Favorite Lightfoot Song & Why? II

[redheart]

What makes Gordon Lightfoot my favorite all-time singer/songwriter is his ability to reach people of all age groups and locales, and the fact that his music is just so timeless, profound, and memorable. I'm new to this site and must agree with the posts that liken his degree of fame to other music legends like Lennon, Dylan, etc. I can ramble endlessly about how he 'stikes every chord' of emotion and sings about so many different people, places, and experiences, but many of you have already given him that wonderful tribute. Many Thanks. What makes this gifted man so remarkable to me is the fact that through it all, he has remained a humble and 'ordinary man' in his mannerism and personality. It's refreshing to see such rare and admirable qualities in a world-reknown artist in today's age of glitz and glammor. Choosing a favorite song/s would be most difficult, but if I must,.... well,....OK, here goes: 1. Home From the Forest 2. Highway Songs 3. Song For a Winter's Night 4. The Watchman's Gone 5. Looking At the Rain ---- A decade ago I crawled out of the bottle for the last time, so song # 1 really does hit 'home', and it serves as a haunting reminder of what could have been. Song #2 resonates over and over as I'm traversing the scenic backroads of America on my Harley Softail. Song #3 conjers the image of my soulmate(who I've yet to meet) and I taking a horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow covered countryside on a cold, starry night. Song #4 bespeaks the 'watchman' inside of us all(our own human limitations), and how much better life could be if we could know that 'the watchman's gone'. Song #5 touches the heart of everyone who has lost someone. Finally, If ever I get the golden opportunity to meet Gordon in person, I would have to thank him for the gift of his music, and that his words carried me through my dark times, as well as made the happy times even brighter. How often does someone we've never met before become one of our best friends through their music?

[LSH]

I don't usually read this thread, but I'm glad I took the time to this morning. That was beautiful. Well spoken.

[Cathy]

quote:Originally posted by LSH:
I don't usually read this thread, but I'm glad I took the time to this morning. That was beautiful. Well spoken.

I have to agree. That post could be easily be turned into a tribute song to Gord.

Cathy http://www.cathycowette.com

[Cathy]

quote:Originally posted by Mikhail:
Hello from Russia!
I think "Sundown" album is a real brilliant. It's hard to name the loveliest song... Possibly, Carefree Highway. However, I love Too Late For Praying very much


Hi Mikhail and welcome to the group.
Is Gord well known in Russia? I don't know that we've ever had a Russian fan on this newsgroup, other than Rosanna, and she was just a figment of my imagination.

Cathy http://www.cathycowette.com

Hello to all,

my favorite song is "Did she mention my name ?"
This song was often played by Radio Canada International- Gordon Lightfoot and Canada ist the same to me since that time.
Is there somebody who knows the story behind this song ?

Take care,
Klaus from Europe

[RCI]

Hello to all,

my favorite song is "Did she mention my name ?"
This song was often played by Radio Canada International- Gordon Lightfoot and Canada ist the same to me since that time.
Is there somebody who knows the story behind this song ?

Take care,
Klaus from Europe

Hello to all,

my favorite song is "Did she mention my name ?"
This song was often played by Radio Canada International- Gordon Lightfoot and Canada is the same to me since that time.
Is there somebody who knows the story behind this song ?

Take care,
Klaus from Europe

[RCI]

Hello to all,

my favorite song is "Did she mention my name ?"
This song was often played by Radio Canada International- Gordon Lightfoot and Canada is the same to me since that time.
Is there somebody who knows the story behind this song ?

Take care,
Klaus from Europe

[Reece58]

My favourite GL song: Hard call ... they're all so great but to choose one right now it is: Song for a Winter's Night. One of the prettiest songs I've ever heard.

[Smeckelau]

My favourite GL song: Hard call ... they're all so great but to choose one right now it is: Song for a Winter's Night. One of the prettiest songs I've ever heard.

[The Rez]

Evenin' all,

What a wonderous adventure it is winding thru this fabric-maze of thread: some new and barely known, some obscure discoveries, and some very familiar old friends.

While I've mentioned most beloved tunes here before, I realize they ebb and flow with my own tides.

Lately I've found myself both listening-in, and then playing, two to the seabirds.

