Favorite Lightfoot Song & Why? II

My favorite song is "If you could read my mind". I guess the reason is because I can relate to his point of view in this song. Such poingnant beauty seems to be meant for the lovers, the dreamers, and the songwriters...

My favorite song is "If you could read my mind". I guess the reason is because I can relate to his point of view in this song. Such poingnant beauty seems to be meant for the lovers, the dreamers, and the songwriters...

Once, I asked one of my older students where she had grown up. She laughed and replied, “I grew up in California in the late 60’s and thought I was Joni Mitchell.” “ I know what you mean,” I smiled as I retorted, “I went to college in the Northwest and believed I was Gordon Lightfoot.”

In the early 70s, I used to thumb the highways of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and points everywhere from there. I would wait on the on-ramps and sing any of 40 of his tunes I had memorized. One of my favorites was off Old Dan's Records, "Highway Songs", - 'Bottles, beads & cigarettes, lovers that I ain't had yet, pickin' with a friend till dawn, singing all those highway songs.' and 'I would travel all my life, if lonliness were not the price...' One of many great tunes.
David Hays
Boulder, CO

Once, I asked one of my older students where she had grown up. She laughed and replied, “I grew up in California in the late 60’s and thought I was Joni Mitchell.” “ I know what you mean,” I smiled as I retorted, “I went to college in the Northwest and believed I was Gordon Lightfoot.”

In the early 70s, I used to thumb the highways of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and points everywhere from there. I would wait on the on-ramps and sing any of 40 of his tunes I had memorized. One of my favorites was off Old Dan's Records, "Highway Songs", - 'Bottles, beads & cigarettes, lovers that I ain't had yet, pickin' with a friend till dawn, singing all those highway songs.' and 'I would travel all my life, if lonliness were not the price...' One of many great tunes.
David Hays
Boulder, CO

[MEO]

"The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald," no question. I can't begin to describe how the haunting tune moves me. I had only turned 14 and wasn't even aware that this happened. When the song came out it meant a lot to me as a musical piece, but when I found out it was true and the Fitzgerald sank on my birthday, it really embedded itself in my spirit. So this song is very much in my heart. Thank you, Gordon Lightfoot, for this beautiful tribute. The death the men on the Fitzgerald faced was every bit as real to them as those on the Titanic, yet they may not have been remembered so exquisitely without your song. To this day I listen to it as passionately as when it first came out, and even more so because of personal memories it brings back. I wish James Cameron or Steven Speilberg would make a movie about the Edmund Fitzgerald and let this song grace the soundtrack.

[enright455]

"The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald," no question. I can't begin to describe how the haunting tune moves me. I had only turned 14 and wasn't even aware that this happened. When the song came out it meant a lot to me as a musical piece, but when I found out it was true and the Fitzgerald sank on my birthday, it really embedded itself in my spirit. So this song is very much in my heart. Thank you, Gordon Lightfoot, for this beautiful tribute. The death the men on the Fitzgerald faced was every bit as real to them as those on the Titanic, yet they may not have been remembered so exquisitely without your song. To this day I listen to it as passionately as when it first came out, and even more so because of personal memories it brings back. I wish James Cameron or Steven Speilberg would make a movie about the Edmund Fitzgerald and let this song grace the soundtrack.

[ada]

Favorite G.L. song? That would have to be "Now and Then". I'm not sure what it is about that song that makes me stop everything I'm doing when ever it is playing. Lyrically it is a very strong song and musically, when you hear the bass being played with a "heartbeat" like beat is very effective when GL sings the line "and still the pounding of my heart hasn't changed, leavins so strange". This is a very under rated song of his and was very glad to see it added to the boxset.

[Payallin]

Favorite G.L. song? That would have to be "Now and Then". I'm not sure what it is about that song that makes me stop everything I'm doing when ever it is playing. Lyrically it is a very strong song and musically, when you hear the bass being played with a "heartbeat" like beat is very effective when GL sings the line "and still the pounding of my heart hasn't changed, leavins so strange". This is a very under rated song of his and was very glad to see it added to the boxset.

[Selene]

How does one choose a favorite Lightfoot song? Recently my favorite has been 'Minstrel of the Dawn', for reasons best known to myself. My favorite line is 'Look into his shining eyes, and if you see a ghost, don't be surprised'. In a way this is true of Lightfoot himself, and true of all of us. We are the sum of our experiences, we all carry ghosts within us. But some of us keep them well hidden, and others allow those ghosts to be seen. When I hear this song, and I have heard it done not only by Lightfoot, I can almost see The Minstrel arriving, being welcomed. He warms himself at the fireside, tunes his guitar and asks for a glass of wine in payment for the stories he is about to tell, stories set to music, stories about his life and the life of the people listening...

[Tregerwolf]

I'm new to the list, but after having read everyone's list of favorite songs, I have to admit they're all good and yes, it's difficult to choose just one of GL's songs and say, "this is my favorite GL song". However I'd like to mention one that I've not seen mentioned by anybody else yet...a song that has certainly stuck with me every since I first heard it. It's "Daylight Katy" from the Endless Wire album. Much has been said over the years about GL's artistry in writing great songs --- georgeous melodies and lyrics that literally define our lives. Truly, it's all well deserved.
Go Gord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Darrell]

I'm new to the list, but after having read everyone's list of favorite songs, I have to admit they're all good and yes, it's difficult to choose just one of GL's songs and say, "this is my favorite GL song". However I'd like to mention one that I've not seen mentioned by anybody else yet...a song that has certainly stuck with me every since I first heard it. It's "Daylight Katy" from the Endless Wire album. Much has been said over the years about GL's artistry in writing great songs --- georgeous melodies and lyrics that literally define our lives. Truly, it's all well deserved.
Go Gord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wild rose]

I would have to say it would be "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." My ancestors traveled to the Western US on the railroad, so that song reminds me of those times.

