Whispers Of The North !

[Jesse Joe]

I had requested it from Tom and here it is another great video by his magnificent team. Many thanks Tom.



Whispers Of The North !

YouTube - Whispers of the North - Gordon...

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

At 0:51 and 1:35, is that Gord's voice being mixed in with the organ to produce that wonderful sound?

I've always really liked this song. It's my favorite song off the Salute album.

[Jesse Joe]

This is what is written on the Record and CD for :


"Whispers Of the North."

Vocal, Guitar, Harmony Vocal and Effects- Gordon Lightfoot.

Hi-String Bass- Hadley Hockensmith. Drums, Percussion- Barry Keane.

Synthesizer- Dean Parks. Bird Effects (Loons)- From the collection of Dan Gibson.

So yes to your question Deal...


It is also my favorite of Salute.

[Nightingale]

That's such a great song.....I love it!

They did a really nice job with the visuals but they always do.

I still haven't got the "Salute" cd yet.
All my money is going for graduation, birthday and wedding gifts this month.

Darned relatives.....lol.

Thanks for posting this, Jesse Joe.

[Jesse Joe]

Darned relatives.....lol.

Your a true fan Nightingale, really made me laugh out loud...

What a great song eh ! My # 2 all time favorite Gordon Lightfoot song.

[Nightingale]

"A true fan", I'm getting there....lol.

I can't pick a favorite song because it changes all the time...each new song that I love is a favorite till the next one comes along.
There's just too many good ones.

If "Whispers of the North" is your #2 favorite song, then what is #1?

[joveski]

Originally Posted by Nightingale

If "Whispers of the North" is your #2 favorite song, then what is #1?

maybe try track 3 on the Harmony CD!

[Jesse Joe]

No joveski it is not "Flyin' Blind" but I do like it a lot. My long time #1 favorite Gordon Lightfoot song is, "Seven Island Suite."

[Nightingale]

Jesse Joe,
I just listened to "Seven Island Suite" the other night for the first time....really great song!
I hadn't heard "Flyin Blind" yet Joveski. I don't have the Harmony cd yet....guess I should have guessed the Jesse Joe song though...lol.
I went and listened to it and thought it was pretty good.

I also listend to some Blue Rodeo songs....I like them a lot!

[Jesse Joe]

"Seven Island Suite",

When I bought the LP "Sundown" in 1973, I had that song in my head a lot. The voice, the instruments, the sound, etc, was Lightfoot at is best. Was and still is my very favorite Gordon Lightfoot song...

"Whispers Of The North" is second, and If I have to pick a #3 it would be the song that got me into his music, the very first Gordon Lightfoot song I heard on the radio in the late 60's, "Black Day In July," and all the others come after in no particular order.

[Nightingale]

Yes, all three songs are really some of his best.

"Black Day In July" took a while to grow on me but I really like it a lot now.
It sure has a lot of wisdom and honesty in the lyrics.

I'll be kind of glad when I can say I have a favorite...too soon to say yet....lol.

[Jesse Joe]

Hey Anne,

You said you lived in Detroit. Did you know that "Black Day In July" was written for the Detroit Riots of the late 60's ?


Black Day In July, ©1968 by Gordon Lightfoot

Black day in July
Motor city madness has touched the country side
And through the smoke and cinders, you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black day in July

Black Day In July
And the soul of Motor City is bared across the land
As the book of law and order is taken in the hands
Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land
Black day in July

Black day in July
In the streets of Motor City there's a deadly silent sound
And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground
Upon the filthy pavements, no reason can be found
Black day in July

Black day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And the people rise in anger and the streets begin to fill
And there's gunfire from the rooftops and the blood begins to spill
Black day in July

In the mansion of the governor
There's nothing that is known for sure
The telephone is ringing
And the pendulum is swinging
And they wonder how it happened
When they really know the reason
And it wasn't just the temperature
And it wasn't just the season
Black day in July

Black day in July
Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild
They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake
And everyone is listening and everyone's awake
Black day in July

Black day in July
The printing press is turning and the news is quickly flashed
And you read your morning paper and you sip your cup of tea
And you wonder just in passing, is it him or is it me
Black day in July

In the office of the President
The deed is done the troops are sent
There's really not much choice you see
It looks to us like anarchy
And then the tanks go rolling in
To patch things up as best they can
There is no time to hesitate
The speech is made the dues can wait
Black day in July

Black day in July
The streets of Motor City now are quiet and serene
But the shapes of gutted buildings strike terror to the heart
And you say how did it happen and you say how did it start
Why can't we all be brothers, why can't we live in peace
But the hands of the have-nots keep falling out of reach
Black day in July

Black day in July
Motor city madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders, you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black day in July, black day in July, black day in July

[Nightingale]

Yes, I did realize that.
I remember reading somewhere that the song was banned from American radio. I can see that the powers that be didn't like the honesty in the lyrics....a little honesty can make some people very nervous....lol.

It's a great song but I don't remember hearing it here in the states at all. Maybe they didn't lift the ban on it, I have no idea....

[timetraveler]

That might be interesting to know if they did or didn't. As for story tunes that may make people uncomfortable, I STILL wish I knew if the story behind the song Cherokee Bend ever happened. Anyway, as for Whispers Of The North, that's a tune I love listening to when I just feel like soaring with the eagles.