, he's so particular about the words he uses, I'm sure it's deliberate and in support of either the mood of the song or the scan of a line.

[kenny]

"Where maps are contained and what's left of his brains when his crew thru his BALLS to the sharks"

That's very graphic from 1976!!

[Rich Man Spiritual]

"Where maps are contained and what's left of his brains when his crew thru his BALLS to the sharks"

That's very graphic from 1976!!

[Sheryl]

Originally posted by Rich Man Spiritual:
"Where maps are contained and what's left of his brains when his crew thru his BALLS to the sharks"

That's very graphic from 1976!!

It's "threw his BONES to the sharks!"
(edited)
holy toledo! All this time I thought it was bones!! I stand corrected! (just checked the lyrics)

[ June 25, 2005, 19:56: Message edited by: Sheryl ]

[closetcanadian]

Sheryl,

Check the liner notes from the Summertime Dream CD or a lyric sheet for Too Many Clues in This Room. RMS has the correct lyric.

[bjb]

I wonder if it's a reference to a real occurrence in history? Our favorite story teller seems to be up on lots of literature

[kenny]

Originally posted by closetcanadian:
Sheryl,

Check the liner notes from the Summertime Dream CD or a lyric sheet for Too Many Clues in This Room. RMS has the correct lyric.

Gord, the old salty sea dog wrote "BALLS".
It is in the CD liner notes!

[Rich Man Spiritual]

Originally posted by closetcanadian:
Sheryl,

Check the liner notes from the Summertime Dream CD or a lyric sheet for Too Many Clues in This Room. RMS has the correct lyric.

Gord, the old salty sea dog wrote "BALLS".
It is in the CD liner notes!

[Sheryl]

Yes, I'd edited my own post to show that I did check the lyrics afterward and said that I stood corrected.

[RaisinSpores]

Hello. This is my first post as a member. I've posted as a guest, and I've read the message boards many, many times before.

Cussing. Cussing is an art. There is nothing wrong with cussing in songs, and there is nothing wrong with cussing in everyday life, in my opinion. The problem is when songwriters overuse cuss words; you shouldn't use ANY word (other than maybe "the" or "and") 15 times in one song, so why would you use the f-word that many times? The writer should be certain that the word they choose, whether it's a swear or not, is the one that best expresses what they want to. Since GL doesn't swear much in his songs, it gives him a lot of credibility when he does swear, like on the Sundown album.

My favorite cussing singer/songwriter is Jimmy Buffett; it fits well with his seafaring, Gulf Coast attitude: "Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches, I've seen more than I can recall."

[Winter's Claw]

Hello. This is my first post as a member. I've posted as a guest, and I've read the message boards many, many times before.

Cussing. Cussing is an art. There is nothing wrong with cussing in songs, and there is nothing wrong with cussing in everyday life, in my opinion. The problem is when songwriters overuse cuss words; you shouldn't use ANY word (other than maybe "the" or "and") 15 times in one song, so why would you use the f-word that many times? The writer should be certain that the word they choose, whether it's a swear or not, is the one that best expresses what they want to. Since GL doesn't swear much in his songs, it gives him a lot of credibility when he does swear, like on the Sundown album.

My favorite cussing singer/songwriter is Jimmy Buffett; it fits well with his seafaring, Gulf Coast attitude: "Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches, I've seen more than I can recall."

[Sheryl]

Welcome, Winter's Claw, to the friendliest board and nicest sons-of-*(@^&$@ on the planet! :D

[Borderstone]

First up...Welcome Winter's Claw! Alsways great to see new folks here. Cool name too,in fact it's the coolest since my own!!! Just kiddin'!


I know I brought up this topic about 2 years ago and at the time I was as surprised about Gord's cursing but now,in comparing it with the "standard" cursing of a lot of modern artists,it really isn't much to get surprised over.

Better one or two words from Gordon than 1,000,006 from the rest! Been me. Later!

[kenny]

Originally posted by Sheryl:
Yes, I'd edited my own post to show that I did check the lyrics afterward and said that I stood corrected.

Hello Sheryl,

I was answering Borderstone sorry for the mix up!
Gotta say that it could sound like bones if you weren't 100% sure!

[Rich Man Spiritual]

Originally posted by Sheryl:
Yes, I'd edited my own post to show that I did check the lyrics afterward and said that I stood corrected.

Hello Sheryl,

I was answering Borderstone sorry for the mix up!
Gotta say that it could sound like bones if you weren't 100% sure!

[SeattleRain]

My favorite cussing singer/songwriter is Jimmy Buffett; it fits well with his seafaring, Gulf Coast attitude: "Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches, I've seen more than I can recall."

"I made enough money to buy Miami, but I p****d it away so fast"

Another great Buffett line.

[Jim Nasium]

My favorite cussing singer/songwriter is Jimmy Buffett; it fits well with his seafaring, Gulf Coast attitude: "Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches, I've seen more than I can recall."

"I made enough money to buy Miami, but I p****d it away so fast"

Another great Buffett line.

[Sydney Steve]

I reckon Gord's best songs "keep a handle on the real". Swearing in his work reflects reality (and the fallibility) of the broad spectrum of the people in the places and situations "the Painter" has passed through and by.
PS . I feel sorry for the sharks. I bet they wish they did get the bones Sheryl - far more filling ! They must have still been very hungry after that tiny little entree mentioned in "Too Many Clues"....