[mrpoetryman]

I would have to say it would be "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." My ancestors traveled to the Western US on the railroad, so that song reminds me of those times.

[Suzi]

The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald is my favorite. This song is so moving; every time I hear it, I get goosebumps, and have a difficult time keeping my composure; anyone else get like that? Like earlybird, I grew up w/the song always playing, but not until that PBS special did I realize the actual events...I was 8 when the Fitzgerald went down.

[Wendy]

The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald is my favorite. This song is so moving; every time I hear it, I get goosebumps, and have a difficult time keeping my composure; anyone else get like that? Like earlybird, I grew up w/the song always playing, but not until that PBS special did I realize the actual events...I was 8 when the Fitzgerald went down.

"The house you live in". Should be required listening for anyone contemplating adulthood!

"The house you live in". Should be required listening for anyone contemplating adulthood!

I would have to say my all-time favorite Gordon song is "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". This song is truly one of the most stirring songs of his career. Everytime I hear the song, I get shivers imagining the events the crew went through. I have been a fan since the early 70's and continue to be. The Wreck was the first song I was introduced to and it continues to be my favorite.

I would have to say my all-time favorite Gordon song is "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". This song is truly one of the most stirring songs of his career. Everytime I hear the song, I get shivers imagining the events the crew went through. I have been a fan since the early 70's and continue to be. The Wreck was the first song I was introduced to and it continues to be my favorite.

[SilverHeels]

It is impossible for me to choose just one
song - well, aside from CHRISTIAN ISLAND
which manages to fill me with a warm glow
as I 'drift' along with the lyrics. But
I also have a favourite song of the day ...
Lately I've o-ded on Too Much to Lose and
Heaven Dont Deserve me. Both stunning
examples of Lightfoot at his best.
Today its been 'I'll Tag Along' - and I
visualise Gord singing it at the Massey
while sitting on a stool, just him, no
backup. One day I hope he will sing it for
us just that way. Maybe next year.
Yesterday it was 'I'm Not Supposed to Care',
which always brings on the tears. I find it
particularly emotionally charged.

Does anyone else play 'song of the day' game?

[jct]

My all time favorite has always been If You Could Read My Mind -- it just gets me every time I hear it. I don't exactly have a different favorite every DAY, but I do tend to get stuck on a different one every few weeks. Seven Island Suite and Watchman are two big ones with me. And I'm Not Supposed To Care, All I'm After, Same Old Obsession...this is impossible!

[Brenda]

My all time favorite has always been If You Could Read My Mind -- it just gets me every time I hear it. I don't exactly have a different favorite every DAY, but I do tend to get stuck on a different one every few weeks. Seven Island Suite and Watchman are two big ones with me. And I'm Not Supposed To Care, All I'm After, Same Old Obsession...this is impossible!

[joveski]

at the moment, the favourites are If I could, Poor little allison, borderstone, much to my surprise and red velvet, but they'll change next week

My fave GL song? Well, like most fans, I have a favorite for just about every day of the week, but my all-time favorite will always be "Early Morning Rain". It will always remind me of my Army days when one didn't stay in one place for very long, and a good portion of my time was spent in airports to and from duty stations and on leave. "Early Morning Rain" is my ultimate "So long" song, and whenever I am leaving somewhere for a long time or making a major life change, EMR is my major theme. I remember seeing a movie from Hong Kong about a love triangle called "Dream of Desire", and at the end of the movie, as we see the main character's 747 take off to take him to a new life, a pop song with acoustic guitars plays, and it sounds like something GL would play. I always fantasized about being the producer of that movie, and when they would give me a choice of songs to use for the closing scenes, I would, without hesitation, insist on EMR. My wife is from Korea, and whenever we fly there, I always have EMR playing in my walkman during takeoff. The sound of it, particularly the steel guitars and bass during the musical breaks(I'm a bass-player myself!)always evoke images of saying farewell to those that you leave behind, and how that feeling of promise and a whole new world opening up for you are feelings that just can't be beat! Whenever I travel, be it by car or plane, Gord's Gold goes with me (even on my honeymoon!), and EMR will always play.

My fave GL song? Well, like most fans, I have a favorite for just about every day of the week, but my all-time favorite will always be "Early Morning Rain". It will always remind me of my Army days when one didn't stay in one place for very long, and a good portion of my time was spent in airports to and from duty stations and on leave. "Early Morning Rain" is my ultimate "So long" song, and whenever I am leaving somewhere for a long time or making a major life change, EMR is my major theme. I remember seeing a movie from Hong Kong about a love triangle called "Dream of Desire", and at the end of the movie, as we see the main character's 747 take off to take him to a new life, a pop song with acoustic guitars plays, and it sounds like something GL would play. I always fantasized about being the producer of that movie, and when they would give me a choice of songs to use for the closing scenes, I would, without hesitation, insist on EMR. My wife is from Korea, and whenever we fly there, I always have EMR playing in my walkman during takeoff. The sound of it, particularly the steel guitars and bass during the musical breaks(I'm a bass-player myself!)always evoke images of saying farewell to those that you leave behind, and how that feeling of promise and a whole new world opening up for you are feelings that just can't be beat! Whenever I travel, be it by car or plane, Gord's Gold goes with me (even on my honeymoon!), and EMR will always play.