The Leaves of Grass, and
Black Day in July

With appologies to those seabirds,

The Rez



------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[redheart]

I would have to agree with the Rez, it was very interesting for me to read each of your reasons for choosing a particular Gord song. Some just liked the tune, some liked the lyrics, some were touched personally by Gord's magic. For me it would have to be " Leaves Of Grass" and this is for the reason that I was touched by Gord's magic in his writing in my particular time of need. I noted some of you talking about the recent events in Alberta over the past few weeks and saw your posts with pictures of the "sea of red". I too have seen this up close and personal as I am an Emergency Services worker. You can substitute blue for the color of the uniform, and the hats look different but it was very much the same. At that time this song and fellowship with brothers and sisters helped me get through some very tough times. I still think of those times and my feelings every time I hear or sing this song. Many of Gord's songs have special meaning for me but this one can help me relate to my being, and my feelings about a very important time in my life. I really believe that music is a therapy of sorts if you are able to relate what you hear to your personal situation. A really timeless song, eerily relevant in 1969 when originally recorded, 2001 (9/11), 2002 (May 27, Billy you are not forgotten) or 2005.

[StingRay]

I would have to agree with the Rez, it was very interesting for me to read each of your reasons for choosing a particular Gord song. Some just liked the tune, some liked the lyrics, some were touched personally by Gord's magic. For me it would have to be " Leaves Of Grass" and this is for the reason that I was touched by Gord's magic in his writing in my particular time of need. I noted some of you talking about the recent events in Alberta over the past few weeks and saw your posts with pictures of the "sea of red". I too have seen this up close and personal as I am an Emergency Services worker. You can substitute blue for the color of the uniform, and the hats look different but it was very much the same. At that time this song and fellowship with brothers and sisters helped me get through some very tough times. I still think of those times and my feelings every time I hear or sing this song. Many of Gord's songs have special meaning for me but this one can help me relate to my being, and my feelings about a very important time in my life. I really believe that music is a therapy of sorts if you are able to relate what you hear to your personal situation. A really timeless song, eerily relevant in 1969 when originally recorded, 2001 (9/11), 2002 (May 27, Billy you are not forgotten) or 2005.

[The Rez]

Yesterday a friend asked me when I first came to love John Denver's music. Knowing and loving are two different things.

Ever since that question, I've been re-running a time capsule to answer the question. The time capsule also contains a tune sung by Gord I hadn't thought of in quite a spell, yet have revisited more often than tongue can tell.

One of the few Gord didn't write:

"Like crippled ships that made it throught the storm and finally reached a quiet shore, the homeless found a home On Susan's Floor."

The time capsule:

The early 70s; North Shore Lake Tahoe; a gentle young lady - called herself Sam - took in Stray Dogs.

They would drape themselves all over the furniture; pass the chips; pass the pipe; pass the guitar; and pass sweet fellowship.
The evening would begin to the soft John Denver and Poems, Prayers, and Promises floating from the stereo. Thus began the sharing, the caring, and the circle.

A breath would occasionally occur. Sam would play just the right song for the moment on the stereo. Then the Stray Dogs would resume their stories.

Sam would choose the time to bring the evening to a close W/ the playing of Shell Silverstein's beautiful lyric flowing from Gordon Lightfoot via the stereo.

The Stray Dogs would slowly move from the furniture to the floor, and become still - the homeless found a home On Susan's Floor.

As breathing came more deeply, Sam would play John Stewart and Chilly Winds - as those sweet dreams would come . . .

I can't sing those songs without seeing that scene so long ago - as present as breath - and for a priceless moment, young.

The Rez

------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[This message has been edited by The Rez (edited March 18, 2005).]

[byKimberly]

The Rez is Right ---- It'd be hard not to agree with you on the notion that a 'favorite' would depend on one's state of mind at the time, aside from those few that reach down to the level of the soul. The way in which a song reaches each one of us is so subjective, since we all have that defining power of association. Science is only beginning to understand how various sounds affect us. We just get in touch with how a song makes us feel. How interesting to read other interpretations of songs I've heard for three decades now.

[redheart]

The Rez is Right ---- It'd be hard not to agree with you on the notion that a 'favorite' would depend on one's state of mind at the time, aside from those few that reach down to the level of the soul. The way in which a song reaches each one of us is so subjective, since we all have that defining power of association. Science is only beginning to understand how various sounds affect us. We just get in touch with how a song makes us feel. How interesting to read other interpretations of songs I've heard for three decades now.

Being the rabid Gordon Lightfoot that I am this question comes my way frequently and I never know how to respond. Most times I try and deflect it by saying something stupid like "in which category?" In the late sixties at a concert in the little town of Alliston, Ontario Gord appeared there with his two band members at the time, Red Shea and John Stockfish. For the very first time I heard him perform "Bitter Green" and he make the reference that "This is a GOOD song." When it came out on the "Back Here On Earth" albumn I ended up taking a week off work just so I could have the time to absorb that recording at my leisure. Bitter Green turned out to be a song that grew on me in a way like no other Lightfoot song ever did. It is unique in the fact that Gord fingerpicks it on the six string guitar in the "drop D" tuning. I know of no others in that particular tuning on the six string guitar. His bigger songs like "Early Morning Rain" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" are done in the "drop D" tuning but they are strummed and played on the twelve string. Bitter Green is my favoutite song TODAY! RJ.

Being the rabid Gordon Lightfoot that I am this question comes my way frequently and I never know how to respond. Most times I try and deflect it by saying something stupid like "in which category?" In the late sixties at a concert in the little town of Alliston, Ontario Gord appeared there with his two band members at the time, Red Shea and John Stockfish. For the very first time I heard him perform "Bitter Green" and he make the reference that "This is a GOOD song." When it came out on the "Back Here On Earth" albumn I ended up taking a week off work just so I could have the time to absorb that recording at my leisure. Bitter Green turned out to be a song that grew on me in a way like no other Lightfoot song ever did. It is unique in the fact that Gord fingerpicks it on the six string guitar in the "drop D" tuning. I know of no others in that particular tuning on the six string guitar. His bigger songs like "Early Morning Rain" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" are done in the "drop D" tuning but they are strummed and played on the twelve string. Bitter Green is my favoutite song TODAY! RJ.

Hi everybody!
I just found this site and have been reading this thread. I've been a huge Lightfoot fan since If You Could Read My Mind first hit the radio so many years ago. I've seen him in concert more times than I can remember. As for a favorite song, that would be almost impossible to say. He has created more of my Favorite Songs than anyone else (except for possibly Al Stewart). Shadows might be his most beautiful. Or maybe Affair on 8th Avenue.... on the other hand, Canadian Railroad Trilogy is astounding in a different way. The man is a genius with few equals in his field, and I'm looking forward to seeing him again this summer in Glenside, PA.

Hi everybody!
I just found this site and have been reading this thread. I've been a huge Lightfoot fan since If You Could Read My Mind first hit the radio so many years ago. I've seen him in concert more times than I can remember. As for a favorite song, that would be almost impossible to say. He has created more of my Favorite Songs than anyone else (except for possibly Al Stewart). Shadows might be his most beautiful. Or maybe Affair on 8th Avenue.... on the other hand, Canadian Railroad Trilogy is astounding in a different way. The man is a genius with few equals in his field, and I'm looking forward to seeing him again this summer in Glenside, PA.

My favorite song is The Wreck of the Edmund fitzgerald, because it is just an epic tune that Icould sing over and over again

My favorite song is The Wreck of the Edmund fitzgerald, because it is just an epic tune that Icould sing over and over again

My favorite is "Approaching Lavender." It takes me back to a time in my life when I was madly in love, freshman in college and loving being a hippie. It is such a beautifully romatic song!

My favorite is "Approaching Lavender." It takes me back to a time in my life when I was madly in love, freshman in college and loving being a hippie. It is such a beautifully romatic song!

[The Rez]

Approaching Lavender . . .

Gord once said, years ago, he was a bit let down that no one had come to him to tell him they'd named their daughter Lavender.

In younger years I approached a lady called Lavender. It was her "hippie name." I'm glad I never knew her borning name.

She was everything expressed in Gord's song. Hence her "hippie name."

In older years, I had a daughter. Her name is Summer Joy. I don't know if I want her to become too familiar w/ "Approaching Lavender" just yet . . . the lonesome hippie says.

But, oh, how right about the song and the time, and . . .

. . . for the Love beyond our lives,
The Rez



------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive